I’m allowed to say that because I was there from day one. From the moment their eyes locked, their futures were sealed. You get that, right?” It’s a funny thing trying to describe Em and Louis to someone who hasn’t witnessed their love affair in person. If I hadn’t been there from its inception, I may not believe it, either.
I’m in the midst of verbalizing the greatest love story I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing first-hand and I can sense Liam’s withdrawal; he isn’t looking at me, I’m not even sure he’s listening. “Liam!” I want him to keep looking at me as I try and make him understand. He opens his blue eyes but he stares straight up at the ceiling. “Liam, if Emily were your sister, you would sleep well at night knowing that Louis Bruel loves her, only her. I’m sorry about your own sister. I don’t know what happened exactly and neither do you, but she did what she did to herself, and you can’t blame yourself or Louis for causing any of it. She made that choice to take her own life.
“I can’t do this with you if somewhere in the back of your mind or in your heart you believe that you and Emily have a future. I won’t stand for it as her best friend and I won’t stand for it as your next lay. She and Louis are happy together; they have two gorgeous children and enough memories and good times to fill books. I won’t let you try to hurt them to avenge the death of your sister. That’s my deal breaker, if you have feelings for Emily as more than a friend then you need to leave.” His response will tell me everything I need to know; his words will decide our involvement. He doesn’t answer me. It’s a bit eerie just waiting for him to say something. “Liam, if there was even a one percent chance in my mind that you and Em could one day end up together, I would never in a million years be kissing you or having anything resembling sex with you. Do you understand that?” He nods his head but continues to look away. “Can you tell me what happened that night in St. Lucia? I need to know.”
He turns his head to look at me and I can’t decipher his look—is he mad, sad, or just defeated? “I know she loves him,” he whispers in a hoarse voice that sounds broken.
“So, why are you so hell-bent on seeing her?” That’s a logical question; if he knows she’s with the man she loves, why would he try to cause trouble and rip them apart?
“Isa loved him, too. I was worried that he was treating Emily the way Isa described him treating her,” he mumbles, suddenly appearing nervous.
“I don’t know what your sister described in that book, but I can assure you Louis has never physically hurt Emily, not even accidently. He treats her like a precious heirloom. And those kids are the luckiest kids in the world, you couldn’t design a better father than Louis if you tried.” I know my words are hurting him. If Louis is suddenly a good guy and hate is out of the equation, Liam will have no one to blame for his sister’s death.
He starts biting his nails, illustrating his nervousness. “He had parties, where sometimes he invited ten men to have their way with my beautiful sister, right in front of him. He got off on seeing her raped and humiliated in front of him. He would sit and watch while his friends tied her up and did things that I can’t even say or I’ll start crying like a fucking baby.” He puts his arm over his eyes as if trying to block out his imagination that no doubt paints a horrible, vivid scene. It’s hard for me to imagine his sister writing and describing such events, let alone living though them, if they actually happened. I’ve only ever had sex with one guy, so having ten men fuck me in every hole while my boyfriend watches doesn’t sound like a treat. I squeeze his hand, knowing that what he just told me must hurt like hell.
“I’m sorry, that sounds disgusting and horrible and I can’t believe you had to read that, but I’m sure he doesn’t do things like that with Em if you’re worried. Em wouldn’t allow it.”