“Aiden was turned was twenty years old that day. He was bigger that Liam. So, it was easy—although completely unintentional—for him to pull Liam down as he was trying to fight to get out of the pool.”
God…my heart starts racing along with his, an image of that day now playing in my own head. I almost don’t want to hear the end of that story but, I need to.
“I don’t know what made me abruptly stop everything I was doing. I don’t know how I dropped my phone and ran out of here like my ass was on fire. God, I have no idea how I fucking knew I had to go to the indoor pool, but I did.”
“You don’t have to continue…”
“I want to.” He cuts me off. “I got there, but both of them were already drowning. Liam was weak from trying to get Aiden’s hold on his neck off and Aiden was yelling so he was drinking the water and getting weaker.”
Oh God, both of them almost drowned.
“I don’t even have time to process what has happened. I don’t have time to blame anyone. I just dove in, got them both out and went to work CPR on both of them. I don’t remember how my parents came rushing in. I don’t remember how Dad took over to pump Aiden’s chest and give me mouth to mouth. I don’t remember my mother’s hysteria when she thought Liam was dead. All I remember is by the time the private doctors came, Liam was alright and Dad had Aiden in his arms, almost sobbing.”
There’s a note of disbelief in his voice as he says that. Like he can’t believe John ever did that.
“But that was the wake-up call for Mom. She not only packed her own bags but she packed all of us up, bought a mansion of her own in upstate New York, and we were gone.”
“Wait, you left?” I don’t know what that hurts me. For some reason the thought of Julian not in the same room, let alone the same state as me brings unimaginable, blinding pain to me.
“Yeah well, it was only for a few weeks. St. Jude is still the best high school to play sports at, especially when you want to go pro.”
“So, you moved back?”
“Only after I knew Aiden was alright and happy. He started going to a new school where he had a crush on this other girl, it was all cute and shit. Mom found private medical caregivers that would be there, round the clock. She even found schools for both Liam and I.”
Silences stretches between us and I fill in the blank.
“But it wasn’t your crazy, untalented St. Jude High.”
“Don’t hate on my school. You know we’re the fucking truth.” He looks down at me, then rubs my cheek with the pad thumb. “But that wasn’t all. I still couldn’t get a certain vixen off my mind. I wanted to come after you.”
“Wow,” I smile, butterflies flapping around in my stomach. “I’m honored.”
“Smart mouth.” He whispers. “I came back sure, but Liam wasn’t supposed to follow me.”
“Wait, what?” I sit up straight. “You were going to leave him?”
I don’t know what that pisses me off. I don’t know what it is about Liam but he’s somehow found his way into my heart and I wouldn’t dare entertain it of anyone—even Julian—hurt him, even abandoning him.
“Mia, you don’t have to get so angry. The shithead followed me because he also has some unfinished business here.”
Ah yes. The Roxy situation. And remembering my promise, I keep my mouth shut but he notices. His eyes narrow, a frown etched on his handsome face.
“You know?”
“What?” I act surprised, looking away. “Know what?”
“You know about Liam’s unfinished business.” It’s not a question. He knows that I know. I expect him to be angry about that, since Liam warned me that Julian is sensitive about matters like that, so, I play it off.
“Ew, I don’t want to know about Liam’s constipation or his unfinished business anywhere.” I shrug, biting my lip.
“You’re not so good a liar.” He accuses, eyes still narrowed.
“Excuse moi? I’m a fabulous liar when I want to be.” I clutch my chest, pretending to be affronted. “I’m living here, with my sworn enemy and no one knows about it. I’m a great liar.”
“So, you’ve lied to me before? Like you’re doing now?” He’s suddenly serious, and I stop. “Mia, Liam’s my brother. He’s my responsibility