Always

Chapter Five

Liam

I should let go.

That’s the first thought that cuts through my head as the cold ocean swirls around us and Mia’s fingers curl into my shirt like I’m the only thing keeping her steady.

I should step back. Laugh it off. Make some joke.

But I don’t.

Her hair is damp from the mist, her cheeks flushed from the cold, and she’s looking at me like she’s waiting for something. Like she feels it too—the shift. The line we’re standing on.

“Mia…” I start, but I don’t even know what I’m going to say.

Another wave crashes into us, harder this time, and she slips. Instinct kicks in. I pull her closer, my hands firm at her waist. She collides with my chest, and suddenly there’s no space left between us at all.

The noise of the party fades into the background.

“You okay?” I ask, but my voice is low now. Not teasing. Not casual.

Her breath catches. “Yeah.”

She doesn’t move away.

I become painfully aware of everything—how perfectly she fits against me, how her hands slowly loosen but don’t drop, how her eyes flick down to my mouth before darting back up.

I’ve kissed plenty of girls.

But this feels nothing like that.

This feels like standing at the edge of something that could either make or break everything.

If I kiss her and she pulls away, I lose my best friend.

If I don’t… I might lose my chance.

Behind us, someone whoops as another firework lights up the sky, gold sparks raining down. The glow reflects in her eyes.

“You’re staring,” she whispers.

“Can you blame me?”

A small, nervous smile tugs at her lips. “This is new.”

“Yeah,” I admit. “It is.”

For years, loving her was easy. Safe. The kind of love that didn’t scare me. But this? This is terrifying.

Because now there’s more on the line.

My thumb brushes lightly against her waist, just enough to test the moment. She inhales sharply but doesn’t step back.

“Mia,” I say again, softer this time. “If I do this… I’m not pretending tomorrow didn’t happen.”

Her heart is pounding. I can feel it. Or maybe that’s mine.

“I don’t want you to,” she replies.

That’s all the permission I need.

Slowly—giving her every chance to stop me—I lean in.

And when our lips finally meet, it’s not rushed or reckless.

It’s careful.

Intentional.

And the second it happens, I know one thing for sure—

There’s no going back to the way we were before.