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He stops, only two steps in front of me. “You know who I am?”
I nod. At least I think I do.
“Where’s Noah?”
“Um. . .”
“Um. . .” he mocks me. “Do you know, or are you the unintelligent one of the two?”
“Excuse me?”
“Ah, she talks. Where’s Noah?”
I say nothing.
“He’s my grandson, I want?—”
“It doesn’t matter what the fuck you want.”
I lean to the side and see Liam stalking toward us. I’ve never felt so much relief in my life. He looks angry and ready to kick Sterling’s ass. I’m here for it.
“You okay?” he asks when he’s closer.
“Yes,” my voice is weak, and I hate it.
Liam turns to Sterling. They’re the same height, but you’d never be able to tell one is the son and the other is the father. They’re the opposite of each other in every way. Liam’s bicep bulges through his shirt sleeve as he raises his hand and points at Sterling, who’s dressed in a suit.
“It behooves you to leave her alone. In fact, leave both of Mason’s daughters alone.”
Sterling scoffs. “What are you going to do? Hit me? I’d like to see you try.”
“You’d be worth the battery charge, Sterling. All I need is two, one for me and one for my mother. Right in your fucking jaw. But that’s after my son has had his chance with you. How dare you approach his wife the way you did, and then insult her? You’ve got a death wish, old man, and I’ll happily watch them carry you out in a body bag.”
Liam drops his hand and comes toward me.
“You believe her lies.”
Liam makes eye contact with me and rolls his eyes.
“You ruined your life the day you knocked that girl up.”
Liam turns and rushes Sterling. I react and grab him. “He’s not worth it.”
He raises his hand again. “You . . .” He pauses and collects himself. “Stay away from my family and don’t you ever mention my wife again. Better yet, get the fuck out of my town. You left once, leave again.”
Sterling sneers as I pull Liam away.
“Come, he’s not worth it. Look,” I say as I turn him around. “Isn’t Stevie Nicks cute, sitting in the cart like a good girl?”
Liam scoops her up and holds her to his chest. I don’t need to ask him what he’s doing. I know. She’s calming him down or he’s using her as a shield. Something to hold him back from pummeling Sterling, who absolutely deserves to have his ass beat. I’m thankful Noah wasn’t here. I’m not so sure how he’d react, especially if Sterling made a jab about his mom.
We get to the end of the aisle and pause. Liam stares straight ahead. “He’s gone,” I tell him. “Hopefully, he left the store.”
“I don’t know why he’s still here,” he says. “His son left him. His wife left him. The last I knew, he moved. I don’t know why he’s back, but I don’t like it.”
I wish I had the answer for Liam. There isn’t a doubt in my mind, he struggles when it comes to Sterling. Noah doesn’t. He never had a relationship with him. My grandpa was more of a grandpa to Noah than Sterling’s ever been.
Liam stays with me while I try to finish my shopping. I appreciate him doing so. But any appetite I had is long gone. I put a couple of things into my cart and then check out. The cashier eyes Liam. I like to think it’s because of the way he’s holding Stevie Nicks and not because he’s famous. Everyone knows him around town, and no one bothers with him. Those days are long gone.
