“Liam, what are you doing here?”

  “I was in the hospital long enough to know their food is the worst. I wanted to make sure you got something decent to eat.” He holds up the box. “Julio’s, your favourite.”

  “Thanks. That’s so thoughtful.”

  Connor snorts, and we both look to him. For a moment, I forgot all about them.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, man?” he spits at Liam, then turns to me. “You can’t seriously be at a point where he’s bringing you dinner ’cause your mom’s in the hospital. You’re not a fucking fool, so don’t act like one.”

  “Hey, don’t speak to her like that,” Liam warns.

  Cassie grabs onto Connor’s hoodie sleeve, and I move into his line of sight to block out Liam.

  “I’ve told you before to stay out of my business, Con.”

  “Maybe if I didn’t stay out of it before, he wouldn’t have made you the laughingstock of the town. He’s not going to do it again. In fact, I’m in the mood to kick his ass for hurting you the first time around. Maybe I should kick his ass twice for when he next hurts you, little sister, because he fucking will, and we both know it.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Connor,” Liam grates out.

  “The fuck you talking to me for?” Connor bellows, his voice growing louder by the second.

  Looking over my shoulder to Liam, I say, “You, sit down, and keep your mouth shut.” Glancing at Connor, I say, “You, out in the hall. We need to talk, and you’re going to listen.”

  Thank God they both do. The last thing I need is to be kicked out of the hospital because two grown men can’t keep themselves under control.

  Out in the hall, I close the door behind me, knowing Liam will be fine with Cassie.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Gabriella. We both know I should’ve killed him the first time around.”

  “Shut up. Just shut your mouth for one second.”

  Shoving him farther up the corridor, I make sure we’re well out of earshot and away from prying eyes before punching him in the arm.

  “Why the fuck you hitting me for?”

  “If I wanted his ass kicked, I’d do it myself. I appreciate you offering, but I don’t need you to protect me. I know how to do it myself.”

  “Yeah, looks like it,” he huffs, clearly not believing me.

  “If you weren’t so quick to jump in with what you think you see, you’d know him showing up here uninvited to bring me food and coffee is playing straight into my hands.”

  That gets his attention.

  “What are you talking about now?”

  “What I’m about to tell you, you can’t tell anyone, and you have to act as you normally would. If you mess this up for me, I’ll never forgive you.”

  “Okay,” he drawls, frowning.

  “I’m not playing husband and wife with him. You think I could ever be his wife and forgive him for what he did? I’ve been playing him, letting him think we’re trying to sort our shit out.”

  “To what end? How is that him paying for what he did to you?”

  The last piece of my plan hits me, and I smirk.

  “Because when he tells me he loves me, I’m going to make sure he walks in on me fucking some other guy, and it’ll destroy him. He feels fifty shades of fucking guilt over what he did, and he’s genuinely trying to make it up to me. He thinks I’m letting him.”

  “Christ,” he says with a sigh. “I suppose it’s easy to play with fire when you’re possessed by the devil.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve already been burned. How bad can burning scars be?”

  “Axle would be proud of you,” he finally says with a smile.

  “He’s not here, so he’s not a worry. Will you keep your mouth shut?”

  “Of course I will. But so you know, guys don’t show up like this if they don’t love the girl.”

  “Then I best start looking for someone to fuck to ruin the hell out of my husband.”

  “Christ, Gabs, like I need that image in my head.”

  Rolling my eyes, I brush past him and head back to the room. Before opening the door, I make sure my brother is on the same page as me.

  “Just act like you hate him, but keep your mouth shut.”

  “Easily done.”

  Liam sits up straight when we walk in, and the smell of pizza hits my senses. I’m actually kind of grateful he thought of me.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yep,” I tell him, taking a seat in the chair beside him.

  Cassie stares at Connor, but he shakes his head, and they sit back in their seats as I open the pizza box.

  Taking out a slice, I offer them all a piece, but no one wants any.

  “I can go if you want. I just wanted to make sure you got to eat.”

  I smile. “Thank you. And I’d like it if you stayed.”

  He looks across to my brother before squeezing my thigh.

  Chewing the barbeque deliciousness, I wonder what it would be like if our marriage was real, and I could rush to my mom’s side knowing I had him, as my husband, to lean on to support me.

  My thoughts are interrupted by Cassie.

  “I thought you were going to bail your brother out? Or are you staying now because he showed up?”

  Oh, come on. I thought this was over with.

  “Drop it,” Connor warns.

  “Why? I just checked our balance. It would wipe us out, but there’s enough. I mean, you know he’d end up causing us to lose the lot, but…”

  “Leave it, Cas. I’m not going to bail him out, so you don’t need to keep going on about it.”

  Liam leans in closer to me and lowers his voice. “Do you want me to bail him out? I have the cash. I wouldn’t miss it if he caused me to lose it.”

  Before I can politely turn him down, Connor sits forward in his chair, arms resting on his thighs, glaring straight at my husband.

  “Axle would rather stay where he is than accept your money.”

  Liam nods, and I breathe long and hard, happy when the silence fills the room. For the rest of the night, we sit in awkward silence, waiting on news of my mom.

  Opening my eyes, I lift my head from Liam’s shoulder. Fuck, my neck is stiff, and the aches shoot down into my back. Stretching, I notice Connor and Cassie are missing from the room.

  “They went for breakfast.”

  Liam’s voice has me looking over my shoulder where he sits next to me, looking like he hasn’t gotten a minute of sleep.

  “Are you hungry? I could go out and get you something,” he offers.

  “You’re so thoughtful now.”

  The words are out before my brain kicks in, and I slam my hand over my mouth as his face falls.

  “I don’t know why I said that. Sorry,”

  “Don’t be sorry. You know the differences in me better than I do. I just want to look after you, especially when your mom’s in the hospital. I don’t want you worrying about anything you don’t need to.”

  My brain kicks back in, and I force a smile. Where this man is concerned, I have to worry about anything and everything.

  “I’m not hungry, but you should go home. No doubt we’ll hear something soon.”

  If the doctor had given us an update, I would’ve been woken by now.

  Sliding his hand on top of mine, he says, “Don’t ask me to leave you here. I want to stay.”

  Leaning in, I brush my lips against his and pull away.

  It’s getting harder not to fall into his web again. I can’t afford to get caught.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Liam

  I smile down at the new camera on the passenger seat I picked out for Gabriella for Christmas, wrapped in Christmas paper with a bow on top. It’s about time we capture the moments between us that are real. Sitting on top of that is a diamond necklace tucked safely in the velvet box. I could’ve gone overboard on presents for her, but she doesn’t strike me as someone who would like to receive such extravagant gifts. Perhaps next Christmas, when things between us are more stable.

  I’m not confused by my feelings for her, and I’m not holding back in letting her know, either. I’ll always be open and honest with her from now on, and I pray we have a genuine relationship this time next year.

  I don’t even care if my memories ever come back. I’m more than happy to go forward as I am now, getting to know who she is again, and be the guy she can trust in return. And hopefully, fall in love with.

  It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m excited for tomorrow. The guys tell me I usually hate the Christmas holiday, but with them back in L.A., and me spending the day with Gabriella, I couldn’t imagine hating a second of it.

  I make my way up my parents’ front path and knock on the door. Every time I visit, she tells me I can let myself in, but it doesn’t feel right.

  It’s Dad who answers, wearing a butt-ugly Christmas sweater, and a don’t-say-a-word face when I struggle to hold in my laughter.

  “You laugh now, but your mom has one for you and your brother.”

  I follow him into the kitchen, smelling freshly baked cinnamon cookies, and my stomach rumbles.

  “I’m glad you’re finally here. You can pick up your brother from the airport with your dad in a couple of hours.”

  Shit, this is going to be brutal.

  “Actually, I stopped by to tell you I’m spending the day with Gabriella, but we’ll come over the day after.”

  The heartbreak on her face is fleeting, but it lasted long enough for the guilt to set in. When she told me we hadn’t spoken since I blew out of town and why, I could understand. I vowed I’d make it up to her as much as I’m trying to do with Gabriella.

  But I need this time to prove to my wife that I’m not that guy anymore, and that people can change—that I have changed.

  “I promise next year, I’m all yours.”

  I dump the bag of gifts onto the counter, but she doesn’t seem interested or excited about them now.

  “Well, how long are you gracing us with your presence tonight?” she asks sarcastically.

  “I’ll be here till around eight.”

  “Then that will have to do, I suppose.”

  I spend the day listening to Mom and Dad’s stories about me when I was a boy. Pure light radiates from them as they reminisce about the son they raised. I’m fifteen years old when they start to tell me how moody I became, apparently for no other reason than simply being a teenager and going through puberty. They recall how I got myself into fights and suspended from school five times before I met Gabriella. Once her name is mentioned, the conversation dies, and Mom excuses herself to check on the cookies in the oven. Glancing down at my watch, I note the time and follow her into the kitchen.

  “I’ve got to go, Mom. Gabriella will be getting home soon.”

  She had errands to run today, and she wanted to check in on her mom. She was discharged from hospital and was told to rest. She told me to come over around eight, and like an eager puppy, I don’t plan on being late.

  “Make sure you’re here the day after tomorrow, or you’ll miss seeing your brother.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Rain pelts my face as I jog over to the car. Once inside, I use a towel from the back to wipe away the droplets.

  Pulling away from my parents’ house, I take it easy as the windshield wipers work overtime to clear the rain, and my heart pounds in my chest. The last time I drove in the rain, I didn’t wake up for six days, and couldn’t remember anything about my life. Flashing lights spread across the darkness, and I come to a slow stop where a police officer is standing in the middle of the road, stopping traffic.

  Beyond him, a car is smashed against a streetlamp, and paramedics are working on someone a few feet from the car.

  Before I can wonder too much about it, visions flood through my mind. I’m at school. I’m in my room at my parents’ house. I’m hanging out with friends. I’m younger. I’m older. I’m on a stage, singing. I’m with women. I’m so drunk, I stumble and fall down the stairs at my house in L.A., and find it funny after.

  Squeezing my eyes closed, my head continues to swim with the sudden bombardment of memories resurfacing. A pressure builds, shooting pain across my forehead. Kissing Gabriella in her childhood bedroom. Holding her hand as we walk through a Christmas market, and us standing before each other in the courthouse and taking our vow.

  They’re all there. Every memory, the good and the bad.

  Fuck. Me.

  I barely remember to lock the car as I jog across her lawn with my gifts and overnight bag. Shoving the key she gave me into the lock, I open the door and wipe my feet on the mat. She’s been nervous about my memories returning, and I can’t wait to tell her they’re all back, and that nothing has changed. I’m still in love with her, still feel like a complete asshole for betraying her, and I still want to make up for the pain I’ve caused her.

  The downstairs is quiet, and I put her gifts under her tree, readying them for the morning, before heading into the hall.

  “Gabriella, where are you?” I call out.

  Popping my head into the kitchen, she’s not there. All the lights are on, and her car is out front, so she has to be here. Heading for the stairs, I climb them two at a time and swing around the banister when I get to the top. Her bedroom door is ajar, and everything shatters when I push it all the way open.

  That fucking asshole Cain from the bar is shoving his legs into his jeans, his chest bare, and Gabriella is under the sheets, clearly not wearing a fucking thing.

  “This—”

  “Cain, shut up.”

  Gabriella cuts him off and sits up. I was mistaken. She’s wearing a bra, so she’s not completely naked.

  I can barely look at him as he throws his shirt on. It’s her I can’t look away from. She holds my stare, showing no guilt over being caught.

  The corner of her mouth tugs up at the corner, and her brow arches. I refuse to move out of Cain’s way when he tries to leave the room, forcing him to squeeze by me.

  He knew she was my wife, and he still came here. But it’s not him I have the problem with. This is on my so-called wife.

  As angry as I am, this fucking hurts, the two emotions fighting to outdo the other.

  “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d be here till later,” she says, dropping the sheets and pulling on her ugly ass sweats.

  “You told me eight,” I grind out.

  “Did I?”

  She reaches for her hoodie, but I move fast and snatch it away from her.

  “What the fuck, Gabriella?” I roar, squeezing the fabric in my fist as a tear rolls down my cheek. I guess the pain is winning.

  Crossing the room, she stands before me and wipes it away, staring at the wetness on the pad of her thumb.

  “Maybe if you shed another million of these, you’ll feel what I did six years ago.”

  Her voice is calm and in full control.

  “You planned this?” My voice nearly breaks.

  Her eyes never stray from mine when she asks, “Did you honestly believe I could ever trust you again?”

  I grow cold as realisation slaps me so hard, I can feel the sting all over my body.

  “You never planned on even trying to trust me, did you? You’ve been playing me from the beginning.”

  “It was too easy, Liam. You should know, you found it as easy to destroy me. Just because you lost your memories, didn’t mean I changed. Your lack of knowledge and arrogance just made it easier for me.”

  Backing away from her, I clench my hands and slam my fist into her drywall, leaving a hole.

  “You deserved to feel what I did—”

  “Well congratulations, you’ve just fucked me up. You win.”

  I can’t stand to look at her for another second. Turning to leave, I tell her over my shoulder, “My memories came back on the way over here, all of them, and nothing changed for me. I would’ve spent the rest of my life making it up to you, whether I remembered or not. I guess we’re just not meant to be. I hurt you, and you’ve hurt me. I guess we’re finally even.”

  She was the first to have her heart broken, and as she stands there, it’s my heart that’s breaking while hers begins to heal.

  She was never going to forgive me. She just needed me to hurt as much as she has.

  Leaving her standing in the middle of her room, I jog down the stairs and slam the door on my way out. Numbness creeps all through my body, and all I wish I could do is forget the last ten minutes.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Gabriella

  I played the game, I won, and it doesn’t feel good. Not at all. Guilt begins to set in, and I catch my reflection in the mirror. What’s happening to me? It took me six years to see him crushed, just like he crushed me, and I finally achieved it. Yet tears stream down my face, and I don’t feel like I achieved anything.

  I set it all up for Liam to catch Cain here. I wanted him to walk in on us having sex, but as soon as I got down to my underwear, I couldn’t go through with it. Cain managed to fully undress, but when he heard Liam shout out my name, he was jumping back into his clothes as fast as he could.

  When Liam walked in, it was too easy to let him believe I had slept with Cain and still achieve ruining him.

  He needs to feel the pain he caused me. He needs to feel it to truly understand what he did to me, and dammit, I deserved revenge. He didn’t just embarrass me in high school, he annihilated my reputation, as well as my heart, because I really loved him.

  He said his memories came back, and he still wanted to be the new him, and now regret is starting to consume me. Not knowing what else to do, I scream and throw my pillows at the wall.

  Running downstairs, I grab my car keys and notice presents under the tree, two of them from Liam. Knowing I was going to destroy him before tomorrow morning, I didn’t bother getting him anything.