Chapter 4Where Love Lies Buried

I was so tired. I didn’t have the energy to believe another one of his clumsy lies.

But then he did something new. He dropped to his knees and started to cry.

“I was alone in London,” he sobbed. “I didn't know anyone. I lost my wallet, all my IDs, everything. I was just wandering the streets, completely lost, and she found me. She helped me get everything replaced. She was with me through that whole dark time.”

His eyes, glistening with tears, looked up at me.

During those years he was away, I’d turned down every advance, every offer of a date. I wrote him letters every week, sent him boxes of homemade cookies because I was afraid he’d be lonely. I stayed up through the night, waiting for a time we could talk, telling him over and over again, I love you. I’m waiting for you.

It was clear now that none of that mattered as much as Zoe’s physical presence.

He hugged my legs, his face wet with tears. “Kaley, this is the last time. I’ll never see her again, I promise!”

“I swear, if I ever see her again, I’ll—”

“She’ll die a horrible death,” I finished for him.

His mouth hung open, his face a picture of conflict. I wanted to see just how deep his feelings for her ran. I leaned back against the sofa, looking down at him.

“Say it. If you two ever meet again, she’ll die a horrible death.”

He closed his mouth. He lowered the hand he’d raised to swear the oath.

Silence filled the room again. I watched the color drain from his face and let out a bitter laugh.

His phone rang again. This time, he answered, his voice a furious roar.

“Don’t ever call me again! We’re over!”

He slammed the phone down and looked at me, his eyes full of desperate hope. I watched his chest heave from the force of his shouting and just felt… empty.

“It’s too late, Liam.”