Chapter 21
Aria’s POV
Liam's breath was slow and heavy as I guided him up the stairs to our—no, his—old house. His weight sagged against me as he stumbled, the alcohol slowing his steps, and I half-carried him through the door.
“Come on, Liam,” I muttered, shifting his arm over my shoulder to keep him upright.
The past loomed large here, but I pushed the thoughts away. Tonight wasn’t about reliving memories—it was about getting Liam into bed before he passed out in the hallway.
We reached the bedroom, and I eased him down onto the mattress. His eyes fluttered open briefly before closing again, his head lolling against the pillows.
I stood there for a moment, watching him, his face relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen in years. He looked peaceful—almost vulnerable.
It was so far from the confident, stubborn man I’d dealt with earlier at the gala. Shaking my head, I turned to leave, but as my hand reached for the door, his voice—faint but clear—stopped me in my tracks.
“Aria.”
I froze, glancing over my shoulder. He wasn’t fully awake, but his voice had cut through the silence.
“Stay,” he mumbled, his words slurring together, but the request was unmistakable.
His words shocked me, but I didn’t let it show. I sighed, my hand dropping from the doorknob.
“Liam, go to sleep,” I said softly, turning back toward him.
He didn’t respond, his breathing deepening as he drifted off. For a moment, I thought he might already be asleep, but something about the way his hand rested on the empty side of the bed felt… like a plea.
A whisper escaped my lips before I could stop it, barely audible even to myself.
“Why won’t you let me be free?”
But of course, he didn’t answer. I stood there, torn between leaving and staying, the weight of everything pressing on my chest.
He was in no state to care for himself tonight, and though I wanted nothing more than to walk out that door and leave him to deal with the consequences of his own actions, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not yet.
With a resigned sigh, I walked over to the couch by the window.
It was old and uncomfortable, but it would do for the night. I grabbed a throw blanket from the armchair and laid down, my mind racing despite my exhaustion.
The room was too quiet, the soft sounds of Liam’s breathing the only reminder of his presence.
Morning light streamed through the blinds, warming my face as I stirred on the couch. My neck ached from the awkward angle, but the discomfort wasn’t enough to keep me lying there.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced over at the bed.
Liam was still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. He looked better now, more like himself.
I stood up, stretching my sore muscles, and quietly made my way to the kitchen. After rummaging through the cabinets, I found a glass and filled it with water before grabbing the Advil from the drawer.
Back in the bedroom, I placed the glass and pill bottle on the bedside table, then scribbled a quick note on a scrap of paper.
For the hangover. Take it easy.
I hesitated for a moment, staring down at the note. Then, with a sigh, I turned and left, pulling the door closed gently behind me.
When I got home, Isabel was sitting on the couch with Joe, who was engrossed in his morning cartoons. She looked up as I walked in, her face softening with relief.
“Thanks for watching him on such short notice,” I said, offering her a tired smile.
She waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. You okay?”
I nodded, but I could tell from the way her brow furrowed that she didn’t believe me.
Before she could press further, the door opened, and Logan stepped inside. His expression was serious, his eyes locking onto mine the moment he saw me.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Isabel said, sensing the tension. She ruffled Joe’s hair and headed toward the door. “I’ll be around if you need anything.”
Once she was gone, Logan stepped closer, his jaw tight. “We need to talk.”
I crossed my arms, already sensing where this was headed. “About what?”
“About Liam.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for evasion. “And about us.”
I sighed, glancing away. “Logan, I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“I want you to be honest with me.” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “Do you still have feelings for him?”
The question hung in the air between us, heavy and loaded with more than just curiosity. I swallowed, unsure how to respond. My feelings for Liam were… complicated.
I wasn’t even sure I understood them myself.
“I… don’t know,” I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either.
How could I explain the mess of emotions tangled up inside me when I couldn’t even make sense of them?
Logan’s expression hardened, frustration flickering across his face. “Aria, you can’t keep dodging this. I need to know where you stand.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. I couldn’t give him the answer he wanted, not when I didn’t have it myself.
Logan sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
“Look, I get it. Liam’s complicated, and so is your past with him. But I’m here, Aria. I’m offering to help you—whether that means handling the divorce or just being here for you. I’m not asking you to make any decisions right now, but… I need to know that you’re not going to keep me at arm’s length forever.”
His words hit hard, and I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check.
I didn’t want to hurt him, but the truth was, I wasn’t ready to let go of everything that had happened with Liam. Not yet.
“I’m not keeping you at arm’s length,” I said softly, though the words felt hollow even as I spoke them.
Logan studied me for a long moment before nodding, though it was clear he wasn’t satisfied with my answer.
“Just… think about what you really want, okay? I’m here, Aria. But I won’t wait forever.”
Later that afternoon, as I sat on the couch with Joe, my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced down and felt my stomach twist at the sight of Liam’s name on the screen.
It’s not over between us, and you know it.
I stared at the message, my heart pounding in my chest. The words were simple, but they carried the weight of everything we hadn’t said to each other—the arguments, the history, the unfinished business that still lingered between us.
I closed my eyes, leaning back against the cushions. Logan’s offer, Liam’s message… it was all too much.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted, or if I even had the strength to cut ties with Liam once and for all.
Joe tugged at my sleeve, breaking me from my thoughts. “Mom, can we go to the park?”
I forced a smile, ruffling his hair. “Yeah, let’s go.”
As we headed out the door, I couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how much I tried to move forward, Liam would always be there, pulling me back into the past.
