Keeping my back to him, I listen as he gets up. His crutches creak as he moves across the kitchen, almost giving me a heart attack when he comes up behind me.

  “Maybe we can take a break, and I could come back later this evening?”

  His voice is different now, deeper, yet his vulnerability shines through. Not that it’ll break me. He doesn’t have that privilege anymore.

  “No can do. I’ve got to get to work soon.”

  “I don’t support you?”

  His shock drives me off the deep end.

  Slamming the knife down, I spin around and find he’s closer than I thought. It would only take one step to diminish the space between us.

  “I look after myself. I’ve never asked for a penny from you, and you’ve never offered. You should really believe everything you’ve been told. We weren’t heartbroken exes. We hate each other.”

  His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

  I turn back to prepare my dinner, praying he gets the hint and leaves before I physically escort him out.

  “Where do you work?”

  Sighing, I tighten my hold on the knife and look over my shoulder.

  “Let’s not do this. I understand you can’t remember, but I do. I’ll never forget how much we hate each other. Given your circumstances, that’s the only reason I’m talking to you today.”

  “Hate, though? That’s such a strong emotion.”

  “Yet it fits us perfectly.”

  “I thought perfection was an illusion?”

  His smile has me turning back to the onions. I refuse to let his smile lead me to a past when I received them thousands of times before he broke me.

  “When can I come back and hear the rest of our story?”

  “Come by tomorrow. We’ll finish this, and then we can go back to being enemies.”

  He doesn’t reply, and I listen as he hobbles out of the kitchen toward the front door.

  I could do without an eight-hour shift tonight. I’m emotionally drained, and wish I could just go back to bed.

  Thank fuck it’s busy tonight. I serve drinks, wipe down the bar, serve more drinks, wipe down the bar. I do this on repeat for nearly two hours before the rush dies down. Being busy is what I need, because it stops me from dwelling on Liam fucking Harris.

  “Gabs, take your break.”

  I could kiss Rory, but he’s my boss.

  Rolling my head around to stretch my neck, I chuck the towel onto the bar. After a quick stop to grab my smokes, I sit on the plastic crate out back of the bar and light up. With every inhale, I relax a little more. I used to think my life was boring. Nothing ever happened that was exciting. Looking back, the only events in my life that blew me apart were bad things. My father’s death was one of those things, and I miss him today as much as I did when I was fifteen. Then the bullshit with Liam.

  I long ago came to terms with not expecting good things to happen to me, and I dealt with it. As long as nothing could hurt me, I didn’t care if the good times didn’t reach me. I just didn’t want to live with the bad, and so far, I’ve managed that.

  Finishing my first cigarette, I light another, knowing I won’t get the chance to slip out before the end of my shift.

  I close my eyes, wanting so badly to get some sleep. Then suddenly, they spring open, and I jump up to my feet.

  Could Liam be playing me? I believe he was in an accident; I saw the state he was in, and you can’t fake that, but his memory loss? Is that true? Could this be another trick of his to somehow get back at me?

  Taking a deep breath, I dismiss the notion. Even Liam wouldn’t dare to be so publicly vulnerable now as an adult.

  From the whispers I’ve heard in passing, his band’s been trying to contact him, and they’ve cancelled their upcoming tour. He has too much to lose nowadays to pull a stunt like before.

  Walking back into the bar, I dump my smokes into my bag and stumble when I see Liam sitting at the bar, nursing a beer.

  For fuck’s sake. He needs to get his memories back and leave town. It’s one thing to show up at my house, but it’s another to show up where I work. It’s too much.

  “Surely you shouldn’t be drinking alcohol?” I grate out as I take my position back behind the bar.

  “Worried about me now?” he snorts, and for a single second, I’m met with the husband I’m used to.

  “Not particularly. I just don’t want to have to call for an ambulance. It’s bad for business.”

  Surprisingly, he pushes the beer away and asks for a water.

  “My mom told me you work here, in case you were wondering,” he tells me as I pass him his water.

  “I wasn’t.”

  There are only three bars in town, so it’s not exactly a coincidence he walked in here.

  “Apparently, she’s only talking to me now because I nearly died.”

  I stop wiping the bar and look at him. I was prepared to ignore his presence, but this surprises me.

  “When did she stop talking to you?”

  “From what I’m told, she kicked me out and refused to talk to me after I…”

  I’m not surprised this new him can’t speak to the words of his own cruelty.

  I didn’t know his mom felt bad enough for me to kick him out. Molly Harris became a second mom to me, and I loved her. She was kind, and she made me feel at home whenever I was at their house. I haven’t heard a peep from her in six years, though. Not once did she reach out after her son made me the laughingstock of the town.

  I’m grateful when he doesn’t speak for the rest of my shift. I can’t do small talk with him, but I am expecting him to bombard me with more questions when I finish my shift.

  His eyes follow me everywhere I go, but I refuse to look his way. Mentally, I go over my bills to distract myself from thinking about him being here.

  “I’ll clean up tonight. There’s a snowstorm rolling in, so you should get home before it gets here.”

  “Thanks, Roar.”

  I grab my coat and bag from the back and find Liam still sitting at the bar when I return. But he only has my attention for a second before I spot Cain walking in.

  “Have I missed last call?” His voice fills the empty bar, and Rory laughs.

  “You know you have, and we both know you’re not here for a drink.”

  I smile, knowing he’s talking about me, and I bite my bottom lip.

  “I didn’t know you were back in town,” I say to him.

  Cain is a sales rep for a huge pharmaceutical company and spends most of the year on the road.

  “I got back tonight.” Grinning, he raises his brow, letting me know exactly what he wants when he pulls me against him and squeezes my ass.

  Cain and I have a friend with benefits type of relationship. It works for us, and we really do have great sex. The man is good at scratching my itch.

  “How about I follow you back to your place?”

  “How about you take your fucking hand off my wife’s ass.”

  Cain, hearing Liam, finally notices him there. Dropping his hand from said ass, he turns to face my bitch of a husband.

  “Your wife?”

  “Did I stutter?”

  Liam’s fuming, but his anger doesn’t even begin to match mine. How dare he? He takes a limp step closer to Cain, and I quickly move so I’m in between them.

  Looking at Cain, I say, “I’ll call you tomorrow.” Looking to the man who has no right to any opinion on any aspect of my life, I growl, “Let’s go,” and shove him until he’s limping outside and onto the street.

  “What was that bullshit?” I snap, not caring to keep my voice down.

  “He had his hand on your ass!”

  “So? He’s done a lot more than grope my ass.”

  “Are you really going to call him tomorrow?”

  I could scream.

  “Don’t tell me you’re jealous? You have no right!”

  “On paper, you’re still my wife—”

  I cut him off before he has a chance to finish that sentence. “Paper means nothing, and Cain isn’t the only guy I’ve fucked. He’s just one in a long line of men who’s pleasured me.”

  Revulsion ripples over him, and I step closer to him. “Because you can’t remember, I’ll fill you in. You, Liam Harris, have not been a fucking angel in the last six years, even though you’re still my husband on paper. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many women you’ve had, but I know the ones you’ve been photographed with have been in the hundreds. Don’t you dare double standard me, you bastard.”

  Holding his hands up, he steps back. “I’m sorry. I just…” He finishes with a sigh, losing his fight, but my anger is still simmering.

  “How did you get here?”

  “A cab.”

  I point to my car farther up the street. “Get in. We’re finishing this tonight.”

  There’s no way I could sleep after this shit, anyway. I need Liam Harris out of my life.

  The first half of the short drive is quiet, for which I’m thankful.

  “Don’t call that guy tomorrow,” he murmurs.

  I snort. “Liam, I’ve been awake since you woke me up this morning. I don’t plan on going to bed until I’ve finished our story, which means I’m too fucking tired to play games with you. Besides, after dealing with you, I’m going to need someone to help me vent my frustrations.”

  His growl fills the silence, and I can only roll my eyes. I’m not his wife. I’m not even his friend. And I’ll be damned if I rearrange my life because he asks me to.

  I pull up outside of my house, but instead of getting out of the car, I dig out my phone and bring up Google.

  I type in Liam Harris women, and bring up the images when the results appear.

  Turning my phone so he can see the screen, I scroll through numerous images of him with different women coming out of clubs, awards shows, holidays, and on and on.

  He turns his head to look out the window, but I’m not done.

  “You’ll like this one,” I insist sarcastically and click on an article about his sex tape, released a few years ago, just after he hit it big.

  “You remember her? You should track down the tape. It might trigger a memory of you getting blown at some party and then fucking her doggy style back in your hotel room.”

  “Don’t,” he growls.

  “No, you don’t. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you at the moment, but don’t you dare expect me to play wifey just because I’m giving you the time of day. You asked for my help.”

  Tossing my phone back in my bag, I pull the keys from the ignition and throw open my door.

  I don’t wait to see if he follows, but he’s behind me by the time I unlock the front door and follows me inside.

  Grabbing a beer and a water from the fridge, I motion for him to sit in the living room. I can’t bear the thought of my ass sitting on the wooden kitchen chair right now. Passing him a water as he sits on the couch, I twist the cap off my beer and fall into the armchair.

  I actually think it will help to rehash the worst time of my life while I’m in this mood, so I begin…

  Chapter Eleven

  Senior Year: Graduation

  I’ve been looking forward to graduation since the day I realised my mom’s drinking was a problem. But as I stand in line to receive my diploma, all I can think about is getting married tomorrow. Me, Gabriella Prescott, is marrying Liam Harris. Not once I have doubted my decision.

  My name is called, and I climb the steps and walk across the stage. The whole thing is bizarre. I started the year counting down the days until I could get out of here, and I’m ending the year engaged to the love of my life. With my diploma in hand, I search for my mom in the crowd, but all I can see is the Harris’s waving and cheering for me.

  It's sad, because I know if my dad were still here, he and my mom would be sitting there proudly, watching me graduate.

  As soon as we’re told we can go, everyone is on their feet, and Liam is seeking me out through the crowd.

  “We did it.”

  “We certainly did!” I squeal.

  “And tomorrow…”

  “Liam! Gabriella!”

  His mom pushes through the crowd and has us in her arms before we can pull apart.

  “I’m so proud of you both,” she coos.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Harris.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Molly.”

  I blush as she releases us, and Liam pulls me close against him.

  “We know you have plans, but we want to take you both out to dinner first.”

  She leaves no room for arguing and pulls me toward her, forcing Liam to let me go.

  “First, we need pictures, Mol,” Mr. Harris reminds her.

  I can’t help but laugh at her flustering.

  I love my mom, I really do, but after seeing how happy and put together Molly is, I’m glad she isn’t here. I don’t have to worry about her making a show of herself, or worse, falling asleep in her seat because she drank too much before coming. Molly is like a mother sent to me from God himself.

  This is the last party Ethan will throw, and it’s the best one yet. It’s like everyone is partying harder, dancing and drinking high school away. I throw back the shot Bella passed to me before joining her and Alice on the dance floor in the living room. Throwing my arms in the air, I move to the beat of the music, blocking out everyone around me, all but Liam. I feel his eyes on me the whole time.

  I always knew life would change after high school, but in less than twenty-four hours, Liam’s and I’s lives are going to change in ways not many experience at our age.

  I get to begin my life with him at my side. I’ll never have to be alone. Everything good that happens, I’ll get to share with him. Everything bad, I’ll be able to get through because we’ll get through it together.

  I’m not naïve. I know it’s going to be hard most of the time, but it doesn’t sway my decision to commit myself to him in every way possible.

  Hands grip my waist, and a hard chest presses against my back. Keeping my eyes closed, I push my ass into him. His growl spurs me on, and I sway my hips, keeping my ass firmly against him.

  His hand runs up my stomach and around the ring, still attached to the chain. With a few swift movements, he has the chain off and is sliding the ring onto my finger.

  “There’s no reason to hide now.”

  My white, knee-length dress is layered with lace, and could be worn as casual so as not to raise any concerns with my mom when I left the house. And just like the first time Liam picked me up, I’m wearing my boots. He grins when he notices.

  “You ready?”

  I give him a beaming smile that won’t go away as he pulls out of the driveway to take us to the courthouse.

  “Have you got the rings?” I ask.

  He pats his pocket before reclaiming the wheel. “I double checked before I left the house. Stop worrying. Everything is good.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  “The guys are meeting us there.”

  This is really happening. We’ve been talking about it for months, and it didn’t feel like it would ever get here.

  Driving one-handed, he takes my hand and rests it on his thigh. These are the moments I cherish, and get turned on by. He loves and needs me. I have it all.

  “Are you nervous?” he asks, breaking through my thoughts.

  “A little. You?”

  “Not even a little bit.”

  “No?”

  “What do I have to be nervous about? I’m doing the one thing that means I get to keep you forever.”

  The officiant speaks, but I can barely hear him. All I see is Liam standing before me, repeating the vows. I nearly forget how to breathe when he slides the ring onto my finger.

  “Now, Gabriella, repeat after me.”

  I repeat my vows and slide the ring onto his finger.

  “I now declare you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Liam grins and leans in. I’m prepared for a quick peck on the lips, but he picks me up and kisses me, sweeping his tongue inside, and continues long after what I’m sure the officiant deems appropriate. Giggling into his mouth, he finally pulls away and lowers me back onto my feet.

  “I promise you a wedding night you’ll never forget,” he whispers, placing a quick kiss on my forehead.

  To celebrate, Liam and I spent the late afternoon and evening with our friends at the cliffs, drinking beer and eating takeout pizza Callum and Alice brought. Bella, as usual, played music from her phone, and when Liam asked if I was ready to leave, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

  I remember the conflict of wanting to sleep with Liam, and still having doubts. Tonight, I have none as we head up to our hotel room. Sliding the key card into the lock, he swings the door open to the suite. Stepping inside, I take in the sleek silver walls and enormous bed with stark white sheets. Rubbing my arms, I walk farther into the room and see a large vase of white roses.

  Liam comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist while resting his chin on my shoulder.

  “Any regrets?”

  Turning in his arms, I wrap mine around his neck. “Absolutely none.”

  “You hungry?”

  “No.”

  “You want a drink?”

  “No. I want my husband to take me to bed.”

  I expect him to smile, or smirk, or show me he’s as excited as I am, but his eyes darken. Running the back of his knuckles down my cheek, he asks, “Are you sure? We don’t have to do this tonight.”

  “I want this. I want you, Liam.”

  Slipping my finger under my dress strap, I slide it over my shoulder and down my arm. Repeating the action with the other strap, I push the dress down over my ass, letting it drop to the floor. Liam and I have done things, but I’ve never stood before him in only my underwear.

  His lips brush against mine, his hands roaming from my hips to the backs of my thighs. Lifting me, my legs have barely had time to wrap around him when he lowers me onto the bed. He deepens the kiss, grinding his erection against me, sending searing hot desire rippling through me. Working his shirt buttons, I undo them without breaking the kiss and shove it down his back and arms. I’ve always been attracted to his physique, and tonight there’ll be nothing between us. We’ll be as one, and I’m more than ready to connect with him in ways I haven’t before.