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LIAM RAN AFTER CIARA, but he lost her in the crowd. He didn’t know where she was staying, so he couldn’t go looking for her. He lost his chance.
She had every right to stay away from him, but it still broke his heart. He had screwed up, and he knew that all too well. He was determined to make it up to her, willing to do whatever it took.
But she wouldn’t let him, and he would never force her.
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LIAM JOLTED UP, HEARING his phone ring. It was Friday morning, but he had taken the day off from work because he had worked late the previous day.
The caller ID said Mum, and Liam picked up the call. “Mum? Why are you calling? I’m home. Is—”
“Come to the hospital now.”
Liam’s eyes widened, and in an instant he was out of bed, pulling on his jeans. “What is it?” He sounded as if he had been running a marathon, breath hitching in his throat. “Mum, what is it?” His voice grew louder, and he could feel the acidic burn of bile creeping up his throat.
“Your father. I—”
Please, no.
“Is he okay?” Liam screamed into the phone, panic filling his insides. He felt a sense of frustration as his trembling hands fumbled with the button on his jeans.
“He’s awake, honey.”
Liam ended the call without thinking. He finished getting dressed, not bothering to wash his teeth or brush his hair. He couldn’t care less.
With a flick of his wand, he teleported to the front of the hospital. His heart pounding, he bolted through the hospital corridors, the sound of his laboured breath filling the air. He earned scoldings and dirty looks, but he barely registered them.
His father was awake. That was the only thought repeating in his head. His heart drummed in his chest—both from running and excitement.
For the first time in a long time, he was happy.
He pushed the door open, running in. The moment his eyes met his father’s, he froze, out of breath. The one thing that made him realise he was crying was the salty taste of tears on his lips.
He lunged for the bed, hurrying past his mother to hug his father. “Dad!”
“Hey.” His father’s voice was feeble and hoarse. But it was a miracle he could even talk.
Pulling away from the hug, Liam noted how tired his father was. His eyes were barely open, as if he was struggling to stay awake.
“Your father’s still tired.” Liam’s mother had noticed the worried look in Liam’s eyes. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, eyes glistening with happy, relieved tears.
Upon hearing those words, Liam’s tense muscles released, a wave of relief coursing through his body. The tears refused to stop coming, but he didn’t care. His eyes didn’t leave his father for a second. “We missed you, Dad.”
Ray smiled—although it was only a ghost of his usual smile. He was too tired to even use his facial muscles. “So I heard.” He didn’t sound like himself, but it didn’t matter. Seeing his eyes open was enough to give Liam hope.
Not much later, Henry and Jenna ran in. To Liam’s surprise, they weren’t alone. Gabriel, Polly, and Poppy were with them—back from school. He moved aside to let his siblings hug their father.
Only minutes later, Ray fell back asleep. Polly panicked and started screaming, but Mary was quick to calm her down. It was normal for their father to be tired.
Soon the doctors arrived, and they confirmed that too. Even according to them, things were taking a turn for the better. For once, there was good news for the family.
Their father was getting better.
“I have to call Ciara,” Henry said.
Liam’s eyes flew to his brother. Jealousy gnawed inside him. Not from the thought of Henry and Ciara. But rather from the fact that they were okay. Ciara talked to Henry. Liam would have done anything to have her even look at him.
He could live with Ciara hating him, but he couldn’t handle the fact he was like air to her—if even that.
Gabriel moved to stand beside Liam. He had grown quite a bit. He was taller and had even grown a stubble. Gabe looked more like a man than a boy already. His eighteenth birthday was coming up in just five days.
“You and Ciara still haven’t talked?”
The question half-surprised Liam. He sometimes forgot how adult Gabriel was. Gabe was still more of a teen and a little brother in Liam’s eyes.
“No. I’ve tried, but...she won’t talk to me.”
Henry had walked out to call Ciara, and all the women were talking together.
Gabe’s brows furrowed. “Are you okay?”
Liam smiled a little. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re my brother.”
“I’m the oldest, though. It’s my job to worry, not yours.”
“Either way, I worry.”
Liam smiled at Gabe, but the smile evaporated in a matter of seconds. “I apologised. She barely let me. She can’t stand talking to me. But she has every right to be angry.”
“Do you still love her?”
“I do.”
Gabe paused. “But does she know that?”
“She does, but I doubt she cares.” It was Liam’s fault he had lost Ciara, but it didn’t make it any easier. His heart ached, and he had to clear his voice, which cracked with emotion, to continue talking. “So it’s over. For good, I think.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s my fault. I should never have lied to her. It wasn’t my place to decide for her. Even if it was to protect her, I didn’t even manage to do that. She went through hell either way.”
“Your intentions were good.”
“She doesn’t know that. I don’t think she’d even care.”
Gabriel frowned, sympathy all over his face. “I wish I could help.”
“Yeah.” Liam took a deep breath and forced a small smile on his face. “But back to happy thoughts.”
Gabriel’s face broke into a smile. “I can’t believe Dad’s getting better.”
“Me neither.”
Henry returned to the room soon, telling everyone Ciara would stop by later. He had a hard time coming up with an excuse as to why she couldn’t come straight away.
Liam could see right through it. Ciara was avoiding him. She wouldn’t come see their father when Liam was there.
He didn’t blame her, even though it hurt. He had just been trying to protect her from Theo. His intentions had never been to hurt her. But it was too late for that.
He had hurt her.
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RAY STARTED WAKING up here and there. The following day, he was awake for an hour straight.
It became a habit for the siblings to go visit their father whenever their mother alerted them about their father being awake. She was staying at the hospital day and night, barely going home to change clothes.
Liam could understand that. He would have done the same with Ciara—even though they weren’t together anymore.
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“DO YOU THINK DAD WILL be angry if I don’t come with you?” Gabriel asked uneasily, hugging his arms around himself.
Liam and the twins were just grabbing their coats, almost ready to leave for the hospital.
Liam’s brows furrowed. “You don’t want to see Dad?”
“No, it’s not that.” Gabriel shook his head. “I just have something to do, and it’s important.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to a pub,” Liam said. “You won’t be of age until tomorrow.”
Gabe chuckled. “I’m not going to drink. I can wait one more day.”
“Good.”
“I just have something to do.” It was clear Gabe didn’t want to tell his brother what was up, so Liam didn’t pry. Gabe was nearly an adult and could handle himself. Liam had no reason not to trust his youngest brother.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Liam nodded. “Do you need me to get you somewhere or—”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
Liam left with Polly and Poppy to the hospital, wondering what was up with Gabe.