Page 143 of Vicious Little Snakes
But he doesn’t stop coming to stand in front of me, his big hands cradling my face as I speak, “I love you, but I don’t know if I’ll ever stop doing this—weighing me over you. How fucked up is that? I’m selfish and sad, Liam. I’m so fucking broken that even the boy I’ve loved almost my whole life, loving me back, isn’t enough to fix me.”
“So that’s it,” he levels, staring down at my tear-filled eyes. “This is your, what? Your goodbye? You letting me off the hook? Do you think I don’t fucking know you, Carebear? Because I have news for you. I don’t need you to choose me. I choose you. All of you. Every fucking twisted and broken thing about you—I choose it. Because you are what I’m good at. That’s what I figured out during the last few months. Everything else in my life will always fall into place as long as I mind my duty—you, Carebear.”
He blows out a shaky breath as two tears stream down his god-like face. I bring my hands up between his arms, wiping his cheeks with my palms. How can he love me so much that he’d let me ruin him?
“I don’t deserve happiness, Liam. People likemedon’t deserve it.”
In the end, that’s what it boils down to. I fight for all the clout and the appearance of belonging because that’s all I’m allowed. But Liam—he’s true love, and I’m not entitled to something so special.
Liam’s lips fall on mine, kissing me like he’s trying to make me take it all back. He pulls away, staying close to my face as he whispers, “We don’t end, Caroline. You’re my Love-a-Lot.”
The breath catches in my chest.What did he just say?The memory attacks me like a goddamn lifeline—me sitting on the floor of my room as Julia lays out my dinner clothes.
“What’s that you have?” Julia questions, holding up a cardigan to me as I shake my head.
“The other part of my birthday gift from today.”
My finger runs over the puffy belly of the cartoon bear sticker, still thinking about how much he smiled at me.
“That boy must be very fond of you, Miss Caroline.”
My eyes lift. “What makes you say that?”
“Well,” she offers with a smile. “That’s a Loves-a-Lot Bear, or is it Love-a-Lot. I can’t remember but it’s from the Care Bears—I watched it as a kid. So I’m guessing he must loves you a lot.”
My eyes narrow on Julia, looking for a hint of humor, but there’s none. She’s serious.
“Is he very nice?” she asks, turning toward my jewelry box.
“Yes.”
Julia holds up a pretty silver necklace, and I nod as she adds, “And smart?”
“Very.”
I lean back on my elbows, watching her.
“And good?”
I’m nodding. “The best.”
“See what I mean?” she says like I’m supposed to know the answer.
I wrap my hands around his wrists, tugging them from my face as I turn away from him, rushing toward my purse, zipping it open.
“Stop walking away, Caroline.”
My hand rummages through my Valentino as Liam comes up behind me, trapping me with palms on either side of the granite countertop.
“Why can’t you believe in us?” he pushes. “You don’t have to be perfect. You and me—we don’t work without each other.”
A bunch of shit spills from my purse as I search frantically for the thing I need, hands shaking as my whole heart spills out too.
“Oh my God. Where is it?”
I’m spun around just as my hand grabs what I’ve been searching for.
“Make sense,” Liam says, gently staring down at me.
