Page 74 of The Wedding Engagement

Arran didn’t waste any time. He closed the gap between him and the now solitary Liv. “Hey.”

She startled, her voice hesitant. “Hi.”

His confidence wavered. “Can we talk?”

Liv opened her mouth, pausing for a second before any sound came out. “Sure.”

Taking her hand, he led her a little way back, away from the other groups of people. “How’re you feeling after we gave the statements?”

She nodded. “Okay, thanks. I’m glad the police are involved and can sort it before the guy does any actual harm.”

“Good. You can talk to me, though, you know? If you feel anxious about anything.”

She smiled, her green eyes lighting up, and for a second, he was lost at sea.

“I appreciate that,” she said. “You’re a great friend.”

“Yeah. About that.” He took a breath, feeling like he was climbing out on a limb, where the cliffs fell away beyond the lighthouse. In his mind’s eye the wind buffeted him, and sharp rocks and rough seas lay below. He rubbed his chest. “Friends don’t kiss each other the way we did last night.”

“I know,” she said quickly, and for a moment, his heart lifted, pushing away the hollow feeling in his chest. Was she going to say what he hoped? But before she could continue, his phone began to ring in his pocket. And he knew it would be Jess.Fuck.

Liv looked him in the eyes, and he could tell she knew it too. “You’d better answer,” she told him. “It might be something about Jayce.”

He pulled the phone out, also concerned that might be the case, but suspecting it was more likely to be one of Jess’s newfound, but very regular, check-ins. He answered it, taking hold of Liv’s hand when she looked as if she were about to move away and shaking his head.Stay, he mouthed at her.

He quickly answered Jess’s usual questions, about what he was doing and whom he was with. Then he made an excuse and ended the call.

He took a breath. “You were saying. About the kiss.”

She studied him for a few seconds, blinking as she searched his face. She was trembling a little and worry mounted in his heart. She opened her mouth, then glanced down at where his phone was still in his hand and closed it again. After another couple of seconds, her voice came out strained. “I don’t really know what to say, to be honest.” She blinked, her eyes wet.

His heart rate spiked. “Hey, it’s okay.” He held out his arms to invite her in but gave her the space to decide whether to take him up on it, rather than going in to touch her. She immediately came to him, letting him envelop her in a hug, nestling against his front. “What’s wrong? Did I do something to hurt you?”

“No, no, not at all,” she said quickly, shaking her head against his chest. “Everything I said was true and I wanted to kiss you so badly. But then when we got back to the house I just felt so sick and panicky and…I just…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

He stroked her hair, wishing he could make it all better for her.“Is it that guy from last night? It was a really traumatic event. And then giving the statement must have been hard.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Her voice was small. “But I feel like it’s something else too. I’ve felt like this before when I…” Her voice trailed off.

“When what, Aggie?”

She sighed. “It doesn’t matter.”

He hesitated, wanting to help her but not wanting to push too hard. “Is it anything to do with you becoming Jayce’s teacher? I don’t want to cross any boundaries you aren’t comfortable with.”

“No, it’s not that.” She fell silent, and he didn’t know what to say for the best. All his instincts said there was something she was hiding, a secret she kept to herself. But perhaps it was something unconscious, rather than an issue she was able to put into words. He didn’t want to push her before she was ready to try.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here for you, whenever you feel ready and able to talk about it.”

She squeezed him tight. “Thank you. That means so much to me.” He felt her swallow hard against his chest. “I’m sorry for being fucked-up. I shouldn’t have kissed you when I’m such a mess.”

Arran pulled back and lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “You don’t have to apologize to me. You’re always there for me and everyone else, and I need you to know that I want the privilege of doing the same for you.”

Her chin wobbled, her eyes welling up. “I’m so glad I’ve got you as a friend.” She blinked a few times, clearly struggling to keep the tears in, and it wrecked him. “I don’t want to lose that with you. Please tell me I haven’t spoiled it.”

He shook his head gently, stroking her cheek in an attempt to comfort her. “Never.”

She gave him a wobbly smile. His beautiful, brave girl. He would wait for her to be ready to talk to him, as long as it took.

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