“It was always Ruby,” he snarls. “Always. Even when I was with you.”
She’s visibly taken aback by his statement, but she composes herself long enough to get into her black Mercedes and drive off.
“I’ll follow her,” Nico says. “Make sure she doesn’t try anything stupid.” He drives off as she disappears from view, and I turn my focus back to Liam.
“You didn’t have to lie,” I whisper.
“Who said I was lying?”
There’s sincerity in his eyes, and maybe that shouldn’t stun me, but it does. I see it all with perfect clarity now. All the years of friendship, his steadfast loyalty, the record collection and ticket stubs, all those nights on the tailgate, and every intimate embrace… they all add up to something far more meaningful than I realized. Something I’m not quite ready to name.
Liam brings his lips to mine in a soft, unhurried kiss. The warmth of his embrace flows through me, settling deep in my weary bones. My hands move of their own accord, slipping into the hair at the base of his skull. He groans into my mouth, and the sound reverberates through me like a tidal wave crashing on the shore, mirroring the events of the night before and what led us to this moment.
We’re both breathless when we pull apart. I close my eyes and rest my cheek against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart beating in tandem with mine. Neither of us speaks. We don’t have to.
After a prolonged moment on the porch, we go inside. Liam tugs me onto the couch and wraps me in his arms again, like he can’t stand not to be touching me at all times. I lean into his chest and pull out my phone to dial my lawyer.
The call rings through the speaker, and the line clicks over. “Hello?”
“Hey, Adam. Is there any way you can get me information on someone? Her name is Breanna…” I pause, trying to recall a last name.
“Astor,” Liam says. “At least, it was.”
“Breanna Astor.”
Adam repeats the name back to me, and I hear him type it into his computer. “May I ask why?”
“She’s trying to blackmail me. She has pictures and videos of me and Liam in a… compromising position. I need to know what we’re up against. The sooner the better.”
“Fuck, Ruby. I’m on it. Stay out of trouble in the meantime.”
“I’ll do my best.”
The call ends, and I release a long, steadying breath.
Liam palms my head and kisses my temple. “I’m sorry.”
My brows draw together. “What are you sorry for? We’re in this mess because of me.”
“No. We’re in the mess because Breanna is a greedy bitch, and she saw an opportunity to make money. This isn’t on you.”
“You warned me. And if we hadn’t been so careless yesterday, she wouldn’t have that video to hold over us.”
“I’m positive she would’ve found something else. Judging by those photos, she’s been following us for days—ever since we gotback from Nashville. Stop blaming yourself for things you can’t control. Where’s the Ruby who said she was going to fight like hell?”
“Maybe I’m tired of fighting.”
“Then I’ll fight for you. You’re not alone in this.”
I close my eyes and let his presence soothe my frayed nerves. It’s so like Liam to be the calm in my storm—to say the right thing when I need him most.
I’m not sure how long we stay like that, the moment broken only by the quiet creaking of a door down the hall.
“Dad?” Aiden peeks his head around the corner, his eyes red-rimmed and blotchy.
“Hey, bud. Come here.”
Connor comes out behind him, and I give him a subtle nod of appreciation. He reciprocates with one of his own before retreating into the kitchen.
