Take me Somewhere

Chapter 8

"Something was wrong, I just know it.” Liam paced in front of his good friend and fellow business partner Jason. He had stopped by his house after work to go over some new store expansion plans and hadn’t been able to keep the meeting with Harper to himself.

Jason had been at the restaurant that night when Harper had first approached their table with Sarah’s number, and Liam had filled him in on the fall out that had happened once he’d contacted her afterwards, “Are you sure you’re not just looking for a reason to talk to her again? I know where that client’s office is and there was no reason for you to take that route past the hardware store.” Jason gave him a look over the glass of whiskey in his hand and smirked when Liam scowled at him.

Jason sat his glass down and held up his hands in surrender, “I’m just saying, you find out this girl has a boyfriend and you both agree to end even a potential friendship, and yet you’ve ran into her…what was it…three times now.” Jason laughed as Liam stopped pacing and dropped into the chair next to him, “It’s a bit suspicious man.”

Liam slid down in his chair and leaned his head against the back, “The first two times were completely by accident.” At Jason’s disbelieving look he went on, “Swear it. The third time I might have just accidently been day dreaming and walked an extra block.”

“Bullshit.”

Liam sat up and met Jason’s gaze and his tone turned serious, “You weren’t there Jason. There was something off. Harper wouldn’t even look at me and when I went to touch her it was like I had burnt her she jumped away from me so hard. She’s always been really shy but nothing like that.”

“You’ve only known her a grand total of a few days before you both stopped talking to each other. How would you even be able to tell a difference?” Jason stated, but was starting to take Liam serious now.

“I know, and I’ve considered that, but something just kept nagging at me the rest of the day – “

“And you never ignore your instincts.” Jason finished for him.

Liam and Jason had met in college during an introductory business course. The teacher had been a total prick to Jason for a reason that was still unknown. Every answer Jason would give in class was belittled and all the other students would laugh in return. At eighteen Jason had been a reserved, certified nerd who barely fit in his seat he was so tall and built. Liam had never laughed with the class during one of the teacher’s many moments but he had started to notice that the brown haired kid a few rows in front of him was bent over his desk and keeping his head down more and more. One day after class Liam had waited for him outside the door and asked if he would tutor him for the upcoming exam. Jason had been shy and Liam hadn’t really needed the help but after that moment they were inseparable and Jason came out of his shell. He’d had a feeling Jason needed someone and he didn’t hesitate to try and make that happen; it just happened to pay off for both of them.

“Right, you’d know that better than anyone.” Liam said with a smirk on his face.

“It wasn’t like I was about to jump off a bridge because the teacher was an asshole. I was just going to drop the class. Give me a break, you aren’t my savior.”

Liam laughed and grabbed the drink he had set down before his pacing began, “Yeah, yeah, just keep telling yourself that. Where would you be without me my good friend?”

“Back home and definitely less annoyed.” Jason grumbled and Liam laughed again.

After a moment of companionable silence Jason downed the rest of his drink and dropped the glass on the table near them, “So, what do you want to do about it?”

Liam pushed his hands through his hair and relaxed his arms onto his knees, “I don’t know.”

“Yeah you do. Do you know where she lives?”

“No, just where she works…Sarah might give me her address though…maybe.”

“Well, either call her and get it over with or stop by her work and make her die from embarrassment. Either way either do something about it or get out of my house with your teenage drama.”

Liam glared at Jason and then laughed, “I should have left you alone that day in class. Someone should have warned me you were a hard ass.”

Jason refilled their glasses and sat back down, “Your mistake.”

()()()()()

Liam walked up the sidewalk to Harper’s front door and hesitated before knocking. Sarah had been very surprised and then nervous when giving him Harper’s address but she made him promise to stop by. Her words were contradicting her voice and he still wasn’t sure what was going on but he finally let his hand fall against the wood. It was already dark outside but he had wanted to give Harper enough time to get home and get comfortable before he ambushed her. He still wasn’t sure she would even let him in, much less speak to him.

He noticed another light switch on inside through the curtains and then held his hand up as the porch light came to life and made him squint. When the door didn’t immediately open he glanced to the window next to him and saw the curtain falling back in place, “Harper, it’s me, Liam.” He said to the door, knowing she was on the other side now.

Harper stared at the door in shock after hearing Liam’s voice, confirming what she thought she had seen when she’d peaked through the window, “What…what are you doing here?” She finally forced out. Her heart was slowly coming down from its frantic pace. His knock had made her jump and before she knew it she was grabbing a knife and peeking through the window thinking it was Daren outside. When she had seen Liam’s broad shoulders and the moonlight glinting off his blonde hair she had been able to finally take a deep breath.

“I know I could have just called but I didn’t think you would answer. Plus, I needed to see you. Sarah gave me your address…I hope that’s okay.”

Harper placed her hand against the door and took a few more deep breaths. She had no idea what to do. Liam was standing on her porch and if she let him inside he would see what had happened. She had no idea what had been going through Sarah’s mind when she decided to let him know where she lived but she was going to get an ear full later, “Umm…now really isn’t a good time.”

Liam put his hands in his pockets and moved closer to the door so she could hear him more clearly, “Please open up Harper. After seeing you today I just need to make sure…” He paused and took a deep breath of his own. He always tried to be as honest as possible in his day to day life but he was nervous as hell when it came to Harper, “I just need to make sure you’re okay.”

He kept going when she still said nothing, “Something was wrong today and I don’t know how I know it but I do. So if you’d just let me in for just a minute I promise I’ll leave and won’t bother you again.”

He heard shuffling and then Harper’s soft reply, “I don’t want you to leave me alone.”

That was all the encouragement Liam needed and he leaned his head against the door, close to where her words had come from, “Then open up. Please.”

Harper stood there for what felt like an eternity and finally went to unlock the handle and deadbolt. She didn’t want Liam to see her like this and she didn’t know how he would react when he saw her, but she did know the uncontrollable need to keep him at her house was outweighing those fears.

She slowly opened the door and stepped back with it to let him in, “Thank you.” He said as he walked through and turned to look at her. She swallowed her nerves and met his gaze. She wanted this part to be over with.

She saw the shock cross his face and then it was quickly replaced by anger, “Jesus Christ Harper.” He whispered and reached out and turned her face to the side with his fingers on her jaw line.

“I didn’t want you to see this.” Harper whispered, tears already flowing down her face. She was so ashamed of what had happened and no amount of Sarah and Julie pep talks could turn that shame into anger for Daren.

“This was Daren…the boyfriend?” Liam’s words were reserved but the fury behind them was clear.

She looked up at him as he dropped his hand, “Ex-boyfriend…but yes.”

He stood there staring at her and she marveled at having him in front of her, in her home. His large body filled her entry space and the dim overhead lighting did nothing to hide the fact that he was the most handsome man she had ever known. She hated that this was their situation.

“Can we sit down?” She finally asked. Standing there while he viewed her was making her nerves go crazy.

He nodded and followed her to the large sofa in her living room that Julie and Sarah had comforted her on last night. Once they settled she fidgeted trying to get comfortable. He was so close to her she could almost feel the heat from his body and she was trying not to roll into him as his heavier weight shifted the cushions.

“Are you okay?” He finally said and she glanced up and caught his serious gaze.

“Yes…at least…I will be.” She didn’t want to lie to him anymore.

“Is it safe for you to be here?” He turned toward her and his knee touched hers. She had on sleep shorts and him jeans but that didn’t stop the tingle from shooting up her spine.

“Julie and Sarah helped me change the locks and I’m getting a new security system installed –“

He cut her off, “Let me rephrase. Do you feel safe being here?” Her eyes darted to the knife she had left on the entry table and Liam turned and saw it too, “I’ll take that as a no.”

“I don’t think I’ll feel safe anywhere for quite a while Liam. But I’m dealing with it…the best I can.”

He continued staring at her as if weighing her words and finally nodded, “You realize what I want to do to that piece of s**t don’t you.”

She started at his words, “Please don’t. I can’t have someone get hurt just because of me.” She realized she had put her hand on his knee and quickly pulled it back, “Daren was my mistake; nobody else’s.”

“That doesn’t change anything for me Harper. If I run into him I’m not promising I won’t knock the bastard out.”

Harper looked at Liam with large scared eyes and Liam fought to reach out and touch her again. She was so beautiful even with the awful bruises on her face, “You barely know me Liam. There’s no reason for you to get involved.”

“We may have just met but you and I both know that whatever this is” he motioned between them, “Isn’t something that time cares about.”

“This?”

Liam leaned forward just enough to invade Harper’s personal space even more, “There is something here Harper, and before…I had a reason to stay away…now I don’t.”

“I don’t think –“

“No more lies.” His words were sharp but Harper knew she deserved them.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, “I’m scared of Daren coming back to hurt me and I’m terrified that if I let you stay near me you’ll realize how big of a mistake you’ve made.”

Liam grabbed her hands and held them firmly in his own, “How about you let me decide on that last part.” He stroked his thumb over her knuckles and felt her shiver, “You haven’t called the police have you.”

Harper pulled her hands away and stared off into the room, “I don’t understand it, but no, I haven’t. It’s like a part of me knows I should be so angry with him and get him thrown in jail and then another part of me feels ashamed that I was ever with him in the first place. But then there is this part of me that says that we were together for three years, and that he loves me, and that I loved him, and I know he didn’t mean to do it…” She pulled herself from nothing and looked into Liam’s green eyes, “But that’s that part that Sarah and Julie say is just me used to being controlled by him…I know they’re right…but it doesn’t change the way I feel.”

“I may not like it but I can understand it.” Liam said softly. He paused for a moment and then stood up.

“What is it?” Harper asked staring up at him from the sofa.

“I know the right thing is for me to go and give you more time to process all of this but...”

Harper’s brows furrowed in confusion, “But what?”

Liam hesitated and then ran his hand over his mouth and jaw, “But what I really want to do is camp out here and keep you safe.”

Harper’s insides did a little flip at his words and she stood up in front of him, “I have no idea why you to be around me but it’s nice to hear. Thank you.” She smiled gently up at him and he smiled in return.

“I was able to get the shyest girl I’d ever met to speak full sentences to me in the span of a day. I need to stick around to see what else I can do.”

Harper blushed and Liam laughed as she turned a pretty shade of pink. The reality of the situation came back to the fore front as Liam realized the blush only spread so far before it was taken over by the bruises, “Do you want me to stay tonight? I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Harper hugged herself and just looked at Liam for a moment. She barely knew him but she felt more drawn to him than she ever had been with Daren. His presence alone calmed her and made her feel safe. She didn’t want him to go but she also knew she would hate being such an inconvenience on his night; he’d had no idea what he was walking into when he had come over.

“Thank you for the offer…but I think I need to figure this part out on my own.”

“Alright, but if you need someone to talk to, or you hear a bump in the night...please call me.” He had reached out and put his hand on her jaw again and she couldn’t help but lean into his touch.

“I will.”

She walked him to her door and he stood on her threshold just looking down at her. She felt as nervous as she had on her first date in high school. When neither of them said anything after another moment Harper quickly pushed up onto her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Liam’s eyes widened in surprise and then a grin quickly followed. Harper was blushing so hard she could feel the heat in her face and she quickly stepped back to shut the door, “Goodnight Liam.” She whispered and let the latch fall into place.