Legacy of secrets

13

It had been days since we first entered the tunnel, but it felt like weeks. Every time we uncovered a new clue, a new twist emerged, making the mystery even more tangled than before. And with each new discovery, Ethan grew more distant. His sharp focus on the clues was starting to feel personal-like he was chasing something I couldn't see. I tried to tell myself that he was just invested in the mystery, but there was something off about the way he avoided my questions, how he never gave me the full story.

It wasn't like him. Or at least, it wasn't like the version of him I had started to fall for. Every conversation lately felt like walking on eggshells, with Ethan giving me half-truths and vague reassurances. It left me frustrated-and hurt.

The latest clue was a coded message we found hidden beneath a loose floor tile in the tunnel, but when Ethan translated it, he kept some of the details to himself. I saw it in the way he shifted his eyes, the way he folded the paper just before I could read it. I didn't want to accuse him of hiding something, but I could feel the distance growing.

"I'm just trying to protect you," he said when I pressed him.

"From what, Ethan? I deserve to know what's going on," I replied, exasperated. His face was cold, unreadable, like a mask he was determined not to let slip.

"Just trust me, Blair," he said softly. But trust was the one thing I was starting to lose.

Later that night, I found myself in the library again, poring over old texts and scribbled notes. Liam joined me, like he had most evenings lately. He brought his usual lighthearted energy, teasing me about how I was always the one doing the research while he and Ethan got the "fun" jobs of searching dark tunnels or old archives. But tonight, even Liam's humor couldn't lift the heavy feeling that had settled over me.

Liam noticed it too. He'd been paying attention to the way I was acting-more than I realized.

"You've been quiet lately," he said after a long pause. We were sitting in the dimly lit corner of the library, surrounded by piles of books that hadn't helped us much so far. "Is everything okay between you and Ethan?"

I let out a slow breath, not sure how much to admit. "I don't know. It's just... it feels like he's hiding something. And I don't understand why."

Liam frowned, his usual easygoing expression slipping. "He's always been like that. It's not just you-Ethan doesn't let people in easily. He thinks he's protecting everyone by keeping things to himself. But in the end, it just pushes people away."

His words struck a chord with me, more than I wanted to admit. It was the same nagging doubt I'd been feeling-Ethan wasn't just hiding things from me, he was closing himself off. And I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep pretending that everything was fine.

Liam shifted in his seat, leaning a little closer. "If you need to talk about it... I'm here. I know I'm not always the most serious guy, but I've got your back, Blair."

I glanced over at him, caught off guard by how sincere he sounded. Liam had always been the one to joke around, to flirt with that easy smile of his, but now... there was something more. A warmth in his eyes, a softness that made my chest tighten.

"I appreciate that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... I thought I knew what I wanted with Ethan, but now everything feels so complicated."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. "I get it. But just remember, you don't owe him anything. If he's not being honest with you, that's on him, not you."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, I let myself lean into the comfort he was offering. The space between us felt different tonight-like the tension had shifted from friendly banter to something deeper. I could feel the unspoken connection pulling me in, and for the first time, I wondered if maybe I had been looking at Liam all wrong. Maybe there was more to him than I had allowed myself to see.

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the occasional turning of a page as I skimmed through yet another useless book. But then, Liam broke the quiet again, his voice lower, softer.

"You know," he said, his eyes locking with mine, "I don't think I've ever met anyone like you, Blair."

The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. There was no teasing in his voice this time, no playfulness. Just... honesty. I swallowed hard, feeling my heart race in my chest. I wasn't sure what to say, so I didn't say anything at all. Instead, I just looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, I realized how close we were sitting. His arm brushed against mine, and the warmth of his skin sent electricity through me.

I opened my mouth to say something-anything-but before I could, he leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from mine. My breath hitched, and for a split second, I wondered if I should pull away. But I didn't.

Instead, I closed the distance between us.

The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, like we were both testing the waters. But then, something shifted. Liam's hand came up to cup my face, and suddenly, the kiss deepened. My heart pounded in my chest as I lost myself in the moment, forgetting about Ethan, about the mystery, about everything. There was only Liam and the way he made me feel-alive, seen, understood.

When we finally pulled apart, my cheeks were flushed, and I could barely meet his gaze. But Liam just smiled, that soft, warm smile that was so different from his usual playful grin.

"We probably shouldn't have done that," I whispered, even though part of me didn't regret it at all.

"Maybe not," Liam said, his voice low and rough. "But I'm not sorry."

Neither was I.

The kiss lingered in my mind long after we parted ways that night. I tried to focus on the mystery, on the clues, but all I could think about was Liam and the way he made me feel. Ethan's distance only made it worse-every time I tried to talk to him, he brushed me off, too caught up in whatever secrets he was keeping.

The doubt that had started as a whisper in the back of my mind was now a constant voice. Ethan was lying to me. I could feel it. And no matter how hard I tried to push it away, the truth was becoming harder and harder to ignore.