Professional Restraint

30 Remember this Moment

Liam

The night replays over and over again in my mind as I race towards Ella's house. From the moment I saw her at the club, I knew I was a goner.

Everything was perfect, from endless dancing, to how her body responded to mine, or so I thought... until she left.

But why?

No matter how many times I run it through in my mind, I come up blank.

Pulling into her driveway, my heart sinks. The lights are all off and her mail sits uncollected. She's not here.

I check my phone for the hundredth time, still no calls. My texts sit unread and unanswered.

My hand hovers over the call button, and I frown. If she was going to answer, she would have, but not knowing if she's okay or not is driving me insane. It's worse than not knowing why she left.

Flipping through my contacts, I land on Declan. I know he's with Sophia and is not likely to appreciate the interruption, but I can't sit here any longer.

Time ticks by at a snail's pace as the phone rings endlessly. On the fifth ring before it switches over to voice-mail, he finally picks up.

"You have got to be shitting me," he groans.

"I know, I know, but I wouldn't call if I could help it," I say, hoping he understands.

"Hang on." Muffled shifting takes over for a minute, then he's back, more alert. "What is it?"

"Has Sophia heard from El?" I ask, cutting to the chase.

"El? I thought she was with you?"

Sighing, I palm my forehead. "She was... I don't know what happened, but she took off—"

Sounds of a struggle cut me off. "What do you mean, took off?" Sophia snaps. "El doesn't just take off!"

"I don't know, one minute things were going great, the next she was gone—"

"The fuck do you mean, gone?! What did you do, Liam?" Sophia's tone drops dangerously, making me thankful she's on the other side of the phone.

"I didn't—"

"Talk to your idiot friend! I'm going to find El." Sophia announces.

"Wait, baby, we can go togeth—"

"This was a mistake," she growls, cutting him off. "I should have never left her with him!"

A door slams hard enough to make me flinch. I felt like shit, knowing that somehow I upset Ella, but knowing I've ruined Declan's night and Sophia's birthday leave me feeling like the ultimate piece of shit.

"Jeezus man, what did you do?" Declan says after a moment.

"Apparently ruined everyone's night." Frowning, I struggle to see where it all went wrong. "Don't you need to go after her?"

Declan scoffs. "Not if I want to keep my balls! She is in full momma bear mode and I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole."

"Sorry, I just started freaking out when I couldn't find her. Believe me, you were my last resort."

"Gee thanks, asshole," he grumbles.

"You know what I mean," I deadpan.

Silence hangs heavy in the air for a moment before he continues. "I have to ask. You didn't, you know?"

"Didn't what?" I snap.

"Go all freaky on her and take her to your sex dungeon," he bites back.

"Jeezus no, what do you take me for?!" Sighing, I slump back in my seat. "I swear, it was just normal sex."