3
My grandpa slapped him on the arm.
“What did I say about talking to Hailey that
way?”
I stared at Liam, almost in a daze.
He really hated me, didn’t he? He couldn’t
even be nice to me in front of his grandpa.
Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, and he needed a
shave.
He must have driven all night
He must have driven all night.
I was used to seeing him all clean, and ready
to impress, so this was different.
He grabbed my arm.
“The staff said you burned the dress. This has
gone too far, right?”
I met his gaze. I could see his impatience.
If that was the old me, I would feel like I had
done something wrong.
I loved him, but he didn’t care about me, he
was mean to me.
Now, I just thought he was rude.
<
No point in arguing with someone who has no
manners.
I twisted out of his grip and rubbed my sore
arm.
“You know how important that dress was to
me.”
Liam looked away. His voice softened.
“If you’re angry about the dress, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I’ll take you shopping for a
new dress.”
“Didn’t you want to get married in Hawaii? I
said yes.”
I shook my head, and then asked him a
question.
L
“What were you thinking when you let Ashley
wear the dress?”
“Was it a prank? Did you want to see me
cry?”
Liam used to threaten the things I cared about to try to get me to listen to him.
He didn’t want to make me feel better, so he
used the simplest way.
He knew that I liked him and that I wouldn’t
leave him, and I believe that the dress was his
punishment to me for acting out.
Liam went pale.
He stammered.
“I… I…..”
He didn’t answer, and he got angry.
“Why do you care so much?”
Now I knew what he thought.
I stood up to say goodbye to my grandpa.
After I turned around, my grandpa slapped
Liam.
“What are you waiting for? Comfort Hailey.”
“You need to remember that we always owe
her, and if it wasn’t for her mother, you…”
Liam cut him off.
L
“How long are we going to be paying her
back for this?”
“Hailey is just acting out. She likes me, and
we’re engaged, and the family raised her. She
won’t leave me.
I stopped. I turned around and said it again.
“Liam, I don’t like you anymore.”
Liam dropped the smile. He stared at me,
trying to see if I meant it.
I didn’t give him the chance, and left.
4
