Page 9 of Just Between Us

Liam hitches a thumb at the only house in sight. “That house is empty. There’s no one to wake. Now, go on.” He places one large hand to the small of my back. “Yell it.”

Sucking in a lungful of air, I take a tiny step forward, but not too close, and shout into the starry sky. “I’m free!”

“With your whole chest, Cassandra! Say it like you mean it.”

Turning a quick grin to Liam, I close my eyes, and this time I shout so loudly it echoes. “I’m free!”

Liam lets out a whoop, a grin spreading across his lips. “Thatta girl.”

I settle back onto the grass, breathless and exhilarated, to admire the glittering night sky and the water below. Everything about this view is spellbinding. The moonlight, casting lightacross the surface of the river, and this man who I’ve only just met, yet he’s already challenging me to do better, be better.

Right now, anything really does seem possible.

Lowering my eyes, I realize Liam has moved to lean against the tree, one leg crooked so the sole of his boot rests against the trunk. Seconds later, a bright orange glow flares in the darkness and silver smoke billows into the air, the acrid scent of cigarette smoke wafting my way. So much for not smoking tonight.

“You do know those will kill you, right?” I say into the night air.

Liam’s face, illuminated by moonlight, clouds over. Gone is the easy-going expression he’s worn all night, replaced by something dark.

He falls silent for the space of several breaths. Then. “We’re all gonna die eventually.”

The words hang between us, broken and heavy.

I read people well. It’s literally a big part of my job. And by Liam’s rigid posture and clenched jaw, I know right now what he needs is a moment of quiet to let the stars and moonlight work their magic. Not me pestering him about the dangers of smoking. Instead, I watch him and wonder where that darkness comes from.

“So…” Liam’s voice cuts through the silence a few minutes later, marginally lighter than before. He stomps out his cigarette and pushes off the tree, striding my way. His shoulders are more relaxed when he drops to the grass beside me and I can tell that whatever he was working through minutes ago is fading. “How’s it gonna work? The whole finding yourself thing,” he tacks on when my eyes narrow.

I lift a shoulder. “I haven’t gotten that far. I’m only on day one.”

“What if you make a list? Things you want to accomplish that would remind you who you were before the shit bag ex. Or hell, you can reinvent yourself entirely if you want.”

I turn the suggestion over in my mind, and decide I like it. Itfeels concrete. Like forward momentum. “This is actually a great idea.”

“I’m full of great ideas,” he interjects, tapping me on the nose.

“And,” I continue, more than a little flustered by that tap, “I reserve the right to change things on the list if I want to.” And sensing he might be battling something of his own, I look over at him with a challenge. “And you have to complete the list with me.”

Liam pauses, eyes taking a full sweep of my face and something flickers across his features, gone so quickly I’d have missed it if I weren’t paying close attention.

“Deal.”

We shake on it, his hand warm and calloused in mine, and I grab my phone, swiping to my notes app.

Somewhere in our brainstorming, I realize we've shifted closer. I don't know which of us moved or if we both did, but his shoulder is now pressed to mine and the warmth of him radiates against my bare arm. But he doesn't make to move, so I don't either.

After thirty minutes of back and forth, my list goes as follows:

Cassie’s Path Back

Do something that terrifies me.

Make some friends.

Sing in public.

Do something low-key illegal

Volunteer in the community