Page 76 of Pressure Point

“Look,” Liam said. Time to lay it all on the line. “I get what you’re saying, I do. But she’s not interested in hearing it. I was trying to tell her how I felt while we were out there, and that’s when Dash cut in. And she chose him.”

A pang hit him as he said it. He didn’t want it to be true, but it was. She had chosen Dash. The thought hurt, and part of him thought about being angry about it. But he just couldn’t be. More than anything, what he wanted—what he had always wanted—was for her to be happy. Even if it wasn’t with him.

“Hi, not to eavesdrop or anything,” the blonde whose name was apparently Delaney said, leaning over Chance.

“Just how much did you hear?” Chance asked, a nervous look on his face.

“Only bits and pieces,” she said. “But enough to know Viking here likes Little Red over there. And that you two,” she continued, gesturing between Elliot and Chance, “are not helpful.”

Liam blinked, more than a little confused by what she was saying. He looked between his teammates, who seemed just as confused as he did.

“Here’s the thing, big guy. You don’t know me. But I’m a girl, I know things. And the thing I know is that the sweetheart I met earlier, who spent most of that time holding your hand, is not a mind reader. If you love her, you need to tell her.”

Love? Who said anything about love?

Liam opened his mouth to respond, but Delaney held up a hand to stop him.

“You said you were in the middle of your declaration when you were interrupted?” Liam nodded. “Then march back over there and finish what you started. Or don’t. And continue to let her think that you’re okay with her and pretty boy.”

Liam stared at Delaney a moment longer, letting what she said sink in. She was right. He needed to man up and tell Avery how he felt. He knew he wasn’t good with words, but she deserved them nonetheless. Even if it meant making an ass out of himself.

He nodded solemnly. Digging way down deep, he tried to muster up the courage, his mind taking him back to yesterday. The look Avery had given him just before she kissed him wasn’t something he had imagined. It was real. There was something between them. Something very real. Because Delaney was right.

He loved her.

Liam took a step back from the table, putting down the beer bottle he hadn’t realized he was still holding. He could do this. His stomach felt like it was doing somersaults as he tried to think of what to say, hoping that whatever he blurted out would sound okay. With another deep breath, he turned to head back to the dance floor.

And that’s when he saw it.

His whole body jolted, feeling like he’d been hit by a truck. Nausea washed over him, the beer he’d chugged a moment ago threatening to come back up as he took in the view in front of him.

No, no…there’s no way…

Dash was kissing Avery.

Or Avery was kissing Dash. Liam wasn’t exactly sure. What he did know was that he needed to leave.

Now.

Turning on his heel, he threw a quick glance to his teammates who were watching him wide-eyed. With each passing second he felt more like throwing up, his stomach churning. His mind flashed back to last year and the similar scene that had played out in the pub. Was he really having to do this again?

No, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

Stepping to the side to avoid a waitress, he made his way through the crowd toward the elevator. He heard both Elliot and Chance call his name, but he ignored them. He didn’t want to talk to them right now. He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

He just wanted to get out of there.

* * *

Avery could all but feel Dash’s lips on hers. And it felt wrong.

Not just off. Wrong.

He was not the one she wanted to kiss.

Her heart pounded so hard in her chest she was sure it was drowning out the music. But it wasn’t pounding for Dash. No, in fact, everything inside her other than that stupid organ had frozen in fear.

“Liam…” she whispered.