Loving Liberty

by Belinda Boring

  “How did you . . .?” I looked over at Molly and she raised her eyebrows as if to say I told you so. “Oliver, right?”

  “Yep.” She grinned, flashing perfectly white teeth. “So, name your poison.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to say water. “I don’t know. What do you recommend?”

  “This is Liberty’s first time clubbing,” Molly added. “She’s already been christened with two of your mystery shots, so maybe something a little less lethal.”

  Angela nodded, already reaching for glasses. “Shots or something more?”

  “Shots,” Molly and I answered, in unison. My logic was if it made my stomach feel like an erupting volcano, one quick mouthful would be easier to swallow than a whole glass.

  “Then you’ll want a Washington Apple, the local favorite.” Angela set out a shot glass and began mixing the ingredients.

  “How bad can it be? It even sounds healthy.” I laughed nervously. A few minutes later, two shots sat before us. Angela watched me as I picked up mine, smelling it first. “Here goes!”

  It was definitely better than the first two I’d tried.

  “So?” Angela waited.

  “You need to make us more of these!” I exclaimed, licking my lips.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one corrupting Liberty, now,” Molly boasted as Angela moved the empty glasses to make way for a line of new ones. “You sure you want to do so many? Washington Apples can sneak up on you.” There was a touch of concern on her petite features.

  “I’m positive. You only live once, right?” I was answered by a chorus of cheers. I’d said the last part loud enough that other patrons had heard and agreed.

  Three shots later, any inhibition or fear I’d been harboring was obliterated.

  “Woooohoooo!” Molly cheered, slamming her empty drink down onto the bar surface. “Now that’s more like it!” She wore a goofy grin and I couldn’t stop displaying one of my own.

  “Angela?” I could hear a slight slur in my words.

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you for introducing me to an amazing drink. Much better than wine and disgusting sparkling water.”

  “You’re welcome. Now here, make sure you drink this as well.” She pushed two bottles of water toward Molly and me.

  I looked at mine with horror. “If I pick that up, will I have to drink a mystery shot again?” Obviously the look on my face was priceless because it caused Angela to bust out laughing.

  “No, sweetie. Drink the water. It’ll keep you hydrated.” I went to pay her, but she shook her head. “This is on me. I can see why Oliver likes you.”

  Gratefully, I twisted the top off and took a large gulp. The alcohol was buzzing inside me, heightening everything, and I began feeling the lure of the music again. Swaying back and forth, I looked longingly at the dance floor.

  “Let’s see if the guys want to join us.” Molly tugged on my hand and I barely had time to grab my water before stumbling after her.

  Any remaining nervousness was gone by the time we returned to the small booth. I felt strong, invincible, on top of the world.

  “Did you get her drunk?” Blake asked, standing up to let us slide in.

  “Not drunk, just a little tipsy.” Molly smirked, high fiving me.

  “And loving it!” I giggled.

  “Can’t leave you girls alone without you getting into trouble.” He shook his head, but there was no reprimand in his voice. He clearly loved Molly, judging by how he kept touching her.

  “How much longer until Oliver’s done?” I asked, staring up at the DJ stage.

  “He has another few hours, but his break’s coming up. He’ll come over when he can.”

  I licked my lips and let out a happy sigh. With how I was feeling, I’d have no problem showing him the sign Molly was talking about.

  “Hey, Liberty,” Jason cut in. “Your purse is ringing.” Sure enough, the small clutch I’d brought was vibrating, the faint sound of my classical ringtone playing.

  “Huh.” I didn’t know who’d be calling other than my parents or Oliver. There was no way I was going to answer it if it was my mother or father, and Oliver was here.

  Maybe you should answer it. Tell them how you really feel. Do it while you feel brave.

  Looking at the screen, I snorted. It was Andrew, no doubt wanting to criticize me over something and my thumb moved to refuse the call. Instead, I accepted it.

  “Good evening, Andrew. How can I help you?” My voice was light and bubbly.

  “Liberty?” He sounded confused and it made me laugh.

  “Yep, that’s me.”

  “Your mother told me you were sick. I was calling to check up on you, but clearly you’re not yourself. Where are you?” His demand irritated me and I suddenly had no problem telling him just that.

  “I don’t think I care for your tone, Andrew.”

  “I don’t think I care for yours, either. Wait . . . are you drunk?” I could just picture his astonished face on the other side of the phone.

  “And if I am?” I challenged back.

  “I’m going to ask one more time. Where are you? Do your parents know what you’re doing?”

  “Not telling you, and nope. I’m a big girl. I don’t need their permission or yours, for that matter.” It felt good to speak my mind.

  “I beg to differ. I plan on marrying you, Liberty; and this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Again, where are you so I can come get you before you embarrass yourself.”

  “I will not marry you. I don’t like you. You’re a sniveling, pompous, arrogant jerk who needs to go . . . SUCK A DUCK!!”

  I hung up on him and looked up to see everyone grinning from ear to ear.

  “Did you just tell him to go suck a duck?” Shawn’s jaw slackened as he watched me with new interest.

  “I did and it felt amazing!” I tossed my phone on top of my purse. “He thinks he can boss me around like my parents and I’m tired of it.”

  “I’m so proud of you!” Molly gushed, squeezing me with a hug.

  “Why are we proud of Liberty?” Oliver cut in, standing with his hands in his back pocket. He had a curious look on his face as he glanced between the five of us.

  “She just gave that asshat her parents are pushing on her a piece of her mind.” Blake chuckled, slapping Oliver’s outstretched hand. “Our Molly also taught her a new insult.”

  “Is that so?” Oliver zeroed in on me, and this time, it wasn’t the alcohol that heated my body. It was him. He was staring at me with an intensity that made me feel braver than I thought possible. This was a night of firsts and I knew now what my sign should be.

  “Will you dance with me?” There was no hesitancy in my question. I began moving, forcing Molly and Blake to slide out, and took hold of Oliver’s hand. “Before your break is over.”

  The corner of his eyes crinkled with amusement. “Lead the way, Sweetheart.”

  Empowerment coursed through me, flooding my system and short-circuiting the part in my brain that would normally overanalyze the situation. His hand was warm in mine, the contact making my skin tingle like an electric charge. People yelled out their greetings as we passed through, but there was no stopping. I was on a mission and no one was going to distract me.

  Finding our own small spot on the dance floor, I stepped in close and wrapped my arms around his neck. It felt as natural as breathing and my heart skipped faster when his hands held my hips before encircling my waist.

  As if testing my resolve, Oliver watched me intently. He pulled me into his body, every part of our fronts touching as he began to move us to the beat. Our hips perfectly aligned, making me marvel again at how well we fit together—as though it was meant to be.

  Up close, Oliver was even more intoxicating. I could feel the heat from his skin and smell his light cologne. My heart thudded against his chest, but I didn’t care. I was exactly where I wanted to be, with the person I chose to be with. The world could be burning down around us, but my
entire focus was on him.

  “Having fun, tonight?” Oliver murmured low.

  “More than I could ever imagine.”

  “You’ve made my job near impossible, Liberty.” His hand moved from my lower back, brushing up my spine. I didn’t bother hiding my shiver.

  “I did?”

  Our eyes locked. “The second you showed up, I didn’t want to leave your side. Then when you were dancing . . .” Oliver tightened his hold of me and turned us around.

  “I was hoping you noticed.” My gaze dropped enough so I stared at his mouth—his perfectly kissable mouth.

  “With you in the room, no one else exists. Of course I noticed.” He slowed down the pace of our dancing until we were swaying on the spot. “You were wrong, you know? When you said I was dangerous when we first met. The way I’m feeling right now with you in my arms, and the way you’re looking up at me . . . you’re the one who’s dangerous. My heart was at risk the moment I saw you sitting alone at that table.”

  It was now or never. The timing was perfect, the chemistry between us demanding immediate action. I didn’t wait for him to act. I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him.

  This kiss would forever go down in my memory as my first. It was how it should’ve been—all consuming and life changing. Everything faded away the second my lips touched his and he responded. There was no thought of being inexperienced. I instinctively knew what to do, almost shattering when my mouth opened and his tongue touched mine.

  He tasted completely forbidden. With the pulsating thump of the music in the background and my thudding heartbeat, my hands escaped into his hair. There was no getting enough of him. I was kissing him with everything I had, matching him stroke for stroke, indulging in what he was offering.

  The moment was far from innocent. His hand held me firmly, one lowering to my behind where he drew me in, pressing me against his body. I felt everything—sensations—both physical and emotional. We moved together, touching. When he broke away long enough to cup my face with his hands, he left me somewhat dazed.

  My lips felt bruised. I could still taste him, and staring at his lips, I wanted more.

  “Liberty.” He all but breathed my name and the walls around my heart crumbled completely.

  “Did you like my sign?” My fingers gripped the top of his jeans, keeping him from stepping away. There wasn’t a need, however. Oliver remained where he was, his thumb tracing a line back and forth over my cheek.

  “Sign?”

  “Yeah, Molly told me to give you a sign telling you I wanted to be more than friends.” Surprisingly, there was no embarrassment revealing that private conversation.

  “Then you chose well.” His dimples reappeared when he softly smiled and I fought the urge to wipe my fingers over them. Tilting his head, he moved his hand toward my hair and brushed over my pink streak. “Tonight’s been a night for bravery, I see.”

  “It has.” His blue eyes twinkled under the flickering strobes. “The best of my life.”

  “Think you can be brave a little longer?” Oliver’s face came closer, his lips hovering over mine.

  “For you . . . anything.”

  “Good, because I have a sign for you, too.”

  “What is it?” My voice was barely a whisper now as the sexual tension between us skyrocketed.

  “This.” And he captured my mouth again.

  My knees buckled, forcing Oliver to catch me. If this was what falling in love felt like, I was in trouble. He was gentler this time, careful in how he stoked the fire fueling the kiss. Where the first had threatened to push me careening over a cliff, this one all but reduced my insides to ash. When he sucked on my bottom lip, grazing it with his teeth, we crossed the line from friendship to something more. There was no way we could ever go back after this.

  “You’re mine, Liberty. In case you misunderstood my sign.” Oliver smiled, sweeping the pink strand away from across my forehead. “Still with me?” He stooped a little to check my eyes.

  “Yeah,” I stammered.

  “You’re good for my ego. Keep breathing, sweetheart.” I blushed at his comment, knowing it wasn’t the first time he’d had to remind me. “And there’s the pretty pink I love so much. Come on, I need to get back to work and I’m sure Molly is bursting at the seams to hear all the details.”

  I tugged on Oliver’s hand, letting him know I had something to say before returning to the group. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For this. Everything. The kiss. Introducing me to your friends. Believing in me.”

  “This is just the beginning.” He smiled, casting a glance over me at the DJ stage. “We’ll talk more after my shift’s done, okay?”

  Nodding as he kissed me on the cheek and I watched like a giddy schoolgirl as he returned to his music station. Within seconds, Molly rushed up behind me, squealing with excitement, demanding a blow by blow of what she dubbed an “epic” kiss.

  “I told you so,” she gushed, her hands moving as she talked. “You guys looked so amazing out there; and oh my gosh, the way he held you. Yep, I told you Oliver wanted you. Now we can double date . . .” She kept raving, but my brain kicked in and was running wild, in another direction.

  A future. Oliver and I now had one, and I knew it would involve more than my current situation allowed. Something had to give—either my family’s demands or my ability to stand up for myself. I waited for the niggling doubt to surface, reminding me of my obligations, but there was nothing but silence.

  That was the thing. Tonight—that one kiss—had changed everything.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The pounding in my head caused me to roll over and groan.

  “Don’t get comfortable, Liberty. You’re wanted downstairs in the study. And I wouldn’t make them wait, either.” Erica’s smug voice grated on my nauseated nerves.

  “I’ll be down soon. Let me get cleaned up, first.” Sitting up, the room spun, and that’s when I vowed to never drink again. Events from last night crept to the forefront—meeting Oliver’s friends, Washington Apple shots, and the kiss. Like a lightning bolt, Andrew’s call nudged its way forward and my heart sunk.

  This was the reason behind the summons. There was no doubt my parents knew I’d snuck out, after using my sickness an excuse.

  “Yep, they know,” Erica gloated, still hovering by the door with her hands folded across her chest. “They’ve been on the phone since dawn. This should be interesting.”

  “Can you give me some privacy?” I gingerly rose and breathed a sigh of relief when my headache eased somewhat. “I said I’ll be downstairs.” The inside of my mouth tasted like something had died in there.

  “Sorry, I can’t. I was told to come retrieve you and bring you down, myself. Seems they don’t trust you anymore. Imagine that.” She gave me a dirty sneer, eyeing me up and down. “By the way, you look heinous.”

  I felt heinous. Following behind her, it was my first instinct to wait and make myself presentable. But then I stopped, remembering the decision I’d made last night. No matter how much my parents ranted and railed at me, whatever they threatened me with, things had changed. It was time to take back the power I’d been consistently giving them since childhood.

  I was ready to be Liberty Jane Montegomery—independent, strong, and individual.

  Walking into my father’s study, my resolve was firm and my spine straight. I had the courage I needed to tell them this was my life to live.

  Separately my parents were daunting, but when presenting a united front, they were absolutely formidable. My father sat quietly behind his desk, his fingers arched together under his chin as he leaned back in his chair. My mother was standing stiffly by his elbow, her hand lightly resting on his shoulder. It was a familiar pose that always struck the fear of God in me growing up. It signaled there was a battle ahead, one they planned on me losing.

  Oddly enough, it didn’t scare me today—at least not enough for me to cower like they expected.


  “Good morning,” I croaked, not waiting for their directions on where to sit. Taking the chair from the previous day, I quickly settled myself before looking up. “We need to talk.”

  “No, what you need to do is listen. The only talking you’ll be doing is when I ask you a question. Heaven help you if I don’t hear the truth.” My father’s voice was calm, but it didn’t fool me. I knew the power and ferocity his words carried. He may appear mild mannered at the moment, but it was merely a façade. One false move and his temper would explode.

  “I have something . . .” Determined not to let him railroad me straight away; it was frustrating when he talked over me.

  “Both your mother and I are disgusted and disappointed by your actions, Liberty. After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us?” He waved his hand up and down, referring to my disheveled appearance. “This is not acceptable.”

  After returning home from the Inferno last night, I was too tired to take a shower and clean up, foolishly believing there would be time in the morning. I’d stripped out of my jeans and top, the pink streak still as bold as ever.

  “About that, there’s something . . .”

  “Imagine our shock to find out you had not only lied to us about being sick, but that you had snuck out to some ungodly place to do who knows what with whom. This is not how you were raised, Liberty Jane.” My father’s voice began rising, anger infusing his tone. “To be told by Andrew that you were drunk.”

  Now it was my turn to interrupt. Jumping to my feet, I forced them both to listen. “I don’t care what he thinks.” With my hands clenched by my side, I took in a deep breath to finally tell them what I’d kept hidden and silent all these years.

  “Sit down. Now.” My father thundered. “You will not talk unless you’re are directly asked a question. This is my house and my rules.”

  I remained standing. Nerves fluttered in my stomach as my fists started trembling. There was no way I was going to sit. “No. You need to listen to me. Why won’t you ever listen?”