I am quite positive no one expects to be walking along minding their own business only to be suddenly yanked by the arm and pulled to the side between two buildings. At least, that's what the shocked look on his face was telling me, but that's exactly why it helps to have quick reflexes.

Something Nathan most definitely does not have.

"Maddie, what the hell!?" Nathan cursed, yanking back his arm and throwing out karate hands.

I eyed him incredulously, placing my hands over his arms, and pushing them down. "Little late for those nun chuck hands, don't you think?"

He rolled his eyes before peeking out from the side of the building in the direction he had been coming from. Satisfied no one had seen his little freak out, he turned back to face me, crossing his arms.

"What's up super spy? Why the covert meeting?"

Not in the mood for pleasantries, I jumped straight to the point.

"Liam. Where is he?"

His eyebrows shot straight up, raising his hands up to me and shaking his head. "Oh no. Nope. Not going to happen. I don't know what he did, but I'm not getting in the middle."

"Nathan, come on. He hasn't been on campus since Monday. At least, not from what I've seen. I need to speak to him."

"Well why don't you just call him. You have his number."

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I've tried that. It goes straight to voicemail. He texted right after saying he can't talk right now, that he's supposedly sick, but Aaron said he hasn't seen him in their dorm. Look, I know when he's avoiding me, so can you please just tell me where he's at. It's important."

Nathan's eyes bounced across my face as the lines on his forehead creased. He threw his head back and ran his hands down his face, groaning into them before looking back at me.

"I don't know why you guys can't just work your stuff out. You're a weakness, you know that right? Like damn Superman's kryptonite, I swear." He mumbled, almost to himself. "Alright. He's over at his mom's house. You know the place. He'll be there this whole weekend."

I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around his waist, and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Nathan. I really appreciate this."

He tensed, before holding me back and giving a gentle squeeze. I pulled away a moment later.

"For what it's worth, I'm trying to work it out. I know it would make your life a lot easier if we did."

Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. "You have no idea."

Smiling, I turned to leave, ready to finally get some answers.

"Don't tell him I told you!" I heard Nathan call out from behind, causing me to chuckle.

That's going to be the least of Liam's worries.

****

Pulling up to the only house that has ever felt like home, I sat completely still, hands gripping the steering wheel, as I stared at the two-story brick home to the side of me. Six, almost seven years now had passed, slightly changing the appearance of both the house and the yard. The door was now white, instead of brown. Around the windows, white shutters now matched the door, a charming touch added by the owners. The bushes at the end of the driveway where Liam and I used to pick berries were gone, the only plants now present was the flowerbed under the kitchen window against the house. I wondered if I walked around to the back of the house, if I would see the crack in the upper window from the time Liam threw rocks at it in an attempt to wake me.

Though, I knew it would be gone.

I found myself struggling with trying to find peace that what used to be my home, changed right along with me. Though, I almost wished it had stayed exactly as it was, a constant in my otherwise unstable life.

But I guess everything changes, even when we're not looking.

Especially when we're not looking.

Pulling my attention away from my old home, I brought it now to Liam's. I could tell the paint around the frame of the house had been redone, new shingles to the roof too, but overall, it was exactly as I had remembered it. I could even spot the tree in the backyard that we used to swing on once his parents got rid of his swing set.

Stepping out of my jeep, I nervously walked in the direction of his house. My determination to see him had started fading the closer I drove to the house, and now that I was there, I was a wreck. Stepping onto the porch, I went to knock, only to hear a lawnmower start up in the backyard. Lowering my hand, I walked down the porch, stopping in front of the side gate. Giving it a pull, the gate opened as expected. I couldn't ever remember it being locked.

I turned to push it closed, then walked a few steps to peer around the side, seeing Liam pushing a lawn mower for, I'm sure, one of the last mows of the season as the beginning of November would bring in colder weather. But as I stood gaping at Liam dressed in jeans, a light gray cut off t-shirt, and a baseball cap, I thanked Mother Nature that she was still bringing a few warm fall days to Georgia. His sculpted muscles were pronounced as his strong arms gripped the mower, pushing it across the yard making his way to...

Oops, me!

I had undoubtedly been caught staring as Liam let go of the handle, shutting off the mower. He stood there with widened eyes, a sure expression of shock at me standing there. Taking off his baseball cap, he ran his hand through his hair before placing it on his head backwards. He took one step toward me before stopping.

"What are you doing here?"

"Heard you were sick. Figured I would bring you some soup." I jerked an eyebrow up, taking a few steps closer and crossing my arms.

He looked down at my arms, then behind me, before meeting my challenging gaze. "Well, where's the soup?"

I tried, but surely failed, at keeping my expression serious as a snort escaped me.

"Liam!" I scolded, sounding like a little girl annoyed at her best friend. "Why did you lie to me? Why have you been avoiding me?"

His annoyed expression mirrored my own, as if he had a right to be mad. Crossing his arms, he looked toward the house before glaring back at me in silence. A moment passed with neither of us saying anything before I gave in.

"Well?" I threw up my arms, the sound of them hitting my legs as they fell back down mimicking my frustration.

"Well, what? You clearly didn't like the fact that I lied, so I'm over here trying not to lie again." Shrugging, he placed his hands in his pockets. "Feel like I'm doing a good job so far." He added with a grin.

A defeated laugh fell from my lips as a smile overcame my face. Shaking my head, I walked past Liam to the tire swing still hanging on the tree and sat down. Staring at the ground below my feet, I spoke in a hushed tone. "You're still you, you know that?"

Bringing my face up to look at him, my eyes were met with his fierce emerald ones, penetrating right through me as he held my stare in an unwavering competition. I looked away in defeat, unable to hold the intense gaze any longer for fear of what it meant, and what I wanted it to mean.

He took several steps until he was directly behind me. Placing his hands on top of both of mine that were holding the rope, he leaned in, causing me to silently gasp. "And how am I still?" He whispered, his breath caressing my ear.

I released the breath I was holding, gripping tighter to the rope to give me a sense of stability. "Irritating for one."

He pulled slightly back and laughed, the sound igniting a spark within me. Glancing up at him, I added, "But also charming and sweet... and a fierce protector over the ones you love."

His playful expression dissipated into a somber one. His gaze darkened as he stared down at me, before glancing back at the house. Clearing his throat, he released my hands and took a step back.

He was shutting down.

Again.

Not this time.

Standing up, I took a step around the swing to meet him face to face. Reaching to my neck, I watched his eyes following my movements as I traced down my chest, reaching under my shirt, and pulling out the necklace. His eyes darted up to mine, a certain fire raging across them.

"Why, Liam?"

He looked away, lifting his hand to mess with his backward cap. The tendons in his jaw tensed as he stared in the direction of his house, unwilling to meet my gaze. My voice cracked as raw emotions surged through.

"Why, Liam?" I asked again, this time with purpose. "Why did you stop writing?"

"Don't go there, Maddie." He seethed, turning and walking a few strides. I walked after him, reaching out and grabbing his arm.

"Just tell me why! Why didn't you come for me!?"

Abruptly turning on his heel, he spun into me, causing me to stumble back.

"I did, damnit! I came for you! I never stopped writing. As soon as I got that letter, I wrote to you telling you I was coming. And I did!" He shouted, prodding his chest. "But you were already gone!"

His pained expression broke me as my head scrambled to understand what my heart already knew.

"You... you came for me?"

He took a stride forward, stepping into my space and enveloping my senses.

"I came for you. I'll always come for you." His confession hung in the air for only a second before his one hand gripped my waist, the other going to my neck as he yanked me forward, crashing his lips onto mine.

Desperation seeped through his pores, trickling down my skin, and infusing its' way into my startled heart, where it jumpstarted back into the rhythm it once beat regularly to--the rhythm forged from Liam's soul and mine. I wanted to cry out from the simultaneous pain and euphoria I felt because of this, but Liam left no room for deliverance.

Backing us into the fence, the kiss was hard and demanding and so very consuming. He kissed me like he was making up for all the missed opportunities to do exactly that, as if this was all he wanted for his entire life. His tongue darted into my mouth, dancing with my own, and a moan slipped both our lips at the same time, heightening the moment. My one hand slipped behind his neck, the other tugging at his shirt in an effort to get him closer.

Soon, what started as rough and hard, slowed to sweet and gentle, as he tilted my chin up for better access and slowed his movements like he wanted to soak up every sensation that came with this moment. His hard body pushed into mine, the feel of his pleasure unleashing something wild inside of me that I had only thought was tamed. All sanity was lost in this kiss.

Kissing Liam was like finding the piece of my soul that had been missing.

Kissing Liam was like coming home.

Pulling apart, he rested his forehead against mine as we fought to catch our breaths. A sound from inside the house had him pulling away, releasing me a moment later. He looked toward the house where his name was being called.

"Shit."

I followed his gaze, looking at the house, then back to him. "What's wrong? Is that your mom? Can I say hi?"

He quickly turned his attention back to me; his eyes now void of the passion that was there only seconds ago. "I have to go. You should go."

I reached out to him as he started walking in the direction of his house, but he pulled his arm away. He turned, looking pained. As he went to say something, his name being called again stopped him.

"Liam, talk to me. What's wrong? What happened just now?"

"I'm sorry, Maddie. I should not have kissed you, not when I have nothing else to offer. You have to go."

Without another word, he turned and walked through his back door, shutting it as quickly and as roughly as he had just shut me out.

As I was writing this scene, I immediately felt The Notebook vibes. Anyone else? 👀 That may just be one of my all-time favorite movies ever. Just like this chapter is one of my favorites in this book❤ How about you?

They kissed! It was long over-due. Oh, and did I mention, He WROTE! He wrote!

But then, WHAT happened?

Thanks for sticking around! I am so sorry my schedule is crazy nowadays! I am thinking I will not be able to get this book out in the time frame I intended, but do not worry, I WILL complete it. There's only about five more chapters left so bear with me!