Chapter 30: unveiling Secrets
"Jake, let go of her! I got this, I promise," the voice said urgently again.
I was jostled slightly and then I felt two strong arms go around , pulling
into a hard chest; there was a beautiful sll that I recognised as Liam.
Oh thank you God, Liam’s here! My heart rate started to slow as I felt him press his lips to my neck and breathe slowly and calmly down my back. I tried to match my breathing to his. I concentrated on the feel of his steady heartbeat against my chest and the black spots slowly started to fade. After a few minutes I regained control of my arms and I wrapped them tightly around his waist, clinging to him as if he was the only thing keeping
from falling off the edge of the world. My father was coming back, but I was with Liam, he wouldn’t let anything hurt , I knew that. So I started to feel safe in his arms. After what seed like forever, I was able to pull back to look at him.
"You alright now?" he asked, putting his hands on either side of my face and pressing his forehead to mine.
I nodded and licked my lips, they tasted salty for so reason, and then I realised I was crying. I wiped my face and sniffed. I slowly beca aware of my surroundings; I was still in the lounge. I looked over to see Jake sitting there, shocked, staring at
and Liam. His mouth was hanging open, his eyes wide. I thought about stepping back, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move away from Liam, he was my safety; he was the one I needed, the one that would keep
sane through all of this.
Jake walked over and pulled
from Liam’s arms, making
whimper. He wrapped
in a tight hug. "Damn it, Amber. Don’t ever do that to
again! I thought you were going to die! Shit, you scared ," Jake ranted, as he rocked
back and forth gently.
"I’m OK," I said weakly. I looked back to Liam for reassurance and saw that he wasn’t there, the panic started to rise in my chest as my breathing started to get shallow. "Where’s Liam?" I choked out, tears flowing down my face again. Oh God, he left !
Jake hugged
tightly. "Shh, it’s OK. Just breathe, Shh," he murmured, but I couldn’t, my lungs were too tight. "Shit!" Jake gasped looking at . "Liam, get in here quick!" he almost scread.
Liam ran back into the room, holding a glass of water which he put down on the table roughly, spilling half of it, before wrapping his arms around . "It’s OK, Angel," he whispered, putting his lips to my neck again.
After a couple of minutes, when I could pull back, I smiled at Liam gratefully.
Jake looked murderously angry. "What the fuck? You two are together, aren’t you?" he roared.
Liam just held up a hand to stop his rant. "Look, Jake, you and I will talk about this, but now’s not the right ti after what just happened. I need to make sure she’s OK," he said sternly, ending the conversation.
Jake looked at
apologetically and nodded. "I’m sorry, Amber, but I had to tell you, to make sure you knew, but I promise I’ll never let him hurt you. You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll kill him before he touches you," Jake said, taking my hand.
I smiled but I had a feeling it would look more like a grimace. "I know that, Jake. I’m sorry I freaked out and scared you." I raised a shaky hand and swiped at my tears again.
"That’s OK. Just don’t do it again," he said, smiling at . I laughed weakly and nodded.
Liam handed
the glass of water and I drank it gratefully. I noticed that Jake was watching Liam’s every move, glaring angrily. "Stop looking at him like that, Jake, he’s done nothing wrong," I said, frowning.
He shook his head and clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath, obviously trying to calm himself before speaking. "You two are together," he said simply, looking between the two of us for confirmation. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. OK, so much for a couple of weeks.
"Yes," Liam answered, nodding. His arm wrapped tightly around . I cringed into him, wanting this to be a dream. Not only is my abusive father coming back, but my brother was now going to beat the crap out of my boyfriend.
"How long?" Jake asked. His jaw was still tight but he seed to be doing well with his control.
"Since Friday," Liam replied quietly. He looked really guilty, and I knew it was my fault because I asked him to lie about it.
"He wanted to tell you straight away, Jake, but I wanted to wait. I don’t want you two fighting. Please?" I begged, looking at my brother, giving him my puppy dog face.
"You like him, Amber?" Jake asked, closing his eyes, looking sad and disappointed.
"Yes," I admitted, still begging him with my eyes to accept it and not go off on one or bla Liam for it. I would hate it if they fell out over .
He nodded but didn’t open his eyes. "What was that what you did, Liam? How did you do that? Calm her down like that?" he asked, opening his eyes and looking at him gratefully.
"I don’t know. It’s just sothing that calms her down that’s all. I’ve always done it," Liam said with a shrug.
"Always done it? You’ve done that before?" Jake asked, looking confused.
"Yeah, I’ve had to calm her down a few tis," Liam replied sadly. I thought about what he ant, all the tis that he had seen
cry, probably every single night up until the age of fourteen.
"What? When? I’ve never seen you do that," Jake protested, shaking his head, looking confused. I drew in a shaky breath. Now he’s going to find out that Liam sleeps in my room. I crossed my fingers and prayed that this went well, that Jake was OK and not too angry with his best friend. Liam looked at
for permission to tell him, I nodded and chewed on my lip knowing this needed to be brought out into the open sooner or later.
"Jake, please don’t freak out," I begged, moving my body so it was in front of Liam’s slightly, in case Jake lunged for him or sothing. My small move might just deter him from beating the crap out of my boyfriend.
"Jake, man, nothing ever happened, I swear," Liam promised. Jake looked at him, his expression even more confused. "When I was ten, I saw her crying on her bed through my window. So I snuck over to make sure she was OK, and I ended up falling asleep in the bed with her." Jake glared at him like he wanted to murder him there and then. "It happened again the next night, and the next. She would be crying, so I would sneak through her window. After a while it was just a habit," Liam said, frowning slightly.
Jake jumped up with his fists clenched. His eyes tight, and glaring at Liam. As quick as lightning, Liam grabbed my arm and pulled
behind him protectively. Jake’s eyes flashed before his face cald. "Why did you just do that?" Jake asked, sighing and looking at Liam intently.
"Do what?" Liam asked confused, still holding
behind him.
"Move my sister behind you like that," Jake said, his face completely calm now.
Liam shook his head as if he didn’t understand the question. "I didn’t want her to get hurt, that’s all."
Jake sat back down and dragged his hand through his blond hair. "You really like my sister?" he asked, looking at the floor.
"Jake, I’m in love with your sister, you know that." Liam sat back down on the sofa and pulled
to sit down next to him.
Jake nodded. "And you’ve slept in her bed before, when we were kids," Jake stated, as if trying to make sure he had the facts straight.
"Not just when we were kids, that’s what I was trying to say. She used to cry, and so I would sneak over to comfort her every night. It just beca a habit, and now neither of us can actually sleep properly without the other there," Liam admitted, frowning.
Jakes face shot up. "You still sleep in her room? Every night since you were ten? Damn it, Liam. Shit! Motherfucking, stupid asshole!" Jake ranted, not really able to get the words out, taking a step forwards his fists clenched again. I winced. Oh God, here it cos!
I held up my hands, trying to stop him. "Jake, rember when I used to wake up screaming all the ti?" I asked desperately. I needed to make him see reason fast before they ended up fighting.
He nodded and winced. "Yeah, that stopped though when you were like eight or sothing."
I nodded. "Yeah, I was eight. That was when Liam started sleeping in with . I don’t have nightmares anymore, because of Liam," I said, smiling and squeezing Liam’s hand.
"You do! I’ve had to sleep in with you a few tis since then," Jake protested.
"Yeah you did, but I still had the nightmares even though you were there," I countered. Jake flinched and nodded, probably at the mory of
screaming the house down in his bed. "I’ve only had a few nightmares since then, the only tis I ever have them is when Liam’s not there. Like if he’s on vacation or sothing," I explained, looking at Jake, watching as understanding shot across his face. We were all silent for a while. Liam was stroking the back of my hand; Jake was just staring at the floor.
After what seed like forever, Jake looked at Liam. "Liam, if you hurt my sister, best friend or not, I will kill you," Jake warned. I could see that he ant it.
"I won’t, I promise," Liam vowed, smiling reassuringly.
"Right, well, I’m going to bed. I guess I’ll see you in the morning, make sure you lock the door before you two go to bed," Jake instructed, getting up and leaving us sitting there on the sofa, shocked.
I looked at Liam; he just looked stunned as I felt. "Wow, that was easier than I thought," he mused, smiling at
and putting his hands either side of my face.
I smiled, just pleased that it was finally out in the open. "Want to go to bed, Liam? I’m not in the mood for howork; I just want to go to sleep." I just needed to lie in the bed and have him hold
for a little while.
He nodded and kissed my nose. "Yeah, I just need to go back ho first. Jake called and said you were freaking out, so I just ran out of the house without even telling my parents where I was going." He stroked my face with his thumbs softly, just looking at
with a sad smile.
"OK. I guess I’ll just go to bed and see you when you’re ready," I said, getting up and pulling him towards the front door.
"Hey, can I use the door now that Jake knows?" He grinned.
I laughed at his excitent, but shook my head. "No, your parents might see.... unless you tell them you’re staying here," I suggested.
He smiled happily. "I would love to walk through your front door and get in your bed; I’ve never done that before."
I took out my keys and gave them to him. "Make sure you lock it after, OK?" I kissed his cheek and made my way to my bedroom.
It was nearly ten o’clock but my body felt so exhausted from all the emotional drama that it felt like I hadn’t slept in days. I pulled off my clothes and slipped on my favourite t-shirt that used to be Liam’s. I fell asleep instantly. A couple of minutes later I felt two arms wrap around
and a heavy leg slung over mine. I smiled and pressed back into him. My boyfriend. The one I needed when things went wrong.
It’s weird, but when Jake pulled
away from Liam tonight, I felt strange, like I’d left my heart behind. I didn’t realise up until then, how strongly I was connected to him. He literally was everything to . When I felt his arms wrap around
earlier, I felt like I was ho, all my panic started to recede. I felt like, as long as he was with , I’d be alright.
I snuggled into him and heard him whisper, "I love you," right before I fell back into a deep dreamless sleep; I didn’t doubt his words this ti.
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