Page 146 of The Design of Goodbye
“Liam?” I whispered.
He shook his head, wrapped an arm around his stomach, and didn’t move.
A few minutes passed before he sat up. “Sorry.” He let out a long, trembling breath. “I’m okay now.”
He did look better, but I was still worried. “When did you last eat?”
“Maybe McDonald’s a few days ago.” He shrugged, too casually. “But I don’t remember.”
“Your stomach’s probably not used to food,” I said. “How about we go to sleep?”
Relief washed over his face. “Okay.”
Once we were settled in bed, he moved a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” I said. “How’d you escape?”
With his good hand, he traced random patterns on my wrist. “Dad got sloppy. We were playing poker, and he forgot something in his truck. He added a special lock on the front door so I couldn’t get out without the key, but he forgot to lock it. I ran.”
I pointed to his wrist. “But he almost caught you.”
“Almost.”
“I hate that he hurts you,” I said. “Ihatehim.”
“I do, too,” said Liam. “But I only need to live with him for five more months and then I’m gone.”
I sat up. “You’re not going back there!”
“I have to,” he said. “I’ll be okay. I’ll stay away for a few days and then go back. He’s going to get tired of working so much. He’ll need me to start making money again.”
“Are you even listening to yourself?” I didn’t bother to keep my voice down. I wanted my dad to hear us. “Your dad kept you locked in your house for eleven days.Eleven. You can’t live with him anymore.”
“It wasn’t an ideal situation, but I’m okay.”
“Not an ideal situation?” I tried hard not to get angry. Liam had been through a lot—he didn’t need me upset—but I’d never thought he’d want to go back. “I can’t handle you missing again. It was too much.”
He pulled me back down onto the bed. “I’ll be okay.” He kissed me. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”
It pained me to say it. “Promise.”
His body sagged in relief. “Good.” He took his glasses off and rolled onto his stomach, facing me. “I’m going to sleep now.”
He fell asleep quickly. I didn’t sleep. Instead, I stared at him—at his freckles I’d yet to count, his messy hair, and his lips I never thought I’d kiss buthad—wondering if I really would lose him. If this would be the last night I could call him mine because I’d done the one thing I’d promised him I’d never do.
Lied to him.
chapter fifty-five
Every Sunday morning, my dad would sit on our back porch, drink coffee, and make his grocery list. When I was little, I used to join him. I’d beg him to add muffins, cookies, and cakes to the list. Food he’dneverbuy instead of baking himself. He’d add them to the list anyway, but that afternoon there’d be fresh blueberry muffins or cupcakes waiting for me instead of store-bought ones.
I wished I’d come upstairs with the intent to bring back our tradition. I wanted to walk onto the back porch and beg for cheesecake, maybe even some chocolate chip cookies. But instead, I needed help.
As soon as I opened the back door, my dad glanced over his shoulder. He was bundled up in a jacket, a beanie with theSalt & Pepperlogo—two cute salt and pepper shakers—and a thick scarf.
Underneath it all, he smiled. “This is a nice surprise, but it’s early.”
I wrapped the blanket I’d been carrying around myself like a cocoon. I’d been outside only a few seconds but already felt cold. I wasn’t sure if it was from the early morning air or the impending conversation I was about to have.
