Completed Heart

Chapter 69: Progress

Chapter 69: Progress

I felt horrible. I had just told Liam that Danielle and Louis knew about Harry and me. Liam stood there with his mouth hanging open for a moment before pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut. I wanted to go back in time and change everything, change this situation. I didn’t want to be in a fight with the boys, especially not Liam. Harry did not deserve any of this; he deserved a no drama girlfriend. Still, I do not regret any of it; Harry was worth all of this.

“Liam, please just sit down and take a deep breath. Let me explain.” I pleaded, patting the spot next to me. I tried to soften my voice and face to show him that I wasn’t about to go back into the argument. He turned to me sharply and huffed out a big breath before speaking.

“No. You don’t get to explain!” He snapped. I was slightly taken aback, but Liam didn’t seem to notice. He reached over to his phone and started dialing. Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed the phone out of his hand. He looked at me angrily.

“You can’t call them. I need to tell you an explanation first.” I said, trying to be authoritative.

“You don’t understand Susan. Everyone I trust, every relationship that I had… Everything’s ruined.” He said sensitively.

“Liam…” I tried, but he silenced me with a look.

“No. You don’t get to comfort me… my girlfriend kept something from me, my sister betrayed my wishes, one of my best mates hid something, another one of my best mates slept with my little sister… I just don’t know what to think anymore… It feels like my world is crumbling down.” He said in a muted voice.

“I feel that way too,” I responded, “my brother beat the crap out of my boyfriend, my best friends are either five hours away, or think of me as a slut and now my brother thinks that I am out to hurt him,” Liam looked at me, but shook his head and didn’t respond. He held out his hand for his phone. I curled my fingers tightly around it.

“Louis and Danielle were trying to help you…” I started.

“HOW? By letting the biggest man whore fuck my baby sister?!” He exclaimed shaking his hands.

“NO. Look, Louis knew from the get-go. Harry is his best mate, ok? He couldn’t just tell you. He sat down with me and told me that he didn’t approve. He warned me on multiple occasions about Harry’s history. He supervised us on multiple dates and made sure nothing too intimate happened.” I admitted.

“Well he failed,” Liam stated angrily. I ignored the comment.

“And Danielle figured out what was happening. I had to get down on my knees to beg her not to say anything. She agreed on the condition that I come to her if I ever needed rescuing. She gave me someone I could trust to get me out of sticky situations that I would usually use you for. I told her what would happen if you knew and she agreed that it would be best to let Harry show you that he’s changed before telling you. We were going to tell you…” I choked out.

“So… Not only did you betray my trust but now you’ve convinced my true love to lie to me.” He threw up his hands in frustration. I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over. He had said it so harshly, and did not look apologetic. I put my head down into my hands so that I wouldn’t show Liam my tears.

“Susan stop crying. Don’t play victim.” He said harshly. I didn’t look up at him. I felt warm hands on my wrists as he tugged my hands away from my face.

“Susan, please just stop…” he said, softer. I still didn’t look up at him. He let go of one of my wrists and pulled my chin-up.

“Susie Q., come on. Please don’t cry baby,” he pulled me up into his chest. I tried to push away from him. He didn’t let me get out of the hug; he tightened his muscles around me and held me close.

“Liam, I can’t have your sympathy… I don’t deserve it. I-” He pulled back, but still held me by my waist. He looked down at me, trying to get me to look into his eyes.

“Susie, I may have overreacted. You made a mistake, I forgive you. I don’t know if I still want you with Harry, but I don’t want to yell anymore. Ok? I am grateful for Danielle and Lou, but that doesn’t mean that they’re off the hook. I’m sorry for yelling at you, yeah?” He kissed my forehead.

“No, you don’t get to play the bad guy, Liam. I fucked up, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love Harry and that he doesn’t love me. Please go easy on Danielle and Louis, though. They only did what they thought was best.” He started to shush me mid-sentence, but I kept going.

“Stop, please. I’ve already yelled at you and made you cry. Please don’t make me feel worse.” He whispered.

“Please don’t hurt Harry anymore.” I asked quietly. He looked away and bit his lip.

“I’ll try, but no promises…” he responded, matching my volume. He slipped his hand over mine and took his phone back gently. Just as he stepped away from the hug, my own cell phone buzzed on the coffee table. I reached over and picked it up. I could feel Liam breathing over me as he read the text I opened over my shoulder.

I am sorry for causing all of this. I love you, but don’t put me before your brother. I need to make this right. Please tell your brother that I will make this right and that I am sorry. Xx Harry

I read the text twice before crumbling to the floor sighing. Liam caught me by my armpits and pulled me back up. I looked into his eyes; he looked concerned, like I was about to faint.

“Susie, are you…?” he whispered nervously.

“No, no. I am fine. I just, it’s a lot.” I whispered back. He nodded and put me on the couch. He sat with me for a few minutes and then got up.

“I hate to be THAT guy, but do you mind if you limit the contact with Harry for a little bit. I mean, I’m not making g you guys break up, yet, but could you just…” he didn’t finish. I looked at the floor. He slowly grasped my hand and gently took my cell phone. I looked up at him confused. He looked at me apologetically.

“Liam?” I asked in a choked voice.

“I’m really sorry, but it’d put my mind at ease…” I didn’t fight. I let him confiscate my phone, like I was a child. He slipped it into his pocket and walked away, dialing Danielle’s number into his own phone. I trailed him with my eyes as he marched into his room and quietly shut his door.

I couldn’t put up a fight over him taking away my phone. I was too busy worrying about something else that he had said. Yet? He wasn’t making us break up yet? Does that mean that he’s going to make us break up eventually? My heart stopped. I couldn’t live with myself if I was hurting Liam is any way, or if we weren’t on good terms, but I didn’t think that I could live at all if I couldn’t be with Harry.