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"I'm sorry," Marcus says suddenly. "For how I reacted last time we met. With the spilled drink. I was... out of line."
His apology catches me off guard. I turn to look at him, struck by the sincerity in his eyes. "Oh. Um, thank you. I'm sorry too. For yelling at you."
He shakes his head. "You had every right to. I was an ass."
I can't help but laugh at his blunt assessment. "Well, we were both a bit prickly that day."
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, I feel like I'm drowning in the depths of his gaze. There's something there, a spark of connection that both thrills and terrifies me.
Our conversation is cut short by Liam's voice carrying across the yard. "Zoe! Where are you?"
Chapter 3
Zoe
I sigh, steeling myself for what I know I have to do. The moment with Marcus shatters, reality rushing back in. "I should go," I tell Marcus. "I need to talk to Liam."
Marcus nods, his expression unreadable. "Good luck," he says softly. His hand brushes against mine as I move to leave, and I have to suppress a shiver at the contact. The brief touch sends sparks racing up my arm, and I have to force myself to walk away.
I make my way through the crowd, spotting Liam near the drinks table. His earlier anger seems forgotten, replaced by a sloppy grin that does nothing to improve my mood. The contrast between his behavior and Marcus's steady presence is stark.
As I approach Liam, a realization hits me like a bucket of ice water. I don't want this anymore. The casual dating, the hot-and-cold behavior, the lack of real connection – it's all suddenly, glaringly clear. I need to end things with Liam, and soon. Maybe after the BBQ, when we can have a private conversation. It's the mature thing to do, right?
But as I reach Liam, my resolve is put to the test. He slings an arm around my waist, pulling me close. "There you are, babe,"he slurs, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Was starting to think you'd run off with some other guy."
I try to step back, but his grip tightens. "Liam, ease up a bit," I say, keeping my voice low.
He laughs, too loud, drawing attention from nearby guests. "What's the matter, Zoe? Embarrassed to be seen with me?" His eyes narrow, a mean glint appearing. "Or maybe you're just pissed that I'm not my brother."
The cruel accusation ignites a fire in my chest. All thoughts of waiting, of being mature, evaporate in an instant. "Liam, we need to talk. In private."
His smile falters, but he follows me to a secluded spot near the edge of the property. Once we're out of earshot of the other guests, I turn to face him.
"Liam, this isn't working," I say firmly. "I think we should end things."
For a moment, he looks genuinely hurt. Then his expression hardens. "Fine," he spits. "I didn't want to date you anyway. You're just a human, after all."
His words sting, but they also confirm what I've been suspecting – that Liam's interest in me was never genuine. I stand my ground, meeting his gaze steadily. I've faced worse than this in my life, and I refuse to let him see how much his words have affected me.
"If that's how you really feel, then I guess we're done here," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Goodbye, Liam."
I turn to leave, but Liam grabs my arm, his grip tight enough to make me wince. Fear flashes through me, but I push it down,drawing on the strength I've cultivated through years of self-reliance. "Wait, Zoe, I didn't mean—"
"Let go of me," I hiss, trying to wrench my arm free. But Liam's grip only tightens, his eyes wild.
"You can't just walk away from me," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't get to decide when this is over."
My heart races, but I refuse to show fear. "I said, let go," I repeat, my voice sharp as steel.
Before Liam can respond, a large hand clamps down on his shoulder, and suddenly Marcus is there, his presence solid and reassuring. I feel a rush of relief at his appearance.
"You heard her, Liam," Marcus says, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of threat. "Let. Her. Go."
For a tense moment, Liam doesn't move. Then, with a frustrated growl, he releases my arm and stumbles back. "Whatever," he mutters, glaring at both of us before storming off towards the house.
I let out a shaky breath, rubbing my arm where Liam's fingers had dug in. Marcus turns to me, concern etched across his features. "Are you okay?"
I nod, not trusting my voice just yet. Marcus's eyes narrow as he notices me rubbing my arm. "Did he hurt you?"
