Page 131 of Our Radiant Embers

“Go get your man.”

“I intend to.”

And I had the whole drive to figure out just what it was that I wanted to say.

* * *

The gate still slid open automatically. So they hadn’t locked me out yet.

I drove into the compound, Lila the Drone zooming above me, and got out of the car. The thud of the driver’s door set a counterpoint to the quiet evening, light already dimming on the eastern edge of the sky. Their security system would have alerted them to my presence, so I leaned back against the hood and waited even as my skin crawled with the anxious desire to see Liam now, now, now.

When the front door opened, I shot upright.

Oh—Laurie. My pulse tripped over itself, then steadied even as she stared at me with her arms crossed, brows pulled together into a dark frown. “You are an utter twat,” she informed me.

I nodded. “Yeah. But I need to see him anyway.”

“And why the fuck would I let you do that?” she asked.

“Thank you, Laurie.” Liam’s voice floated to us from further inside the house, and something in me tugged loose. “I’ll take it from here.”

She didn’t budge as she glanced over her shoulder. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I am.” He sounded closer now, and when I caught my first glimpse of him, it was like water rushing in my ears. He looked…God. Beautiful, because he’d always be beautiful to me, but he also looked tired and drawn, like he’d maybe even lost a bit of weight.

And it was my fault.

With a put-upon sigh and a warning glare at me, Laurie stepped around her brother to head back into the house. She pulled the front door shut behind her, leaving us alone in the front yard. I barely noticed her departure, too focused on Liam. Even in a crowded room, you’re the only one I see.

“Liam.” Just that—just his name. It was all I could think to say.

“Adam.” He pressed his lips together, assessing me. I knew I looked just as bad as he did, the dark circles under my eyes evidence of too little sleep and too much time spent thinking about him. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to…” I needed to see you. I need you. “I need you to take better care of yourself.”

His chin firmed. “Pretty sure you lost the right to tell me that when you walked out on me.”

“I know.” I inhaled and took one small step forward, towards him. “But I really need you to take better care of yourself.”

He closed his eyes for a second, a barely noticeable quiver to his mouth, and oh God, I just…I wanted to reach for him, but I didn’t think I was allowed. His shoulders rolled back as he fixed me with a hard stare. “Fuck off, Adam.”

Just like the last message he’d sent—except his voice was rough and desperate, like he didn’t really believe in what he was telling me. I bit the inside of my cheek, then shook my head. “No.”

“And why the hell not?” He blinked away a wet sheen to his eyes. “You did such a good job the first time.”

“It damn near killed me.” I rubbed at my forehead, voice dipping low because yeah, it had. “Like—Jesus, Liam, I probably stared at you for a fucking hour before I made myself move.”

He didn’t say anything for several seconds. Then—“You’re still wearing it.”

What? Oh, the bracelet. I didn’t even notice it anymore.

I tried for a smile and took another tiny step towards him. The evening sun cast long shadows onto the area in front of the Morgans’ home. “I haven’t taken it off since you gave it to me.”

“No. No.” He crossed his arms, a stubborn shadow falling over his face. “You don’t get to do this, Adam. I fell so fucking hard for you. Even though I knew there was a snowball’s chance in hell you’d love me back, I still fell so fucking hard for you. You don’t get to mess with my head like this. If you’re not going to stay?—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I cut in.

“And why the fuck should I believe you?” It came out harsh, but there was an underlying ache to it.

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