Chapter 106 The Cost Of Stepping Back
Liam's POV
"What do you want this time, Liam?" Daniel asked the moment I stepped into their backyard.
His tone was already guarded. Defensive.
Mrs. Rodriguez had opened the door for me with her usual warm smile, not knowing why I came. I almost felt guilty for stepping inside their house again, like I didn't deserve to be there.
"If you're here to ask me to come with you again to see Mia, I'm sorry. I won't go with you anymore," Daniel continued before I could speak. "I don't want Mia to hate me even more because of you."
I slowly shook my head. That wasn't why I came.
"I came here to ask you not to ask Mia to be your date to prom."
The words felt heavy coming out of my mouth.
Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief, and then his face darkened almost instantly.
"You have no right to ask me that," he said sharply. "You ignored her. You broke her heart. You treated her like she meant nothing. And now you're asking me to step aside?"
He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head.
"I can't believe you, man. You pushed her away like she was nothing, and now you want to claim her as your date? What is this, Liam? Are you playing games with her?"
His anger was justified. I didn't even try to argue with that. I swallowed and shook my head again.
"No. I'm not playing games with her." My voice came out lower than I expected. "I know I messed up. I know you have every reason to hate me. Honestly, I hate myself too."
Daniel crossed his arms, but he didn't interrupt me this time.
"I thought staying away from her was the right thing to do," I continued. "I thought if I stepped back, if I acted like I didn't care, it would protect her from my family, from the pressure, from everything. But all I did was hurt her."
Saying it out loud made my chest tighten.
"I see her trying to be strong," I said. "But I know she's hurting. And knowing that I'm the reason... it's killing me."
Daniel's jaw tightened, but his eyes weren't as sharp anymore.
"I'm not asking you to back off because I want to control her," I added quickly. "I just... I can't stand the thought of her going to prom with someone else. Not when we promised each other we'd be together that night. No matter what happened between us."
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated at myself.
"I know I sound like a hypocrite. I pushed her away, and now I'm here asking you for this. But I love her, Dan. I never stopped loving her. I was just too stupid and too scared to fight for her."
My voice cracked slightly, but I didn't look away.
"I don't want her to be with someone else at prom. Not because I own her. Not because I want to mark my territory. But because she's still mine in my heart... and I'm still hers."
Silence settled between us.
"I'm not trying to hurt her again," I said more quietly. "I just want one night. One chance to be with her without pretending. Even if it's the last night she ever chooses me."
I felt completely exposed. And I knew whether Daniel agreed or not, I deserved whatever answer he gave me.
"Well, it wasn't yours to decide, Liam." Daniel's voice was calm, but there was steel in it. "It's all up to Mia. You can't stop me from asking her to be my date to prom. Let's respect whatever she decides."
He crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I wanted to give you another chance," he continued. "But it seems like you'll just end up hurting her again. I don't want to see her in pain anymore."
His words hit harder than I expected.
I swallowed and forced myself to stand straight. "Fair enough," I said, trying to sound confident. "But I'm sure Mia will choose me to be her date."
Daniel let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Don't be so sure, Liam," he replied. "You've hurt her too many times. And I don't think Mia is crazy enough to let herself fall back into something that only brings her pain. She knows how this ends. You always end up hurting her."
I felt my face grow warm as embarrassment crept up my neck, and suddenly I couldn't look at him anymore.
Because the worst part was... he wasn't wrong.
Every time I tried to protect her, I somehow hurt her instead. Every time I stepped back, thinking it was the right thing to do, I only made things worse. I kept telling myself I was doing it for her sake.
But I knew it was just an excuse because I was just a coward.
I opened my mouth to argue, to defend myself, but nothing came out. There was nothing I could say that would erase the nights she cried because of me. Nothing I could say that would undo the times I ignored her in public like she meant nothing.
Daniel watched me quietly. For once, I had no clever response and no excuse. He was right I always end up hurting her.
I left Daniel’s house with a heavy heart.
The truth kept repeating inside my head. There was a big possibility Mia would say yes to him. And if she did, I had no one to blame but myself.
I sat in the driver’s seat for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, trying to calm down. But instead of driving home, I found myself heading straight to Josh’s salon.
I needed to see her.
When I stepped inside, Josh looked at me like he already knew why I was there.
“We’re closed, Liam,” Mia said the moment she saw me. Her voice was firm, almost cold.
Josh glanced between us, then quietly unlocked the door and let me in before walking away to give us space.
“I came to remind you,” I said, trying to sound confident even though my chest felt tight, “that I will be your escort to prom.”
She didn’t even hesitate.
“I already said no.”
Her answer was calm, but it cut deeper than I expected.
“You still have three days to change your mind,” I insisted.
She shook her head. “I’m not going to change my mind, Liam.”
Her voice hardened, and for the first time, I realized she wasn’t just being stubborn. She was protecting herself.
“Come on, Mia,” I said, forcing a small smile. “I know you miss me too.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
“Don’t be so sure of yourself, Liam,” she replied. “Even if you’re the most popular guy in Suncrest Academy, I don’t want to be your date. And please… just leave me alone.”
There was no anger in her voice. Just exhaustion. I felt something twist painfully inside me.
“It seems like you’re just like Stacy now,” she added quietly. “You make sure I feel like you’re above me.”
Her words stunned me.
“Mia, I’m not like her. And you know that,” I said quickly.
But even as I defended myself, I saw the sadness in her eyes. And I knew I had made her feel exactly that way.
“Liam,” she said softly, but firmly, “if you’re not like her, then respect my decision.”
My face burned. She was right. I kept saying I loved her, that I cared about her, but I wasn’t even respecting her simple no.
Silence filled the salon. I stared at the floor, trying to gather the courage to say the next words.
When I finally spoke, my voice was lower.
“Of course, Mia. I hope you still attend prom. I want to see you there.”
She didn’t say anything.
“And I’m sure Daniel will be your date,” I continued, forcing the words out even though they hurt more than I expected. “He’s a good guy. If you choose to date him for real this time… I’ll be happy for you.”
That was a lie. But I wanted her to think I meant it.
“All I want is for you to be happy,” I said, even though the words felt like they were cutting through me. “So I won’t bother you anymore. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. And… I know Daniel will treat you the way you deserve.”
For a second, I waited for her to stop me, to call my name and tell me not to go. But she didn’t. So I turned around and walked out of the salon.
The moment I got inside my car and shut the door, the strong front I had been holding cracked. I slammed my fist against the steering wheel.
“Damn it!” I muttered, my chest tightening.
It felt like I was losing her for real this time. Maybe I hurt her too much.
All I could do now was respect her decision, even if it shattered me. Even if watching her walk into prom with Daniel would be the hardest thing I would ever have to see.
I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. I wanted her to be happy. But I never imagined that her happiness might not include me.