The Blindfold Game That Ended Us Chapter 07

The Blindfold Game That Ended Us Chapter 07

Liam lifted his eyes to hers.

Then he closed the box, gently.

“I can’t,” he said. “She’d be upset.”

He added, to soften it, “Pick something else. Anything. I’ll get it for you.”

Olivia’s smile went stiff. Then it faded.

“Who is she?” Olivia asked.

She followed him as he moved toward the couch. “It’s the one from the reunion,

isn’t it? The one who said she’s getting married?”

He stopped with his back to her.

“Liam, do you know why I left the country back then?” She stepped around to face him. Her eyes were reddening. “Because I saw how close you two were.”

He didn’t look at her.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, her voice shaking. “All those years abroad. Every time someone showed interest, I thought, what if he’s still waiting for me? What if he’s just not ready yet?”

She took a breath, steadying herself.

“I saw it at the reunion. She cares about you. But you care about me. Isn’t that

true?”

She paused.

“She’s not here now because of me, right?”

Her voice softened. “Let’s not lie to ourselves. If she really loved you, why would she run away? Why wouldn’t she at least fight for you?”

Liam finally looked at her.

“She went home to get ready for the wedding,” he said. His voice was steadier than

he expected. “We talked about it.”

“Ready for the wedding?” Olivia gave a short laugh. “She said she’s known the guy

for two weeks.”

Liam didn’t answer.

But he knew the truth. That guy was him. The “two weeks,” all of it, was just her

way of making a point. I’d asked him for his birth details. I’d said her parents wanted to

check.

I was talking about him.

I was talking about marrying him.

“Liam.” Olivia stepped closer, touching his arm. “You’ve never even made your relationship public. And she’s out there telling people she’s marrying someone she met

two weeks ago.”

Her fingers tightened slightly. “Wake up. She doesn’t…”

“Olivia.” He pulled his arm back. His voice cooled. “Emma and I have our own way of handling things. If you have other intentions, you can’t stay here.”

line.’

Her hand hung in the air.

“I’ll book you a hotel nearby. If anything comes up, I’ll be there.”

“No.” She forced a smile, though her eyes were still red. “I’m sorry. That was out of

She looked down, her voice softening. “I don’t have other intentions. I just wanted

someone to talk to.”

She let out a small sigh. “I can’t sleep in hotels. My mom will be back in a week, and then we’re leaving again. You’re my friend. You wouldn’t turn me away, would you?”

Liam stood there.

That night, he couldn’t sleep.

Three years. I’d always slept on the left side. He took the right.

Now the left side was empty, and the bed felt too big.

His thoughts were scattered. Her packing. Olivia in the living room asking if he got lonely. Then, somehow, he was back in high school.

He and Olivia had been the couple everyone rooted for. The it boy. The it girl. They’d

barely sat together without someone whistling.

He’d felt something for her back then. But the guy pursuing her, rich, showing up with limited-edition gifts, emptying shelves at designer stores, Liam had looked at his own empty pockets and hadn’t even bothered to compete.

Then I came along. I was nothing like Olivia.