Learning to Swim

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“No. No way,” Liam insists stubbornly and I look at him with more than a hint of doubt.

After my emotional morning, Liam and I spent the rest of the day talking about things. It was hard for me, but I was able to open up to him in a way that I never have to anyone else before. I told him about all the little and big things that lead up to where I am now. Liam listened to it all and never judged me for a thing. I think I love him more than anything for the fact that he can handle everything so easily. For someone like me who is so stressed out all the time it is nice to be around him who is so much more relaxed and understanding. He is exactly what I need.

We also talked about the breakup and my drinking the night before. This was the hardest thing for me to tell him about, but he is so easy to talk to and we got through it. I never knew a guy that is completely comfortable with a girl spilling her guts to him. Liam is, though, and although it still kills me to think about what I did, I feel more than a little relief after talking to Liam about it. I swear he can make me feel better about anything.

Now it is later in the day and we just picked Addie up from daycare. I told Liam that he should probably just drop me off at my house now so that he won’t have to drive all the way back out here later, but he adamantly refuses. He keeps saying that I shouldn’t have to go back there and that it isn’t a safe place for me or Addie to be. I kind of agree with him and I honestly don’t want to go back after my argument with my mother. I’m still more than a little pissed off at her and I was completely serious when I said that I was done with her. It would certainly be a lot easier to be done with her if I didn’t have to live with her, but it’s not really an option right now.

“What am I supposed to do, Liam? I have to live there for at least a little while longer. I’ll be eighteen soon enough and then I can try to move out, but for now I guess I just have to put up with it,” I argue, but he doesn’t back down.

“You can stay at my place for a little while. I know that you don’t want to move in or anything, but you could just stay there until you are able to get things together. It would make me feel better knowing that you’re safe, especially since Dane is still out there somewhere,” he suggests and I tilt my head to the side as I consider it.

“I don’t know,” I reply hesitantly. It actually sounds like a good idea to me because of course I would rather be around Liam than my mom, but I still feel like it would be moving to fast if I started living with him. Especially since we just got back together this morning.

“Come on, Dakota. Think about how upset you were last night. Your mom makes you feel like crap all of the time and you don’t deserve to be around that. Addie shouldn’t be near the drinking or any of it either. If you won’t leave for yourself then do it for her,” he tells me.

I think about this silently, knowing that he is right. At the moment I can’t stand the thought of even being around my mother. After learning about how she hid the fact that my father has been trying to keep in touch with me for all these years I don’t think I can ever forgive her. And even though I blame myself for a lot of what happened last night, some of it is her fault as well. I’m so sick of being around someone that has such a negative influence over me. My and Addie’s life would be so much better without her. I just don’t know if I’m quite ready to take that leap quite yet.

“You’re right, but I don’t feel right just moving in with you,” I say finally.

“It will only be for a little while. If you want I will even help you look for an apartment or something that you could afford. For now, though, it would just be easier if you and Addie stayed at my place. You know that you would be happier away from all the drama and I just want you to be happy.”