Pieces Of You & Me (11 page)

Me:
Hey Jo, Liam is here. I’ll meet you there. Sorry we can’t go shopping today. I’ll make it up to you soon. Love ya!

With Liam here, the last thing I needed to see were the people from school, but I promised Josie that I would be there with her, amongst our peers. She wanted to meet a new guy tonight and if I backed out now, I wouldn’t forgive myself. She had always been there for me and she needed me tonight. With or without Liam, I was going to be her friend first.

My phone beeped. Glancing at it, I saw that Greyson had sent his reply.

Grey:
On my way home. I need to see you.

Shit. No. I groaned. I had been hoping that he’d be easy to put down. Not a chance by the looks of it.

Me:
I’m not home. I’m with him in his hotel room.

Was that rude? Then again, I needed to be upfront about things. Besides, we didn’t have anything to talk about. It wasn’t like we were really serious about each other. Right?

Grey:
Which hotel? I’m coming to get you.

OMG. Was he crazy? Liam would cause
an uproar.

Me:
It’s over. I’m sorry.

One minute passed and there was still no reply. After it hit the three-minute mark, I resigned myself to thinking that he’d accepted my apology.

Chapter 20

Liv

“Olivia?” Liam lightly tapped on the door. “Is everything okay in there?”

“Yes, I’ll be out in a minute,” I called out, almost out of breath.

I was still in the bathroom, seeking solace and some much needed space. Grey hadn’t responded and I was relieved that he hadn’t pursued it any further, but at the same time, I felt bereft. It was as though I had lost something significant.

One week—seven days—and I felt attached to him. Some way, some how, he’d got into me.

Last night… I remembered how sweet and accommodating he was. How hungered his kisses had been. Even in school, the way he looked at me showed his evident hunger. I hadn’t seen any of the usual women who hung onto him, Edith and Tiffany most especially.

Every single day, he kept to his promise, not pushing me. Even though at times he looked like he could combust from the sexual tension, he still managed to stop at the last minute. He never pushed. He never pestered me about going all the way with him. So far, heavy petting and kissing had satisfied his hunger, and boy was he hungry last night.

Touching my bruised lips from last night’s Grey onslaught, I closed my eyes and tried to part from his memories.

No more Greyson Edwards
, I silently lipped over and over again.

Once I knew I was ready to face Liam, I took a deep breath and practiced an easy smile in the mirror. “Be happy,” I whispered to myself.

Exiting the bathroom door, I casually strode into the bedroom, peeking at the man who was lounging in bed with his shoes on, deep in thought.

“Hi,” I blurted out.

He looked straight at me with an unreadable expression. What was he thinking? He looked too serious.

“Can I join you?” I squeaked, wanting to move forward. Memories of me jumping in bed, cuddling and spending our afternoons daydreaming about our future assailed me.

This was Liam.
My Liam
.

He lightly tapped the other side of the bed in invitation. Slowly, I moved towards him, feeling the heavy weight of his stare. I felt prickly, and in a limbo. Taking my shoes off, I tried to avoid his gaze as I placed my things on the black lacquered side table before cautiously getting on the king sized bed.

Before my head managed to hit the pillow, his strong arms scooped me up, making me curl against his body. For a moment, we were lost in thought. If I closed my eyes, I knew I would be back with him in Sydney. Just like old times.

“I would stay up late, picturing what life would be like with you living with me,” he started. “Going to university together, sharing meals, sharing friends and making new memories…” He took he deep breath, pausing. “You were always in them, you know.”

Swallowing the heavy lump in my throat, I flung an arm around his waist, holding him close. “I love you, Liam.”

He rolled to his side, hugging me tight. “Please don’t ever forget that,” he murmured, smelling my hair. “I wish I could stay here and be with you.”

“Soon…” Time will pass. We just had to make it through. What was another seven months? If you really thought about it, it would be here before I knew it.

“Hold me.” Don’t ever let go…

***

Dinner came, and it was only Mom and Brett who joined us. Brett made an excuse for his son, though, stating that he was at his girlfriend’s house and had already made plans for the night.

I wasn’t sure if his excuse was made up or if that was what Grey had told him. Either way, that statement bothered me. A great deal. It made me wonder if he’d had a girlfriend all along. I mean, he had only seen me at night. Whatever he had done with his time in between, I knew nothing about. So yes, I supposed it was normal to wonder.

It was past ten when Liam and I reached Jet’s house. Since it was our last night—our only night together—I knew I had to bring him along.

He was tired and I felt bad about bringing him, but he’d wanted to meet Josie and he had promised that he’d leave after an hour or so. After the party, I could have Josie drop me off at home or maybe to his hotel room. He made sure I had gotten an extra key before we left the hotel to meet Mom and Brett for dinner.

One other thing I hoped to do tonight was to privately speak to Grey. I just wanted—needed—to make sure that things were okay, that there was no misunderstanding between us. Amicable was how I pictured things to go forth after what had happened. I would have to hope this idea wasn’t wishful thinking.

Jet’s house was a mere five minutes away from our home. Even though I had been here only a few times, I somehow knew my way around. In the kitchen, I found Josie amongst other people from our school. By the looks of it, my friend was already buzzing incredibly well. Liam was right behind me when Josie spun around and spotted us, waving and squealing.

“Oh, my gosh! You’re even hotter than hot in person!” she greeted us, holding out her hand before I managed to say anything. “I’m Josie, BFF and all that entails!”

Sheesh, I was holding back a laugh as I peeked sideways at Liam, who seemed to be enjoying the fawning of my so-called BFF. “Nice to meet you. And you’re just as Olivia described—bubbly and extremely full of life.”

Josie swooned. “Your accent… Do you have a brother? A friend?”

I rolled my eyes, needing to intrude. “How about you slow down on the drinks then maybe you can ask him questions because, right now, you’re being a hot mess.”

She snorted. “Loosen up, Olivia.” She then brushed me off, glancing at Liam. “Why is she so cranky?”

I hadn’t been trying to be hurtful; I really hadn’t. My words had come out wrong. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired.” Or maybe I was to wound up knowing that Greyson must be somewhere around here.

Jet’s house was full of party people, and by the looks of it, they’d been going at it for a while.

“I’ll forgive you as long as you take a shot.” She went to a nearby table that had all of the shots prepped and ready to go.

I was a guilty bitch. Sighing, I grabbed what she shoved at me, sniffing the clear drink. “Vodka.” My face contorted at the thought of downing it, but I did it anyway. Liam was soothing my back when I felt the heavy, fiery burn of the alcohol travelling from my throat to the pit of my stomach, making me a sick. Damn, that was strong.

Josie grinned at me, flipping her hair to the side. “Thanks, babe. I’ll look for you in an hour or so. I know your frosty self will have thawed by then.” She kissed my cheek before giving Liam one as well.

I wonder what Liam thinks about our friendship
, I mused.

“Nice friend of yours,” he murmured in my ear, pulling me close. “Wanna dance?”

I was just about to say yes when I saw Greyson at the far end of the living room… with a new woman beside him. I stared at him for a while, trying to get his attention, but I supposed he didn’t see me, or maybe he was simply ignoring me because Grey and I used to treat each other like that.

With that, my hopes of being civilized were dashed. I guessed he had resorted back to how we were, and that was the best solution after all.

Lightly, I held Liam by the hip before whispering into his ear, “Can you get me another shot? I’m up for whatever you want afterwards.”

“You’re on,” he murmured, his voice raw with desire.

One shot was what I had planned, but I ended up with two. If that didn’t show how nervous I was… I didn’t know what other disaster that night would bring.

The makeshift dance floor was vast, so I chose the farthest place possible away from Grey and his girlfriend.

Liam and I danced, but halfway through the song—with my body thrumming from the alcohol—Liam’s surprise visit and Grey’s ability to pretend like I didn’t exist anymore had left me feeling too wound up… and I needed to let loose. Clear my mind of anything and just start…
feeling
.

Oh, how I was feeling that strong, muscular body against mine. My entire summer had consisted of me memorizing this body…

“Liam,” I pleaded.
Bring me back to you.

It was as if he just knew. In a heartbeat, I was up against the wall, caged in by his frame while his lips and hands were everywhere on me. He felt like a man who hadn’t had anything to drink in days. His kiss was amazing, yet it lacked the scorching fire that only Greyson could deliver.

My eyes were closed, however when I heard a loud thud, my eyes snapped open to a set of tiger-eyes lasered in on me.

It was Grey, making out with the woman, but his eyes were darting hatred at me. Liam was so distracted from consuming my body that he didn’t notice, yet I was stuck between kissing him and having a silent argument with Greyson. He was angry. There was no mistaking that now.

Not once did his hate-filled stare waver. He was trying to prove a point and I wasn’t sure what his message was.

What I did know was that I couldn’t stand there and witness this calamity.

“Liam.” I sought his eyes, cupping his cheeks. “I’ll meet you back in your room.” My eyes flickered back and forth, knowing that he was on the edge of losing his control.

He nodded, kissing me again for the last time. This time I dared not glance at the couple next to us.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Pasting on an encouraging smile, I replied, “See you in a little bit.” I waved my goodbye before I sprinted out of there and looked for Josie.

My plan to speak to Greyson tonight wasn’t happening. Especially not when he looked like he planned to tear me to shreds. Jet also lived in the pool house, so I knew some people were over there as some were littered across the garden.

I was walking past the loosely graveled pathway of the garden when someone snatched—no, it was more of being bulldozed—me to the side and pressed me against a tall bush, which blocked anyone from view.

“What the shit!” I screeched. Every fiber in me knew who it was, but I was still fuming. He could have at least warned me or something, not scared me shitless.

“How dare you bring him here!” Grey hissed a few feet away from me. He looked like he wanted to scream, but was barely holding his temper in check.

I folded my arms, sending him a stony glance. “You have a girlfriend? When the fuck did that happen?”

He scowled. “I don’t have a girlfriend—what the hell did you expect, huh? You think I can sit through dinner and pretend like nothing’s happened? How insensitive can you be?”

I hadn’t been trying to be insensitive. I truly hadn’t.

Staring at him, I sought for understanding. “It was only seven days, Grey.”

His handsome face dropped. “
What the fuck was I to you then?
Just someone to mess around with?”

Why was he so angry? It had only been a week. I knew he and I had become close, but to be this invested? It was disconcerting.

“Grey, you’re being irrational,” I tried to reason with him, make him understand where I was coming from, however he seemed beyond that.

“I’m irrational,” he spat back. “Right.”

He was. I had never seen a man this angry—not towards me anyway. “You need to understand where I’m coming from. Liam and I—”

“I won’t allow you to be with him,” he bit out. “I
hate
seeing you with him.” He looked like he’d swallowed poison, flinching at the words.

Excuse me? The last time I had checked I was still my own person. “Why’s that, huh? Just because you and I had something going on, that doesn’t mean—”

“
Because you’re fucking mine!
” he yelled at the top of his lungs with his chest heaving and his eyes flashing at me like hard, crystal daggers.

All breath left me. My heart was suddenly running a marathon as his words sunk in. What made me shiver was the look he had. It was a look that told me that he believed his words; that I was seriously his.

“
Whatever gave you that idea?
” I managed to whisper, shocked.

“You’ve always been mine,” he murmured, looking torn. “You just wouldn’t allow it.” He sought my eyes while I glanced away, feeling too much.

I shook my head, denying everything he’d just spewed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Grow the fuck up!”

He gave me a cutting glance; the wound went straight into me. “I am growing up. That’s why I’m trying to reason with you. You’re making a mistake here.”

Something about the way he said things, it seriously ticked me off. It was as if he just knew. He was being a self-entitled jerk and I wouldn’t put up with the shit. “
You’re the mistake
. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you—”

He turned cold
; his eyes so dark that I felt their chill. “Well, then, I guess I’m done being such a fucking mistake.” 

I watched after him, hoping I could undo the hurtful words we’d
exchanged, yet I knew I couldn’t say anything that would make him come back without compromising what I had with Liam. I had to make a choice. And I did.