Page 96 of Heartbeat Girl
His head snapped forward, and he grabbed me. I nearly collided with Steve as Pete yanked me toward him. He hugged and squeezed me fiercely.
Why was Pete trembling so badly?
Liam ripped us apart and scowled at Pete.
“Don’t make me hurt you. I won’t be able to help it,” Liam growled. “You’re my brother, but Jayne is my everything. Don’t touch her like that.”
“I touched Pete first,” I stated. “He looked like he was in pain.”
Liam was livid. His body vibrated against me, and his jaw tightened. With a long, drawn-out sigh, I got the feeling he tried very hardnotto be angry when he asked, “You good?”
“It makes sense now. Your aggression toward us with Jayne,” Pete murmured as he stared at the floor. “I don’t know what I was thinking, reaching for light...” He dropped on a chair, plugged some earphones into his phone, and shoved them in his ear.
“Is he okay?” I asked Liam, looking at Pete.
“He’s been spacey the last few hours, but he’ll be fine,” Steve answered. When I exhaled and continued to watch Pete, Steve added, “It’s enough you’re worried. I can see it in your eyes, Jayne. You have this crazy desire to save us all, but our feelings areoursto bear. The fact you’re present is pretty fucking amazing.”
I could see thebuthe wanted to add, but it never left his lips.
Instead, he smiled and looked at Liam. “So, what’s the plan?”
Pete shut his eyes tightly and rocked slightly to the hammering music jumping out of his earphones. Was he truly okay?This is cheerful news, right?Why wasn’t he talking and smiling with them? His face pinched so tightly it seemed he was trying desperatelynotto listen.Why block us out?
“Jayne.” Liam caught my attention. “Pete’s fine. Hope this big is terrifying.”
“Then let Pete tell me himself,” I said before I dropped into a chair beside Pete. His eyes opened, and I smirked. “You’re normally the most pleasant. Are you okay?” Ignoring Liam’s rigid stance, I rested my hand on Pete’s shoulder. He sagged immediately.
Pete’s face brightened when he smiled. “With you here, I know we’re going to be okay.”
“Is that so?” I asked.
Pete nodded. “Because in your presencenothingcan reach me.” He touched my hand and squeezed it. “Relax, Liam. Jayne is one of us—whatever we are, family or friends—she’s now a part of that. But she’s yours and only wants you, so you’re going to have to reign in the glowering.”
Steve snickered.
My chest swelled with Pete’s acceptance of me. “Family? That sounds nice.”
Steve grunted. “Well, if Jayne’s family, that makes us incestuous.”
The meaning didn’t escape me. I sensed Steve and Pete’s attraction for me, but they respected Liam, even if they gave him a hard time. Although I didn’t share those kinds of feelings for them, I definitely liked the idea of having them as family. Maybe one day, when their attraction fades, that’s really what we’d all be.
“Especially you Liam. You’ve done very naughty things with yourfamily,” said Steve.
Liam lunged for him.
+++
I listened to Liam strum his guitar as I helped Pete with his puzzle. Liam stopped and wrote in his notebook as he played. Then he’d watch me smile and laugh as I smacked Steve for being obnoxious. Liam tensed when his bandmates touched me, but I only had to reach for his hand, and he’d relax and return to his music. I had to admit Liam’s possessiveness turned me on, but I didn’t like the idea of him hurting Steve or Pete, especially when it wasn’t needed. My heart and body belonged to one and only one. But I enjoyed Liam’s laser focus on me all the same.
Random thoughts while watching Liam play his guitar were the last thing I remembered. When I woke, I was in bed with Liam. He must have carried me there. His palmed flattened between my breasts. He was nothing more than a shadow in the dark, but I knew it was him. He’d allow no one else with me. His face loomed over me.
Hooking my arm around his neck, I pulled him to me. “Listening to my heart?”
“How can I both love the sound of your heart so much and yet want to stop its beats forever?”
A chill ran down my spine. Did I hear him right? As quick as terror came, a rush of excitement swooped in and sent it packing. Of course, he would address my lifespan. Liam was timeless while I was broken glass.
“You want me to be like you?” I whispered.