Completed Heart

Chapter 71: Permission

Chapter 71: Permission

Susie’s P.O.V

I sat on the floor next to Liam’s door; my ear was pressed up against the solid wood. I could barely hear him, but I did catch some things that he was saying. I knew that Danielle was coming over soon and I knew that he had called Louis. I didn’t know what Liam had said to Louis, but he didn’t yell, so that was good.

Suddenly, the wood I was leaning on was yanked away from me and I fell on my side into his room. Liam looked down at me, amusement in his eyes.

“Just hanging out?” he teased. I smiled, he was teasing me. He wasn’t mad anymore. If he was, he wasn’t showing it.

“Like always,” I sighed as he held out a hand to help me up. I followed Liam into the kitchen as he grabbed a glass of water. After gulping the whole thing down he looked at me. I sat behind the counter, leaning in expectantly.

“Danielle is coming over soon, but you probably already know that.” He said, matter-of-factly. I shrugged, that wasn’t what I wanted him to say.

“Oh, anything else?” I tried to prompt. He laughed at my obvious attempts at finding out about his conversations.

“I talked to Lou. He seems to want you and Harry together.” I smiled, but then quickly hid it. He hadn’t mentioned his opinions yet.

“Oh, what about you?” I asked all too innocently. He looked at me with an odd expression.

“I don’t know yet. I know that I don’t want you with him. I want you to be the innocent little girl I left two years ago. I also know that isn’t possible. I know you’re a mature young woman, and that you love Harry. It just makes me angry that you didn’t tell me about this sooner.” He admitted.

“You would have stopped me.” I said quietly.

“Yup.” He admitted shamelessly, “I most definitely would have tried. I don’t think you can be stopped when you start something.” He added, chuckling proudly.

“So what now?” I asked.

“Well, I want Danielle’s input.” He refilled his glass of water and took another sip.

“You can’t control my love life. You can try, but you won’t succeed.” I mumbled to myself. Of course, he heard.

“I know. Can I tell you what my biggest problem with this whole thing is?” He looked up at me. I nodded for him to continue.

“Your last relationship, er, didn’t end well. I met that loser AND I still approved of him. I wasn’t able to protect you then, I need to protect you now.” He said quietly.

“Can I tell YOU something?” I started, “you know me better than I know myself. Still, though, Harry disapproved of Tyler from the get-go. Harry saw through me when I was in the hospital. Harry was the one who figured out what had happened to me. Harry was the one who convinced me to tell the truth. I met Harry two years ago and I thought he was a jerk and he thought I was a child. Then, he came to stay with us and he completely changed my opinion of him. I met the real Harry a couple weeks ago, and I fell in love. I haven’t even known him for four months and he already knows me better than anyone else. I think that means something.” I told him with honesty. He nodded and sipped his water.

“I’m sure you’re dying to know, but Louis told me that Harry is doing well and is feeling fine.” I felt so relieved. He was about to say something else, but then the elevator buzzed. Danielle was here. I looked down as Liam went to greet her at the lift. The doors dinged open, I didn’t look up. Suddenly, two tan arms wrapped their way around me and curly hair pressed against my face.

“How are you?” Danielle asked, concerned, pulling away. Liam still stood by the lift, looking at us. I looked up at Danielle. She didn’t have any make up on, and her hair was all volumous and crazy. She had come as quickly as she could.

“Nice to see you too, babe.” Liam muttered sarcastically, walking over to us. Danielle put her hands on her hips and looked at him.

“I see YOU all the time! Plus, Susie’s in a fragile state, now, so I need to be supportive.” She explained. He rolled his eyes and put his hands around her waist.

“A simple hello or a peck would do, babe.” He chuckled before kissing her swiftly and then releasing his grip on her.

“I’m sorry,” Danielle teased before turning to me, “and what about you, love, how are you doing?” She put her hand on my shoulder.

“I’m ok” I shrugged, but then leaned into her ear to whisper so only she could hear, “actually, I’m tired and really sore. You know, down there.” I admitted much to my embarrassment. She smiled sweetly.

“That happens. Why don’t you go lie down? It’s been a big day.” She suggested.

“What’s she say?” Liam asked her, once I started off towards my room.

“Nothing. It’s not important.” Danielle responded coolly.

“Please,” Liam said quietly.

“If she wanted you to know, she would have said it out loud.” Danielle responded, lowering her voice. I turned the corner; I was out of sight, but I could still hear them. I know it is bad to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help myself. I plopped down on the floor with my back against the wall, quietly.

“What should I do, Danielle?” Liam asked seriously. I heard the ruffle of fabric as they hugged.

“What can you do? She’s seventeen, you can’t tell her who she can or can’t date, Liam. She isn’t twelve.” Danielle responded sincerely.

“I know, but I need to. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

“Who says she’ll get hurt? And if she does, then she gets hurt. She needs to make her own mistakes, you can’t protect her forever. All that you can do is be there to pick her up when she falls down.”

“I can’t let her fall.”

“You have to. If you don’t give her space, then she’ll get sick of you and rebel. It’ll just make things worse.”

“So what? I just let Harry take advantage of her? Objectify her?” Liam spat in frustration.

“I don’t think that’s what he’s doing, babe.” Danielle put in gently. I heard Liam sigh.

“What can I do, then?”

“Set ground rules. You’ll still be considered the good guy for letting them date, but you can at least monitor it; make sure Harry isn’t using her.” I normally would have been pissed to have Liam control my relationship, but this was better than him not allowing it at all.

“I guess so,” Liam gave in. I smiled. Then, I heard the floor creak, so I quickly and quietly got up and went into my room. I lay down on my bed, still smiling. The first thing I wanted to do was text Harry, but I couldn’t. I needed to talk to him, but I also needed to appease Liam. I sighed as I quietly shut and locked the door. I was startled by a sharp tap on my window, but relieved when I realized what it meant. I rushed over and opened the window as wide as I could for Harry.