Brady let out a low whistle. “This is going to be the coolest fucking kid ever with you guys as parents and with us as unofficial uncles.” He chuckled before moving in to hug Ollie and Talia.
“Congrats, guys, this is awesome.” Jeremiah took a turn hugging them.
“Thanks.” Talia beamed, leaning against Ollie’s side.
“Now, can we eat cake?” Ollie questioned, eyeing the large cake across from us.
“This isn’t your party,” Liam grumbled, “so no.”
“Fun sucker.” Ollie picked up the bag of Cheetos and opened them, immediately stuffing a handful in his mouth.
Liam shook his head and smiled over at me. “Having fun?”
I nodded and picked up my plate of food, finishing off the piece of pizza. “Yeah, this is awesome. I can’t believe you’d do something like this for me.”
He shrugged, trying to act like it was no big deal, but we both knew it was.
I set my empty plate down and clapped my hands together. “I’m thinking cake would be good now.”
“Yes.” Ollie fist-bumped the air.
Liam fought a smile at his friend’s outburst. “You heard the birthday girl. She wants cake,” Liam yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.
Ollie went running over to the table and stood by the cake. “Someone light these fuckers.” He pointed at the candles that spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
“I’ve got you covered.” Liam chuckled, pulling a lighter from his pocket.
I followed him over to the table and my heart beat nervously as everyone gathered around. I didn’t like being the center of attention, and being boxed in by so many people made my fight or flight senses kick into overdrive. I took a deep breath and counted to five, blocking out all the noise and chatter around me.
Liam noticed my momentary freak out, though, and looked at me with worry in his eyes. I smiled at him in a way to let him know that I was okay. He nodded once, having understood, and proceeded to light the candles. I noticed then, that there were even more than the HAPPY BIRTHDAY candles. In fact, there were fourteen more. Tears filled my eyes.
Do not cry, Ari, I scolded myself silently. Now is not the time for tears.
Liam began to sing “Happy Birthday” and everyone else joined in, which only brought more tears to my eyes. One spilled over, and I quickly swiped it away.
When the last notes of the song hung in the air, I held my hair back and blew out the candles. It took three tries to extinguish them all and Ollie ended up helping me, because, let’s face it, he wanted cake.
Liam removed the candles and cut the cake.
“Birthday girl gets the first piece.” He handed me a plate with a chunk of cake the size of my head.
“How do you think I’m going to eat all of this?” I laughed, grabbing a clear plastic fork from a cup on the table.
“We’ll share.” He winked, and my stomach stirred.
He was really going to have to stop with the whole winking thing. It was destroying my insides.
“Share?” I squeaked.
“Oh yeah.” He smiled confidently.
I stood there, stunned, unable to even eat the delicious cake I held because Liam had turned my brain to mush. After a lingering moment, while Liam went about his business cutting more slices of cake and I stood there blinking stupidly, I finally regained my wits and moved out of the way.
I found Talia sitting on the stone wall facing the ocean, and I joined her. Her blond hair whipped around from the wind, and she caught it in her hands, drawing it over one shoulder.
“You don’t want cake?” I questioned her as I swung my legs over the side of the wall.
“No,” she shook her head adamantly. “Unfortunately the sight of any food makes me pretty nauseous. Even cake. Which is such a tragedy.” She frowned at my plate with a look of longing in her eyes.
“Sorry,” I slid a little away so my plate wasn’t practically right under her nose.
“S’okay.” She smiled, rubbing a hand over her flat stomach. “Little Bean is worth it.”
“When did you guys find out?” I took a bite of cake, suppressing a moan. The vanilla cake was the best I’d ever tasted, and the frosting was so fluffy it felt like little clouds floating in my mouth.
“About a week ago, but we only went to the doctor today to confirm it.” She ran her fingers through her hair and smiled out at the water. “I hope he or she loves to surf as much as Ollie and I do.”
“You surf?” Surprise laced my tone.
“Oh yeah.” She nodded eagerly. “Have you tried yet?”
“No,” I shook my head, shoveling another bite of cake into my mouth.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “I can’t believe Liam hasn’t gotten you out on a board yet.”
I shrugged. “Liam’s busy, I’m busy,” I reasoned.
She stared me down, with a look that said, Come-On-Girl. “I know that boy would teach you if you asked. He likes you, and Liam doesn’t like most people.”
“How did he end up friends with you guys?” I questioned. It was a story I’d wanted to know for a while. Liam didn’t trust easily, so how had he let his new friends into his life after what happened with Spencer and Kennedy?
Talia laughed and shook her head so her hair fell forward shielding her face. Looking at me, she raised her brows. “Have you met Ollie? The guy is relentless when he wants something, and he saw something in Liam that made him want to be friends with him. Ollie… He’s loud and outrageous, but he has such a kind heart. He likes to take care of things, make them better, and I think he saw that Liam needed healing. So he forced his way past Liam’s defenses and they ended up best friends. Ollie was already friends with Jeremiah and Brady, so they kinda forced their way in too.” She shrugged like it was that simple. At my crestfallen expression, she added, “It took a long time, though. It wasn’t like they were best buds overnight. If I could have a dollar for every time Liam told him to fuck off...” She turned then, so her legs were straddling the wall. “I can tell he’s let his guard down with you, and much quicker than normal. That’s a win for you, Ari. You must be special, because I can tell you that since I’ve met him I’ve never seen him look at a girl the way he looks at you.”
“Really?” I speared another bite of cake, even though I was full and didn’t want another bite. I’d simply wanted an excuse to look away from her.
“Oh yeah.” She looked at me like I was crazy. “Liam’s the furthest thing from a player. In fact, Ollie thought he was gay for a long time.”
My eyes widened.
“Oh yeah,” she continued on, “he doesn’t chase girls like Brady, and Jeremiah does date every now and then. But Liam rarely even looks at a girl.”
I knew why. I understood after what he told me about Kennedy, but still, it surprised me.
“What are you guys talking about?”
“Ah.” I jumped and Liam’s hand shot out to steady me and keep me from falling to my death. Literally.
He chuckled and sat down beside me, taking the plate with the half-eaten cake from my hands. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Tiger, but I take it you two were talking about me?” He raised a brow and waited, slowly raising the fork to his mouth.
“No, of course not, stop being conceited,” Talia covered easily. I was still too busy staring at Liam.
“Sure.” He swallowed the bite of cake and frosting covered his lips. His tongue swept between his lips, wiping it away. “Mmm, that’s good cake.”
I swallowed thickly and he smirked.
“I’m going to see if Ollie has any Cheetos left.” Talia said, making her exit and leaving the two of us alone. I watched her walk away, my eyes narrowed on her for leaving me alone with Liam. I didn’t know how much he’d overheard of our conversation, and the last thing I wanted to do was have him bring it up.
Before he could say anything, I spoke, “So, I’m being forced to have a sleepover?”
He winced, inhaling another bite of cake. “Yeah, sorry a
bout that. Rebecca wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“How am I going to explain my nightmares?” I asked softly, worry seeping into my tone.
He leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Before you fall asleep, just come find me. I’ll be waiting.”
I shivered, wondering what that meant, but I was excited to find out.
Liam
Giggles and chatter filtered from the family room back to the kitchen where I sat at the bar on my laptop, reading up on Wyatt Perry. I was currently stalking his verified Facebook page like a psychotic ex-girlfriend, but hey, I needed to know what the enemy was up to. I scrolled down, my eyes flitting quickly over the words on the screen. Most were just standard posts with photos of him surfing or standing with his board sporting a goofy, arrogant smile. I wanted to wipe that smile off his face by winning the title. He was the fan favorite, and I was still the underdog—the newbie.
I stopped when a video appeared showing Wyatt being interviewed by a reporter on the beach. I clicked the video, and it instantly began playing. I hit pause and grabbed my headphones so I wouldn’t have to strain to hear over the sounds of the girls laughing. So far, the sleepover seemed to be a success with Ari. I’d tried to persuade Rebecca away from that idea, but that girl was stubborn. I liked her, she was cool, and I knew her pretty well from all the times I went to Mo’s. She’d be a good friend for Ari to have—and Ari seriously needed to start getting out more. All she seemed to do was go to work, come home, cook, and draw.
I hit play on the video again, and Wyatt’s smug face filled the screen. He was talking about his last competition, and how he wasn’t at all worried about Hawaii. I wasn’t the kind of guy to be jealous, and that certainly wasn’t why I didn’t like him, it was just something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. He was slimy, and there was something in his eyes that wasn’t genuine. He’d been pretty big for about five years, and maybe the fame had gone to his head. It happened.
The video cut off, and I yanked out the ear buds. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I let out a groan. I felt so unprepared. I’d been training, but not enough. I needed to eat, breathe, and sleep surfing, and I hadn’t been doing that. I’d allowed my personal life to interfere with my career, and there was too much at stake to let my career burn away. This was my time, and I couldn’t let it pass me by. The competition was only two weeks away, and I’d have to crack down even more. Gym, surf, repeat.
I closed my laptop as another chorus of laughter broke out in the family room.
Ollie and I had run out to the store and grabbed three sleeping bags for the girls, since none of them expected to be sleeping on the floor, but Rebecca insisted it was necessary. On top of the sleeping bags Rebecca had given me a whole list of other items I needed to get. As long as Ari was enjoying herself I wouldn’t complain.
I left them to their sleepover games and headed down to the beach.
The sky was dark, and a million stars shimmered above. I always loved that about the beach—how you always saw the stars unless a storm was rolling in. I tilted my head back, letting the breeze brush against my skin. I inhaled the salty air before plopping in the sand. I grunted from my ungraceful descent to the ground and draped my arms over my arched knees.
I closed my eyes, remembering the first time I’d ever gotten on a board. I’d only been around ten, and it was a family vacation. I’d begged and begged until my mom and dad finally caved and let me get lessons from the instructor on the beach. When I paddled out for the first time, I had this instant, overpowering feeling of belonging. I knew then that I’d found my calling. Back then I’d been too young and naïve to realize how much work it would take to rise to the top, but I didn’t regret it. Not a second of it.
Eventually, I stood and began to walk along the water’s edge. I was barefoot, and the water tickled my feet every time the waves crashed against the shore.
The night air was slightly chilly, but I was okay with that. The sting of the wind helped clear my mind.
I walked for several miles, letting my mind wander, before turning around and heading home.
When I slipped through the back door, I was surprised to find the house quiet and the lights turned off. I eased the door closed and looked around for Ari, but she was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she’d be able to get some sleep after all.
I eased past the family room and upstairs, heading into my room to take a shower. The warm water cascaded down my body and I bent my head forward, bracing my hands against the wall.
I was scared—and that was something I never wanted to admit. But I was terrified of screwing up my chances. Yes, things were going good with my career. I was a fucking pro, but it was still hard for me to believe that. I kept thinking someone was going to step forward and rip my dreams right out of my hands.
And Ari.
Fuck, Ari.
Every single second she was maneuvering her way into the microscopic piece of my heart left to give, like that spot had been carved out solely for her.
I’d thought I’d known what it meant to love once, but the way Ari made me feel told me I knew nothing about the matter. I think, maybe, we all go through life thinking we know what love is, but it isn’t just one thing. It’s many. It’s losing your breath at the sight of the other person. It’s caring about their needs. It’s missing them even when they’re in the same room with you. It’s an all-consuming kind of thing, and I felt it all with Ari.
I scrubbed my hands over my hair and let the water beat down on me.
I was crazy to think I didn’t want more from her than friendship. My wait-and-see attitude was pointless. I already saw. I saw her. All of her. In my life forever.
I let out a groan and slapped a hand against the tiled wall.
“Way to sound like a pussy,” I mumbled to myself.
I watched the last of the soap drain away before stepping out and drying my body, so I could pull on a pair of boxers. Dropping the towel in the sink, I flicked off the bathroom light before stepping into my room.
“Hey.”
I lifted my head at the sound of Ari’s tentative voice.
She sat in the middle of my bed with her legs crossed and her fingers busily tracing the pattern on my bed covers. Her dark hair tumbled over one shoulder shielding her face slightly from me. She was dressed in a loose gray shirt and a pair of shorts that showed off the endless expanse of her smooth, tan legs.
“You told me to come find you,” she whispered, still not looking at me.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, and my added weight jostled her. She laid her palm flat on the bed to steady herself.
“I did,” I agreed. “I wanted to share my truth with you.”
She raised her eyes to mine. “I forgot we hadn’t done that.”
“Come on,” I held a hand out to her, “I want to show you something.”
She pressed her lips together in thought, probably wondering what the hell I could possibly want to show her, and placed her hand in mine. I stood and helped her off the bed, and together we quietly made our way downstairs past the family room and down the hall.
I stopped outside the room I’d forbidden her from.
My darkroom was deeply personal; it was the one place in the world I had that was entirely my own. Until that moment no one but myself had ever set foot inside. Not my friends. Not my family. But I trusted Ari enough to let her into that part of my life.
I grabbed the key from the top of the door—not the best hiding place, but sometimes hiding things right under people’s noses is the best way for them not to notice it—and unlocked the door.
It swung open, and Ari stepped inside. I closed the door behind us, leaving us in complete darkness.
“Liam?” Her voice grew high-pitched with worry.
“It’s okay.” I squeezed her hand and turned on the only small lamp in the corner. It only provided a minimal amount of light, but since I didn’t have anything currently developing, I didn’t have to worry about it.
Photos hung from clothespin lines I’d strung from the ceiling. I had quite a few hanging since I didn’t know what to do with them. I kept a lot of my photos, but some I gave to a local art store to sell. I didn’t need the money, so I never kept the profits. Instead, I donated what I made off of them to various charities.
Ari stared wide-eyed at the photos with a look of astonishment. She glanced from photo to photo, her awe growing with each one. Her reaction pleased me, and I felt a strange sort of pleasurable warmth invade my chest—something akin to pride.
“You…You…These are yours?” She reached up like she was going to touch one of the photos but let her fingers fall before they made contact.
“Yes.” My eyes flitted over her face, making a mental note of the small smile on her lips and the wonder in her eyes. I crossed my hands behind my back, and said, “This is my truth, the one where you can see the world through my eyes.”
“They’re beautiful.” She swallowed thickly. “Spectacular, really.” Her eyes lingered on a close-up photo of a homeless man.
“His name is Joe,” I told her, “and he lost his family, his home, everything, really, in a flood and has been living on the streets ever since. He let me take his picture and we chatted for a while. I think he was happy to have someone to talk to. I bought him dinner, and you would’ve thought he’d won the lottery or something.”
She smiled coyly. “So Talia and Ollie aren’t the only ones that have a penchant for helping the homeless?”
I chuckled. “No, I guess not.”
“What about this one?” She pointed to a photo of an abandoned building, the exterior crumbling, with a broken bike propped against it.
“It’s just an old building a few miles from here,” I explained. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always found it to be rather beautiful even if it is falling apart.”
“You find beauty in broken things,” she whispered, walking around the room and taking in more photos.
“Maybe so,” I agreed. “Or maybe I’m attracted to things that remind me of myself.”
She stopped and narrowed her eyes on me. “You’re not broken, Liam. You’ve been hurt, certainly, but you’re not broken. Trust me.”
The Lies That Define Us Page 16
