Walker

Chapter 16

Liam's gaze fell on Walker, and his face blanched at the sight of blood smeared across Walker's mouth and hands. He took a step back, a flicker of fear breaking through his concern. "What...what happened to him?"

Lena quickly stepped between them, her voice steady, trying to cover for Walker. "He got hurt," she lied, forcing a small, tense smile. "It's...it's not as bad as it looks."

Liam looked skeptical, glancing between her and Walker, but he nodded, trying to push his worry to the forefront. "Let me help get him back to the house."

Walker stiffened as Liam approached, his expression guarded. But he had little choice, his strength nearly drained from the effort to hide his true nature. With surprising gentleness, Liam draped one of Walker's arms over his shoulders, supporting his weight as they made their way back to the house. Walker felt a strange discomfort—a mixture of gratitude and resentment, the weight of his own pride battling with his need for help. He wasn't used to being taken care of, especially by someone like Liam, whose very presence made him feel unsettled.

Once they reached the house, Liam helped Walker settle onto the couch, his worry evident as he hovered nearby. Lena moved quickly, grabbing a blanket and draping it over Walker, then heading to the kitchen to make tea. Walker watched her, noticing how naturally she moved to care for him, her every action laced with a quiet, instinctual concern. He felt something strange twist in his chest, but before he could make sense of it, he caught a glimpse of Liam's face.

Liam's eyes followed Lena, a faint shadow passing over them as he watched her pour the tea, her focus entirely on Walker. He looked away, a mix of emotions flickering across his expression—jealousy, sadness, and something akin to resignation. He knew she cared for Walker, even if she tried to hide it. The realization hurt more than he wanted to admit.

When Lena returned with the tea, she knelt beside Walker, handing him the cup and telling him to drink it slowly. Liam watched as her hand lingered on Walker's shoulder, a soft, reassuring touch that felt more intimate than he could bear. His jaw tightened, but he forced a smile, pushing down the ache in his chest.

After a long pause, he cleared his throat. "I should probably get going," he murmured, his voice strained but steady.

Lena looked up, surprise and a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. "Oh, you don't have to leave. You could stay for a bit..."

But Liam shook his head, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I...really should. It's getting late." His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he looked away, nodding slightly. "Take care of him, okay?"

She nodded, her smile small and somewhat helpless as she watched him head toward the door. The sight of him leaving left a hollow ache in her chest, a lingering sense of loss that made her feel oddly alone, even with Walker beside her.

When the door clicked shut, Lena sighed, a heaviness settling over her as she tried to shake off the feeling. She turned back to Walker, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange. He took a sip of his tea, then looked at her, a rare softness in his gaze.

"You really like him, don't you?" Walker's voice was low, almost gentle.

Lena felt herself stiffen, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in his tone. She looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah," she murmured, though her voice lacked conviction.

Walker gave a small, almost bitter smile, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place. "He is a good guy," he said, almost as if he were convincing himself. "The kind you deserve."

There was an edge of sadness in his words, and for a moment, Lena felt a pang of something unfamiliar, a recognition of his loneliness beneath his guarded exterior. She didn't know how to respond, so she stayed silent, the unspoken words lingering between them as they both sat there, feeling the weight of what hadn't been said.