Page 62 of Between Secrets and Obsession
“Maddie, please go wait inside,” Liam pleads, then finishes signing some paperwork.
I roll my eyes and do as he says although I want to push his buttons until he stops acting like a jerk. Five minutes later, he’s barging through the front door with the keys in his hand and glaring at me as I jump up from the couch.
“What the hell, Liam? How can you afford that?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“What does it matter?” he asks, walking into the kitchen, but I follow him.
“Because it does. You’ve been acting weird, and I know something’s going on.” I wonder how much money he won on this Vegas trip, considering what’s sitting in the driveway.
He narrows his eyes. “Don’t worry about it. Drop it.”
I scowl at his tone and the way he’s treating me like a child. Anger brews with every second that passes between us. Liamgrabs another beer and walks past me again. I’m tempted to trip his ass but trail him instead.
“So just pretend you didn’t have a maxed-out Mercedes delivered to our house? Right.”
“Yeah,” he says, plopping on the couch. “Mind your own business for once.”
“What’s your issue?”
Standing over him, I place my hands on my hips. My infuriating gaze nearly burns a hole in his head.
As if I snapped him back to reality, his demeanor changes. There’s something behind his eyes—fear and anger—and they’re mixing.
“I already told you I have a lot on my mind.” He flicks on the TV. “What do you want from me?”
“How about the truth?” I raise my arms, then drop them with a slap. “What’s really going on? Why are you being such a dick and so secretive?” I ask, realizing I’ve raised my voice. Sophie and Mason aren’t home, so it doesn’t matter, but I hate it when I lose my temper. And right now, I’m at my limit with him.
Liam stands and closes the gap between us, then places his hands on my cheeks. As he lowers his eyes, his shoulders slump. “Mads, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be an asshole, okay? I’m really stressed and don’t mean to take it out on you. Will you forgive me?”
I study his face, contemplating walking away because I’m so frustrated. Instead, he grabs my hand and pops a brow, looking cute as hell. I’m weak because when he gives me that look, it’s impossible for me to stay mad at him.
When I shrug, not wanting to give in right away, the corner of his lips tilts up in a smirk.
“Are you hungry? I can make you something. Or we can order food.”
I suck in a deep breath, then nod. “You know the way to my heart, don’t you?”
“How about pizza and a movie? I’ll even let you pick one of your girly rom-coms.”
“Now you’re just trying to bribe me,” I tell him matter-of-factly, shaking my head at how easy it is to let him back in.
Liam chuckles. “Is it working?”
“I guess. But I’m gonna find a super cheesy over-the-top romance just to make you suffer.”
I plop down on the couch and search through Netflix. I don’t bring up the Mercedes or his trip out of town for the rest of the night, though my curiosity nearly eats me alive. Although he’s sitting as far away from me as he possibly can, at least he’s not acting like a dickhead. But regardless, it’s hard not to take it personally when he lashes out at me.
It’s been almost two weeks since Liam bought that luxury vehicle. He still hasn’t admitted how he can afford it or where it came from, regardless of how much we’ve pestered him about it. We’ve all silently agreed to let him be because he’s like a vault. He’s not budging, and we don’t want everyone tense around each other.
The school year has finally come to an end, and I had to return to my on-campus apartment to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind before turning in my keys. While I’ve beenliving at Mason and Liam’s house since the end of November, I decided a few months ago to move in permanently. It feels too much like home to leave.
As I fold a pair of shorts, there’s a knock on my door. I tell whoever it is to come in
“What’re your plans this afternoon?” Sophie asks.
I look at the huge-ass pile of laundry on my bed, then back at her. “Dunno, thought I’d maybe bury myself in these clothes.”
“AndLiam’s clothes.” She snickers, walking over and sitting on the bed next to me. She pulls a pair of his boxers out of my basket.
