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“Yes.” I quietly acknowledge. “But I thought that I had moved on. I truly believed I could marry Andrew and be happy with him. I realized that wasn’t the truth, so I decided I couldn’t go through with the wedding. ”
Liam stays silent for a moment and I see the struggle in his eyes when he asks, “Who are you in love with?”
“You,” I whisper as I struggle to get the words past the lump in my throat. I shift closer to him, my heart pounding so hard I’m positive he must be able to hear it. “I am still in love with you, Liam.”
His mouth pops open, and I see myriad emotions play in his eyes. Shock, surprise, sadness. He stares at me, and I stay quiet, giving him time to process what I’ve just admitted.
“Penny…” He starts to shake his head. “Penny, I…”
“You don’t have to say it back,” I cut him off as my heart drops. “And this doesn’t have to be awkward. You don’t owe me anything, Liam. I have so many regrets about how things ended. I can see that now. I just needed to say how I felt out loud…for me.”
His eyes pierce my soul, and I suddenly remember our first kiss. It happened right here on this mountain. My gaze slips to his mouth. Looking back up, I see his eyes have fallen to my lips. Time has frozen; the only two people in the world are me and Liam. When his gaze meets mine again, I feel myself lean in. There is a tug between us that I can’t stop.
Liam lets out a low growl and I feel his hand on my cheek, pulling me to him. Our lips are inches apart, but at the last second, he turns away.
Disappointment fills me.
He presses his lips to my cheek. “I’m sorry, Penny. I can’t.”
I feel my face heating. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t be the man you deserve.”
“Liam,” I cup his cheek in my hand, my voice soft and small.
He turns his cheek away from my hand and stands up. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“Why?” I stand, watching him begin to pace. My heart gets heavy with each movement.
“I’m not the same person I was,” he says with frustration. “I’m not the right person for you. You deserve so much more than I can give.”
“Don’t say that, Liam,” I argue. “I don’t believe that.”
“Penny, being in the military changed me,” he mumbles. “The things I saw have changed me at my core. I’m not good enough for you. You deserve someone who can give you everything.” Pain drips from every word he utters.
My heart breaks for him and me, but I don’t dwell on the pain. I know he’s not the same Liam, just like I’m not the same Penny. We’ve both changed, but in spite of that, I am willing to weather any storm with him.
“I understand.” There’s time to convince him that he’s the perfect one for me. I don’t need to rush it now.
“You understand?” He echoes. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
He eyes me briefly and then looks around him. “Tex!”
The dog appears beside him in seconds, carrying a branch in his mouth. “I’m taking Tex for a hike,” he says.
“Can I come?” I ask sheepishly.
He takes so long to answer that I am sure he will say no, but then he surprises me with a small smile. “Okay.”
I hide my smile and follow him down the path.
Chapter 11
Liam
I had come on this hike to celebrate my new job and share the news with Penny in the only way I thought possible. But here I am, trailing behind her as we walk down the winding path.
