The girl’s face scrunched. “Why?”
“Because you don’t take people’s photos without their permission. Now, give it.” When she hesitated, I plucked it from her hand.
“Hey!” she protested. From my peripheral vision, I saw Liam move to calm the girl down, and I think I heard him offer something about an autograph. I was too focused on the phone.
I tapped on the photo icon, my stomach churning as the photo of Liam and me appeared. He was looking at me with such adoration. I didn’t have time to care. I hit delete and then double-checked to make sure there were no others. I handed the phone back to the girl. “If you want to be allowed back, you don’t take photos of anyone in this café without their permission.”
The girl stuffed the phone into her pocket and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’ll just go to the bakery, you’re crazy.” And with that, she turned and left.
I let out a slow breath and realized that my entire body was trembling. That was so close. If she hadn’t accidentally used a flash, I never would have known she took a photo. It could have been on the cover of a tabloid, and I wouldn’t have known until Garrett was at my doorstep.
My breaths came even quicker, short pants that had my fingertips tingling. I knew I was moments away from a full-blown panic attack. I glanced at Liam. “You should go.” My words came out half-choked.
Liam eyed me, concern filling his expression. “Tessa, everything’s okay.” He reached out a hand to rub it down my back, but I stepped out of his grasp. “What’s this all about? I know it was rude of her but—”
I couldn’t catch my breath. I needed to be alone. I needed to focus on my calming exercises. But I couldn’t with Liam here. “Leave! Please—” My legs began to crumple as dark spots danced across my vision.
“Fuck!” Liam caught me just before my knees hit the floor. “Tessa! What’s going on?”
“Can’t breathe.” My chest felt as though it were in a vise. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get a good breath.
Liam pulled out his cell. “I’m calling an ambulance.”
I batted at his arm. “No!”
Liam’s brows pulled together. “Why the hell not? I can’t help you!”
I shook my head, hoping he’d listen. “Five. Things.” The words were wheezed, but they came through. Liam looked even more confused. “Liam. Tile. Table. Chair. Window.” The breaths I took between each word burned.
“Five things.” I fisted Liam’s shirt. “Shirt.” I shakily planted a hand on the tile. “Floor.” It took more effort to bring that hand back to my leg. “Jeans.” I ran the hand down to my feet. “Boot.” Then to the side of the shoe. “Zipper.”
My heart was beginning to slow. My breaths didn’t hurt as much. “Five things.” I inhaled slowly. “Lemon.” I knew from what we used to mop the floor. “Tea and honey.” Another inhale. “Cinnamon.” One more. I sucked air deep into my lungs. Crisp. Clean. Something totally unique. “Liam.” The final word came out as a whisper.
My eyes flew open as a hand ghosted over my face. Liam cupped both of my cheeks in his hands. His eyes blazed with an unnamed emotion. “Please don’teverdo that again.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “You just took ten years off my life.”
My breathing hitched, but for a whole other reason. I pushed at Liam’s chest. “Let me go.”
Liam pulled back, hurt filling his eyes. “What did I do?”
I couldn’t let myself see the pain in his expression, couldn’t allow myself to take it in. I needed him away. Gone. For good. I had been such an idiot to take these risks, thinking my past wouldn’t catch up with me. “I can’t be anywhere near you.”
Liam pushed to his feet. “Why the fuck not?” Anger tinged his words, but I wasn’t afraid.
I hugged my knees to my chest as I leaned back into the counter. “I can’t tell you why. I just can’t.”
Liam ran a hand through his hair, pulling roughly on the ends. “We spend every day together for weeks, and you don’t even have the courtesy to share why you’re telling me to get the hell out of your life and not look back?”
I threw my arms wide, frustration getting the best of me. “Because if even one picture of the two of us gets out there, he’ll kill me!”
The room went wired. We both froze.
Liam’s jaw was so tight, it was a wonder he didn’t crack a molar. “Who?” I’d never heard his voice sound like that. Ice-cold. Lethal. I never would have thought he had it in him. But he did.
I pressed my back harder against the counter, wanting distance between me and that cold rage.
Liam squeezed his eyes closed as if in pain. His hands flexed and clenched, over and over until he seemed to get himself under control. “I’m not mad at you, Tessa.” His eyes flared open. “I want to gut whoever has made you live your life in a constant state of fear.”
The tension between my shoulder blades released ever so slightly. “He’s not worth it.”
