Page 66 of Break Point
Tobias is a stunner. I wonder what his brother William looks like inperson, because Tobias is somehow even better-looking than he is on the big screen. And Gemma’s without a doubt reacting to his beauty. She’s a fan of his and always wanted to meet him.
“I’ll text you the address of that Thai place I was telling you about,” Tobias says, placing his hands on Liam’s shoulders and steering him toward the door.
“Thanks!” Gemma replies with a coy smile. It’s funny and unusual seeing her act so shy around a guy when she’s usually the picture of flirty confidence.
Robbie steps aside to let Liam and Tobias walk out the front door. He turns to Gemma and asks if they can have a word. She says a final goodbye to Liam and Tobias before following Robbie, who’s already heading toward the living room.
I can’t let him leave like this.
The thought hits me square in the chest before I even register it.
“Liam, wait,” I say, rushing outside to stop him.
He turns around, his face unreadable.
“I’ll start the car,” Tobias says, walking away.
Without thinking twice, I throw my arms around Liam’s waist and hug him. It might not be the best idea, but I care about him, and I want him to know that. I need him to know that.
He hugs me back, and that’s what undoes me. My chest cracks open, and the tears come fast. I already know I’m going to miss him.
For a split second, the question creeps in.Am I making a mistake by letting him go?He’s been good to me. Loyal. Steady. But that tiny whisper of doubt? That’s not love. It’s guilt and grief pretending to be love. And I know that now. Deep down, we were never meant to last.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, pressing my forehead against his chest.
“Goodbye, Belén,” he says softly. “I hope you get what you’re looking for.”
I stay there for a moment, watching him walk away, feeling the weight of everything that’s shifted in the past twenty-four hours settle over me.
And now I have to face Henry.
I don’t know what I’ll see in his eyes. Regret? Distance? Hope?
One look, and I’ll have my answer.
CHAPTER 17
NECIO
I eatmy words and take them back. Henry’s eyes give nothing away. His body language is stoic, and I can’t read him as he sets up the court for practice. My first guess? He’s not thinking about last night’s kiss. It doesn’t seem like it, but it might be better this way.
The last time I checked, my face and lips were pale. I have no idea how I’m supposed to pick up the racket sitting next to me on the wooden bench, let alone get up and work on my serve like Henry instructed. Especially when more people than usual linger around the court’s perimeter fence trying to catch a glimpse of my training, as has come to be expected on weekends.
I’ve learned to ignore them.
It’s usually my mom’s nosy friends who can’t stop ogling Henry. They keep forgetting he’s in his early twenties. It’s awkward as hell.
Some of Henry’s friends from school are here, too. The deplorable physical state I’m in today makes me feel exposed and embarrassed. And since I won’t be putting on the tennis pro show they’re likely hoping to see, hopefully they’ll get bored and leave.
“Get up, Belén,” Henry orders without looking at me, but I remain seated. “Let’s go.” He’s not calling me Bells. That’s not a good sign. “I’m going easy on you today because you’re hungover and jet lagged.”
Finally, he looks at me, his lip curling into a wicked side smile I don’t think I’ve ever seen on him before. He’s onto something. I know it.There’s no chance he’s “going easy on,” not after last night. It’s painfully clear he’s choosing to ignore everything that happened at Gemma’s, which only makes me want to crawl into bed, shut the blinds, and stay there all day.
“One hundred serves,” Henry says with a clap. “Oh, and no NEHBLing. Once you’re done, you can shake it off with a five-mile run on the treadmill.”
“Shake it off?” I scoff. His idea of going easy on me is exactly what I expected.
“It’ll help flush the alcohol out of your system,” he adds, like that obvious fact is supposed to convince me this is a good idea.
