He didn’t really feel like driving all the way into town to stay at a hotel that, undoubtedly, would be ill-equipped for him. If not for his injured pride, he might’ve abandoned his quest and returned to his apartment in Bran’s estate. He could’ve secluded himself inside his room with music blaring in his ears until the next day, after Carly had left.
Now, I can’t stay here. Giving in would make me look weak.
“Don’t do this, Liam. Come back inside and let me explain.” Her face was white, draped in sheer panic.
“The time to explain has passed.” He shut the door and lifted his bottle in a salute, raising his voice to be heard through the window. “Goodbye, Carly. Have a good life.”
After one last swallow of kombucha, he stowed the bottle in a holder, needing both hands to drive. He started the car, ignoring Carly’s desperate pleas as she banged on his side window.
“Please don’t, Liam. Please!”
She was certainly making this difficult. He eased forward gradually to avoid knocking her over. Maybe he didn’t hate her as much as he thought he did.
“Get out of the way, Carly!” he yelled, glaring out his window, hoping his scowl would scare her away. But she wasn’t there. She must’ve finally given up. He checked his side-view mirror, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly he heard her voice screaming, “Stop! Stop!” in front of the car. He looked up and saw her wide-eyed face framed by hysterically waving arms. He slammed on the brakes, adrenaline surging through him. A sickening thunk reached his ears before she dropped out of sight.
CHAPTER 17
CARLY
Carly blinked at the bright lights as she forced her eyes open. White surrounded her... walls, ceilings, bedsheets.
Is this Heaven?
A steady ache swelled at the back of her head.
Definitely not Heaven. Hopefully not the other place.
“Carly! You’re awake!”
She turned toward the deep voice of the man who sounded so happy that she’d woken up. Enchanting green eyes stared down at her, the eyebrows above knitted with concern. She knew that face! Liam Bennett!
“I’m dreaming,” she croaked through her parched throat.
“How do you feel? Are you hurting anywhere?” asked Dream Liam.
What a weird question. Though come to think of it, the fronts of her thighs were sore, and her elbows smarted. But nothing hurt as much as her head.
A thought occurred. If Liam is standing here talking to me in my dream, maybe my brother is here, too.
“Ben?”
A spasm of pain crossed Liam’s face. He shook his head, blinking fast, moisture shining in his eyes. “Ben’s not here, Carly. It’s me... Liam.”
Then something amazing happened. Dream Liam’s hand cupped her cheek. And she felt it! She covered his warm hand with hers.
“It feels so real,” she whispered in awe, wishing the vision would never end.
“Carly? Do you remember the accident? When the car hit you?”
No, she hadn’t been in the accident. Ben had hit a tree. They had shown her a picture of the crumpled mass that had previously been a car, an image she could never un-see. If only she had been honest with her dad...
“I’m so sorry,” she rasped. “I shouldn’t have lied.”
“It’s okay, Carly. I’m not mad anymore.”
“You should be mad.” Her eyes stung. “I should’ve told him where you were. He would’ve found you before you got in the car.”
“Who would’ve found me?” Liam frowned. “Fordham?”
The image of Liam’s face quivered in her puddled tears. She had to make him understand.
“It’s my fault you’re paralyzed. It’s my fault Ben died.” Her chest cramped, and she pressed her hand against it. “I’m so sorry.”
She blinked her eyes, trying to clear the fog away.
“No, Carly.” His expression crumbled. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I encouraged Ben to drink. I let him drive the car.”
“But Dad asked where you were, and I lied.” All the tears she’d held back for sixteen years burst through the dam. “If I’d told him about the party, he could’ve stopped you. But I lied. I killed Ben, and I ruined your life.”
“Carly, you can’t believe that.” Liam shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault. Ben and I were drinking.”
His thumb wiped across her wet cheek, a sensation like nothing she had ever felt in a dream before. Could it be real? The overhead lights brightened to spotlights, searing her eyes. She turned her face to the side and pain shot through the back of her head.
“Ow!” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Why does my head hurt so bad?”
Liam seemed to be talking, but she couldn’t understand his words because of the loud ringing in her ears. She strained to keep her eyes open, but her lids weighed a half-ton each.
“I’m so sleepy...”
