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Immediately, I think about Penny and the two of us before the Army, and sadness overcomes me. War changed me, and I think I’m too broken to be entirely available for someone else. Penny is doing the right thing in marrying Andrew. I still love her so much, but I can’t be the man she deserves.
A big part of what makes me Liam is missing, and I don’t know how to find it. A dark chuckle escapes my lips, and Tex glances back at me again.
“I’m sorry, bub. I’m not in a great mood today. But hopefully, this walk will help. Okay?”
Tex barks in response to me. A real laugh escapes me this time. But the laugh dies when I realize where I’m standing. My stomach swirls, and my heart pounds against my rib cage. Memories of me and Penny flood my mind, leaving an ache in my chest.
“How did I get here?” I murmur. I stay frozen in the same spot while Tex tugs and pulls on the leash, urging me to move. I notice that his pulling is becoming more insistent, as if he’s focusing on something I can’t see or hear.
I frown and look down at him, watching his body language. He’s a well-trained dog who doesn’t act out or throw tantrums when he doesn’t get his way, so this behavior is strange.
“What’s the matter, boy?” He responds by sniffing the ground and pulling me forward.
This time, I move, and Tex turns down the zigzag path. I let him pull me forward. He stops again, sniffs the ground, and takes a left turn. My heart is beating wildly in my chest at the exertion of the race, but when he starts to run again, I follow.
Suddenly, I hear a high-pitched scream. I can’t tell where the sound is coming from. It dawns on me that Tex senses someone and is trying to lead me there.
“Go, boy!” I let him run free and chase after him, my heart beating fast as my military training takes over. As a Search and Rescue member, I’m already thinking of all the possible ways to help. We reach a cliff, and Tex stands close to the edge, barking.
“Help!” The scream comes again from over the cliff, and my heart stops as I immediately recognize the voice.
Chapter 2
Penny
Stacy peeks through the open door. “You look beautiful! Are you ready? Almost everyone is seated, and we’re just waiting for you to start.”
“I need five more minutes,” I answer, forcing a smile onto my face.
My sister frowns and then fully steps into the room, closing the door behind her. My gaze takes in how gorgeous she looks in her bridesmaid gown, with her hair and makeup done. In her left hand is a flower bouquet.
“Penny?” She stands behind me, puts her hands on my shoulders, and looks at my reflection in the mirror. Staring back at me is a woman who should be bursting with happiness. Instead, I’m miserable.
“Yeah?” I feel the pressure of tears stinging the back of my eyes.
“Are you okay? You look pale.”
“Of course I’m okay. I’m just jittery.” I laugh shakily.
Stacy silently searches my face for a brief moment before nodding. “Okay, good. Because you’re walking down the aisle in less than five minutes.”
“Five minutes,” I gently remind her.
“Okay. I’ll give everyone a heads up.”
“Thank you,” I force my smile to be more natural.
She pats my shoulder one last time and smiles encouragingly. “It’s okay to be nervous. But trust me, you’ll be fine. Andrew is perfect for you.”
I watch her close the door. Everything is perfect. The venue is beautiful. My dress is exactly what I’ve always dreamed of. And yet, I can’t go through with this. I know that the decision I’m about to make will affect everyone and embarrass my family. I love and respect Andrew, but he’s not the man I’ve dreamed of walking down the aisle to.
The tears I’ve been holding back roll down my face. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I know Andrew will be heartbroken, but I don’t love him like he deserves to be loved. Marrying him would be cruel and unfair.
If I’m completely honest with myself, Andrew was someone I fell into after Liam left. Andrew was both of our friends, and I missed Liam so much. Spending time with him comforted me. Then he told me he had feelings for me. I thought I felt the same way, but the truth is, I never fully got over Liam.
Why did you have to come home, Liam O’Connell? I swore to myself I was over you.
The first time I saw Liam back at Evie’s cafe, he looked so handsome that I was momentarily left speechless. My heart sputtered to life for the first time in years. It was in that moment I knew the truth, I had lied to myself about being over him.
