Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alyssa
Aiden’s truck pulled up to my house, his headlights blasting through my window. I walked out onto my porch, anxious to find out if Liam was okay.
He looked angry as he climbed out of his truck, slamming the door so loud it echoed through the street. His eyes glared into mine as he neared me, finally stopping at my porch steps.
“How’s Liam?” I asked anxiously.
“You’ve got some nerve,” he scolded.
“Me?” I asked, confused why he appeared to be angry with me. I hadn’t done anything. It was Liam who got into a fight.
“Liam was defending himself—against your ex. Why on earth would you leave him there like that? Just walk away?” he scoffed.
“I don’t like violence. Holly doesn’t need to be around that,” I insisted.
Aiden laughed, but not a pleasant laugh. He was angry. That was evident.
“Holly needs to be around someone who’ll protect her, and that’s her dad. You can’t expect Liam to let Bruce hit him, can you?” Aiden roared.
“He could’ve stayed inside,” I insisted.
“Yeah, right. He’s a man, not a pussy. He came outside because he thought it was you and Holly; he didn’t come out there to fight,” Aiden growled.
My heart sank deep into my chest. I felt horrible. Aiden was right. I was acting foolish.
“I’m just scared,” I admitted.
“You’ve strung him along. He loves you and Holly, and taking this away from him now, it’s just cruel,” Aiden scorned.
“He could leave us, and how cruel would that be?” I snapped.
“Where is he going?” Aiden snapped right back.
“I don’t know. He’s a soldier; he could get called back in for service. He could get bored of the small town, and there are plenty of places he could go and reasons for it,” I cried.
“He has two reasons to stay right here, or at least he did until earlier tonight. He’s retired from the military, he’s not going back, and he has a job here. You need to decide what you want. It isn’t fair to continue stringing him along,” Aiden lectured.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed, dropping to sit on the porch step.
Aiden sat down beside me, his arm around my shoulder.
“I stopped at the police station. I heard the emergency call. Liam did everything right,” he sighed.
“I did everything wrong,” I sulked.
“I don’t mean to be harsh, but yes, you did. You really messed up a good night, probably one of the best nights of your life,” he growled.
I looked up at him, confused by what he meant. Best night of my life?
My stomach churned at the thought of hurting Liam. Why was I so afraid of him leaving that I would push him away?
“You need to make this right or let him go,” Aiden sighed and then got up from the step.
I watched him walk away, not looking back. He got into his truck, the headlights blasted into my eyes, and he pulled out.
Holly was sleeping, so I couldn’t leave, but I needed to go to him, to tell him I was sorry.
I picked up my phone, called my mom, and asked her to come over. She was just as disappointed in my behavior as Liam was, and I knew Holly had to feel the same way. I needed to make this right.
Maria had her hand on her hip, her lips tightened into a thin line, and her eyes darkened with anger as I left the house.
I drove to Liam, who I found passed out at the kitchen table. The smell of whiskey was strong, and the bottle nearly empty.
“Liam,” I called to him, trying to wake him from the drunken stupor he’d put himself into.
“Alyssa,” he slurred, one eye opening, but then closing again.
I pulled him to his feet, his weight too much for me to hold, and we both fell to the floor. His eyes opened, and his hand reached towards me, stroking the hair from my face.
“Are you okay?” he slurred.
Even now, he worried about me.
“Yes,” I said softly, stroking his cheek with the palm of my hand.
He fell back asleep. I stayed there, in his arms on the kitchen floor, remorseful, foolish, and hopeful that he’d forgive me.