"I've fallen for you for two years," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "Since the first time I saw you in my freshman year, I've been crushing on you."
His confession caught me off guard, but I played it cool and let him stay, just for a while.
With Liam crashing at my place, I was supporting not just Grace but him too. Money got tight, but I've always been the kind to give too much, so I took on two extra jobs. One was at a massage parlor, working late and rubbing tired feet just to make ends meet.
Liam kept up with his studies but did his share around the house. He cooked dinner, cleaned up, and always had a foot bath ready when I got home. He'd kneel beside me, washing my feet, saying, "Bella, I'm such a screw-up, living off you and spending your money."
We hadn't made it official yet, but I was already in deep, totally head over heels.
And now I was back at the moment when he'd make his big confession, the one where he'd pull out all the stops—even threats—to make me believe him.
But tonight, he wasn't setting up my foot bath. He was sulking on the couch, eyes red, looking like the world had done him wrong.
"Bella, why would you do this?" Liam charged up to me, shoving his phone in my face.
The screen showed a video of me massaging a client's feet, but the camera angle was aimed right down my neckline, showing everything. My stomach dropped. I was completely blindsided.
That's when Liam and Grace launched into their little routine, twisting the knife, making me feel like I was the bad guy, that I didn't deserve Liam's love. I felt sick, and ashamed, like I'd let him down.
Grace stepped out of her room, looking at me with a disappointed frown. "Bella, Liam loves you so much. How could you be so reckless? Do you have any idea how much this hurts him? You won't even accept his love—you're tearing him apart."
"Grace, don't put this on Bella," Liam said, his voice dripping with self-pity. "I probably had it coming."
"I went from being this guy everyone looked up to, to some broke loser drowning in debt. No wonder Bella doesn't want anything to do with me."
"I shouldn't be dragging her down with me anymore. Maybe I should just end it."
With that, Liam dashed to the living room window, throwing it open like he was about to jump.