Chapter 123 Should I tell him the truth? Or should I not?
My whole body goes rigid when he says it. Liam? What about him? Did he figure us out?
The thought hits me like a slap. We have not exactly been careful. There is proof of something everywhere. Like yesterday. Like that time at the restaurant with my mom. I swallow hard and force a smile, trying to brush it off like it is nothing.
"They are still waiting for us out there. We can talk later."
I need to get out of here. Now. But before I can get up, Alex puts his hand on my shoulder and pushes me back down. I have never seen him look like this.
"You are going to want to hear this, Soph " His voice is hard.
I swallow again. Cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. Oh god. He knows. He definitely knows. What is he going to say? Is he going to judge me for sleeping with my stepbrother? Is he going to tell my parents? My friends? The whole school? If I beg him, will he keep his mouth shut?
My brain is spinning so fast I can not think straight. Then I hear Alex say -
"I think Liam is planning something against you."
I blink and just stare at him while my brain tries to catch up.
A second later, I burst out laughing.
"Liam?" I wave my hand and keep laughing. "No. You have got it wrong."
His forehead wrinkles up. He does not look happy with how I am reacting.
"No. Listen to me, Soph, okay?" He puts both hands on my shoulders and turns me so I am facing him. His eyes are intense. "Your brother... well, your stepbrother... he is not a good person. I am not saying this to trash him for no rLiam. This is how I actually feel. I have always thought something was off about him, but I could never figure out what it was."
Then he pauses.
"Until last night. I found something out."
The way he is so serious starts to get to me. My smile slowly fades.
Everything he is saying sounds crazy to me, but I still ask, "Found out what?"
"You remember yesterday when you went out looking for him? The storm was insane, so we were all worried. Katherine said we should call the police and everyone agreed. Except for James. And he said something really weird."
"What did he say?"
Alex hesitates, then lowers his voice. "He said... 'Do not worry. Liam has everything under control.'"
My lips part slightly. I just stare at him blankly.
Liam has everything under control?
What does that even mean?
Alex watches my face and rushes to say, "You think it is weird too, right? Like he knew Liam would be fine. Like they planned for him to go swimming in that weather. Like they planned for you to find him."
I shake my head.
"No way."
I fall back against the sofa and keep staring at him, completely stunned.
What he is saying is insane.
But even as I think that, a voice in my head whispers back - then why did James say that?
A long silence stretches out. Finally, I manage to speak.
"But..." I clear my throat. It feels dry. "But why would he do that? Why would he plan something against me? What does he get out of it?"
Alex shakes his head. "I do not know. But... just a guess. Maybe it is about the money. The inheritance. Now that you are back in the picture, maybe he is scared you will take his share later."
He is basically saying Liam wanted me out in that storm so something would happen to me.
I try to laugh because it sounds so ridiculous.
But my lips barely move. I end up with this ugly twitch instead of a smile.
"No. That can not be it." My voice shakes. "My mom and I do not want the Thorne money. We do not even have a right to it. He knows that."
But does he? I ask myself that now. I used to think he treated me like crap because he thought I was after his money.
But that does not make sense either. If he really thought I was some gold digger, then why did he sleep with me? Why did he tell me he loves me? Why did he ask me to be his girlfriend?
I sit there with a million thoughts crashing around in my head.
"Hey." Alex keeps his voice low. "I am just saying, be careful with him. These rich people will do whatever disgusting thing it takes for money. You have no idea."
I breathe in deep and nod.
He does not know the truth about me and Liam. So he has no clue how much more complicated this actually is.
Alex studies my face and frowns. "You okay? I will watch out for you, just in case - "
A voice cuts in from behind us.
"Watch out for what?"
Alex and I both spin around. The front door is wide open. Liam is standing right there, his eyes narrowed on us.
When did he get in?
A chill goes straight down my spine. The hair on my arms stands up. After what Alex just told me, seeing him sneak up on us like that terrifies me.
Alex takes a deep breath and looks away. "Nothing. We were just saying how dangerous last night was."
Liam smiles a little and walks inside. "No need to worry. We are both fine."
I stay quiet. Alex shrugs and stands up.
"Right. Well, I am going to head out. Soph, do not forget what we talked about."
He walks past Liam and out the door.
Liam watches him until he is gone, then turns to me.
He smiles as he walks over and sits down on the sofa. He touches my ankle.
"Does it hurt, babe?"
"Not really." My head is still stuck on Alex's words.
"So." He rubs my ankle gently, acting casual. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Nothing." I say it too fast.
He raises his eyebrows. He does not believe me. But I can not deal with this right now. I need space to think.
"Let us go outside." I try to stand up, keeping my face as normal as I can. "I can smell the barbecue from here."
He sighs. But he does not push me. He bends down and motions for me to get on his back.
"Come on. I will carry you out. Do not want you hurting your ankle again."
The rest of the weekend goes by fast. Everyone has a good time. We eat seafood on the beach, watch the sunrise the next morning, and take Liam's boat out on the water. The guys even catch a huge fish.
But my head is somewhere else the whole time.
I keep thinking about what Alex said. I keep wondering if there is any truth to it. It is crazy to accuse someone - my boyfriend, actually - of something so awful just because of one sentence.
But I can not let it go. I guess some part of me never really trusted Liam.
Sunday afternoon comes. We all pack up our stuff and get ready to leave. Katherine's car and Liam's M8 are parked outside.
I grab my bag and head for Katherine's car. But right when I open the passenger door, a hand comes from behind me and slams it shut.
I whip around. It is Liam. He takes my bag out of my hand and announces to everyone, "You guys go ahead. Soph is riding with me."
My eyes go wide. My first thought is to say no. I am not ready to be alone with him yet.
"But I do not - "
Before I can finish, he grabs my wrist and pulls me toward his car. He basically shoves me into the passenger seat and slams the door. It all happens so fast. The next thing I know, he is in the driver's seat and the engine is on.
Right before we drive off, I see Alex's face. He looks worried.
The sports car tears out of the parking lot and roars down the road. I grab my seatbelt and force out, "Can you please slow down?"
He keeps his eyes on the road. "Okay. But first you need to tell me what has been wrong with you the last two days."
"Nothing."
"Do not play stupid with me, Soph!" He snaps so suddenly it makes me jump. "You have been acting so fucking weird ever since you talked to Alex! What the hell did he say to you?"
I did not expect this. I did not think he would come at me like this. My mind goes blank and I can not form words.
And he keeps speeding up while I struggle to speak.
The wind rushes past. Everything outside the window blurs from how fast we are going. My heart pounds in my throat. Finally I break and scream, "Slow down! Fine! I will tell you!"
He makes a rough sound and hits the brakes. The car slows to normal. I breathe hard, trying to calm down while my heart still races. Fear grips my throat and makes it hard to breathe.
And then suddenly my eyes are wet.
Damn it. I did not know I was such a crier before I met him.
He glances over and freezes.
Through my watery eyes, I see his go a little wide. Shock takes over his face.
"Soph, why are you - fuck. Do not cry, babe. I am sorry. I am so sorry."
He turns the wheel and pulls over. Then he yanks off his seatbelt and leans over, pulling me into his arms.
The tears break loose. He pats my back and shushes me right by my ear, like I am three years old.
"Hey. What is going on?" His voice is soft now. He presses his lips to my forehead. "Was it the speed? I am sorry. I promise I will not do that again. I do not want to make you cry. Fuck. I just want to know what you are thinking."
I keep sobbing and stay quiet. My mind is too cloudy. Should I tell him the truth? Or should I not?