Wanting Us Read online

  Wanting Us

  E. Molgaard

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © E. Molgaard

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design by E. Molgaard

  Edited by Kati Murphy

  Manufactures in the Unites States

  Acknowledgment

  Writing this series has been quite the experience but I wouldn’t be able to complete it without a few people. First, I want to thank a fellow author, Kati Murphy, for always being there for me to run ideas off of and for always reading through my work to make sure everything is perfect.

  Secondly, I want to thank my best friend, Bri Hetherington, for being my support and encourager when I was having writer's block. Her excitement and positivity pushed me to complete these books.

  Finally, I want to thank my family and friends for always being there for me and supporting me as I follow this passion I have.

  Chapter One

  Liz

  How did I not see the signs? This is the question I ask myself over and over as I rush to pack my things. The thing is I’ve always known he was a bit controlling but something has slowly started to change in him and it's like he’s a different person now.

  When I reached my breaking point with Bryan, I called my twin brother, Drew, and my best friend, Mack. I just told them that I needed to get out of apartment I share with Bryan and they both agreed to help without asking any questions which I was grateful for. Neither one of them knows that Bryan has become more aggressive towards me and that I’m afraid he’s going to eventually hurt me.

  Putting the last piece of clothing in my bag, I zip it up and look around the room. I can remember how happy I felt when I moved my stuff in here and how I thought it was the start to my future. Ever since Bryan and I met a year ago, I’ve been drawn to him. We started out dating casually for a while since neither of us wanted anything serious while I finished my master’s degree and he finished up law school.

  After we both graduated, he quickly swept me off my feet and ask me to move in with him. I remember thinking how lucky I was that I found someone as wonderful as him. But about two months ago, Bryan started to change. He started arguing with me about where I’ve been and who I was hanging out with. That was when I started to notice his anger and distrust.

  A week ago was the first time I was actually afraid of him. I got home late because there was a huge accident on the beltline and he accused me of meeting up with someone after work. When I denied it and told him about the accident, he threw his beer glass at me and called me a liar. When I tried to walk away from him, he pulled me back and raised his hand like he was going to hit me.

  Thinking about the fear I had in those moments, I let out a breath and shake my head, hoping to erase them from my memory. I take one last look at the room I called home to make sure I have everything before grabbing my bags and heading to the front door. I stop mid step in the middle of the kitchen as the sound of a key sliding into the keyhole and turning echoes through the silent apartment. That’s not Drew. Dropping my bags, my heart rate quickens as fear washes over me. Bryan is supposed to be at work until at least six.

  When he opens the door our eyes instantly meet and I can see the anger in them. He looks around taking in my missing things while walking towards me. I take a step back for every step he takes trying to stay out of reach.

  I jump when he finally speaks in the tone I have come to fear. “What the hell is this, Elizabeth?”

  What am I going to say? My back hits the wall. “I… I”

  He closes the distance between us and wraps his hand around my throat while pushing my head hard against the wall. I wince from the pain as my hands go around his wrist, trying to pull his hand away. “Bryan…I can’t...”

  The harder I try to pull his hand away the tighter his grip around my throat gets. “You think you can just leave me?” He pushes me against the wall again. “You can’t leave me.”

  He draws his other hand up like he’s going to hit me when there’s a knock at the door. God I really hope that’s Drew. The interruption causes Bryan to turn towards the door and loosen his grip on me. Finally I’m able to find my voice and yell, “Drew!”

  Bryan turns back around bringing his hand with him, slapping me across the face. I let out an unrecognizable sound as the back of his hand connects with my cheek. I barely notice the front door swinging open over the pain in my face and the shock that he hit me. All I know is that Bryan is no longer in front of me and without him holding me up, I slide down the wall to the floor with my eyes closed, and tears running down my face. I can hear Drew yelling at Bryan and what sounds like a fist hitting something hard. Not wanting to open my eyes to see what Drew is doing to him, I just sit there curled in a ball wishing I’d never met Bryan.

  I flinch when someone touches my cheek Bryan hit, but I find myself leaning into their touch as they continue to rub their thumb over it, numbing the pain. “Liz, open your eyes for me.”

  The sound of his voice snaps me out of the comfort I felt in his touch. I slowly open my eyes and take in the face of the man I first fell in love with. “Liam?” What is he doing here? It’s been six years since I wiped him from my life. When my eyes connect to his, the memory of when my heart broke flashes before me.

  Chapter Two

  Liz

  Senior Year, May 2012

  I’m in the locker room after gym walking out of the showers when I notice the locker room is quieter than normal. Looking around, the only girls left are Carly and her friends, Becky and Janice. I let out an irritating sigh and walk the opposite way to my locker because I don’t want to deal with them right now.

  They’ve been hateful towards me the last couple of months because they believe I’m the reason Liam broke up with Carly. I am the reason but no one is supposed to know that since we have been keeping our relationship separate from school. The only people that officially know are our families and Mack.

  As I walk up to my locker, I can tell something is wrong because my lock is missing. Flinging my locker open, I start to panic. All my things are gone. I hear laughter behind me and I whip around to see Carly holding my gym bag. What the hell? Anger and irritation course through me as I glare at Carly who is holding my bag with only two fingers like it’s garbage. “Carly, g
ive me back my bag.”

  I can see the hatred in her eyes as she looks at me and shakes her head no. Becky steps in next to Carly. “Why would she do that?”

  Janice steps to the other side of Carly. “That wouldn’t be any fun.”

  I step towards Carly trying to grab my bag but she throws it on a bench behind her. It was a bad move to step away from the lockers because now all three of them are circling me. Knowing Carly is the real threat, I keep my eyes on her. She looks me up and down like she’s judging every inch of me. “I don’t get it?”

  I roll my eyes. “I bet there’s a lot you don’t get.”

  Becky pushes me. “Watch it.”

  “You do know that you’re just a phase for him, right? Once he gets everything he wants from you he’s going to dump your ugly ass and come back to me.”

  I slightly shake my head and smile. Is she really that naïve? “Oh Carly. It’s actually kind of sad that you think that. The connection Liam and I have started way before you and will last long after you.”

  Carly chuckles. “What makes you think that?” She walks around me one more time. “Did he tell you you’re different? How about that you’re the only one for him?”

  Liam has said those things to me but I know she’s just grasping for a reaction. I see her searching my eyes and when I don’t give her anything, she steps closer to me with a wicked smile on her face. “I bet you when you’re cuddled up with him in your bed he whispers ‘You are my sun because you brighten up my world.’”

  How does she know that? I felt so special the first time he said that to me. He only calls me his sun when we’re alone. There’s no way he said that to her too, right? I know she can tell that she got to me and as a tear rolls down my cheek, I think she’s reaching up to wipe it away, but instead she grabs my towel so quickly that I don’t have the reflexes to stop her.

  Feeling defeated standing here in just my bra and panties, I take a step back and lean against the lockers. Has every loving thing Liam ever said to me been some sort of line? Why would he do this to me? He’s basically a part of my family. Wait, this can’t be a game to him. He wouldn’t play me. I look up at Carly. “Why are…”

  I go speechless as I see Zach, Parker, Stewart, and Liam walking up behind Carly. All eyes are on me and I try to cover myself with my hands. My eyes connect with Liam’s and I try to see something in his eyes that tells me I’m his while pleading for him to help me. But he just stands there, shocked. Zach is the first one to speak and move closer to me while pulling out his phone. “Well, well, well. Look what Miss Good Girl has been hiding under her clothes.” He takes a few pictures and I notice the other two guys doing the same.

  I look to Liam again with tears running down my cheeks. “Liam?” He just looks at me and then looks at his friends. Why isn’t he stopping them? Why hasn’t he tried to help me cover up? Why is he even in the girl’s locker room? As these questions run around in my head, I feel my heart break because Carly was right. I’m just another girl to spit lines too. Carly gets my attention when she starts laughing. “See Liz? You’re nobody to him. He doesn’t care for you.”

  What was I thinking? I’m not special to Liam. Carly’s right. Needing to get away from them, I run towards the bench grabbing my towel and bag, and continue to push past everyone while wrapping the towel around me. Once out of the locker room, I take a left towards the parking lot because there is no way I’m going to be able to face them in class. As I’m almost to my car, a hand wraps around my arm stopping me. Knowing it’s Liam, I turn around with hate in my eyes. “Let me go!”

  “I’m sorry Liz! Carly should have never done this. I’ll make them delete the photos.”

  I pull my arm from his hold. “It’s not about the photos. It’s about you. Don’t ever talk to me again. We’re done.” I turn from him and continue to my car. Once inside, I can’t stop myself from falling apart.

  Chapter Three

  Liz

  Present

  The last time I was face to face with Liam was at our high school graduation, but looking at him now I can definitely say he’s even better looking than I remember. His hair seems almost brown now that it’s buzzed and without his hair covering his blue eyes, they look straight to your soul.

  I can’t believe he’s here right now. I’m so in my head trying to process everything that I don’t realize Liam reaching for me and picking me up under my legs and around my back. I’m brought back to reality as the weightless feeling of being picked up rolls in my stomach and I cling to his neck. With the side of my body against his, I’m way too aware of how his muscles flex as they move against my body. He was always in shape when were in high school but I have to say joining the police force has definitely benefited him.

  Looking up at his face my eyes connect with his and he smiles knowing I was checking him out. I glare at him, trying to hide the smile that’s wanting to form on my face. “I can walk you know.”

  “I know. I just missed having you close.”

  Before I get the chance to tell him he doesn’t have the right, he walks us outside and I hear Mack scream, “Oh my god!” I turn to see my best friend running towards me in her fitted yoga pants and t-shirt with her wavy blonde hair about to fall out of her messy bun. “Are you hurt?”

  I look to Liam and he puts me down. As soon as my feet hit the concrete, Mack has her arms wrapped around me in a hug. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze her tight. “I’m fine.”

  She pulls back and I can see the worry in her green eyes as she looks at the redness on my cheek and the possible bruising on my neck. Tears start forming in her eyes but she closes them to stop them from falling. “Please tell me he hasn’t been hurting you for long. I won’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t notice.”

  I turn around to see if Liam is still there, but there is no one behind me. Mack places a hand on my red cheek and I wince a little as I turn back to her. “This is the first time he’s hit me. I swear.”

  “When did this…” Before she’s able to finish Drew and Liam both step outside carrying my bags and a few items I hadn’t had a chance to pack. Seeing them carrying all my stuff in one trip reminds me how much I’m leaving behind in Bryan’s apartment. I remind myself that the stuff I’m leaving are things I can buy again.

  They both put my things in the back of Drew’s truck and I step away from Mack to walk towards my brother. He pulls me into a hug, squeezing me tight. “Are you okay? How long has he been hurting you?”

  “I’m fine. This is the first time he’s put his hands on me.”

  He pulls back, towering over me and I look up at him so our identical brown eyes can meet. “You need to press charges.”

  I step back out of Drew’s arms. “I’m not going to do that.”

  Liam steps in. “What do you mean? How can …”

  I hold my hand up to stop Liam. “This isn’t your business.”

  Liam hangs his head and walks over to Mack. Drew turns my chin back to him and I can see the protector in his eyes. “But it is my business.”

  “I don’t want to ruin his life with an assault charge. And I don’t want to extend this out. If I press charges then I’m going to have to relive this over and over in court. I just wanted out of the apartment and the relationship. I’m out now so I just want to move forward with my life.”

  Drew drops his head and runs his fingers through his short brown hair before looking back up at me. “Just know that I don’t agree.”

  I place my hand on his cheek. “Thank you for not arguing with me.” I look down at his hands and wince. “Are you okay? Your hands are all cut up.” It then hits me how much trouble he could be in. “Oh my god. You can lose your job because of this. I’m so sorry I got you involved. Why would you risk your…”

  Drew puts his hand over my mouth and shakes his head. “I’m fine. I’m not going to lose my job and I would risk everything for my little sister.”

  I smile at him and push him away. “You’re only older
by five minutes. It barely counts.”

  “It counts.” He places his hand on top of my head and messes up my brown hair before looping his arm around my shoulders and shaking me a little. I chuckle while fixing my hair and we walk over to Liam and Mack.

  Mack hugs Drew. “It’s good to see you Drew. It’s been awhile.”

  Drew pulls back and smiles at her. “Yes, it has.”

  Mack tries to hide her blush by looking down but when she sees Drew’s knuckles, she shoots her head right back up. “Look at your hands. Let’s go back to my apartment and I can clean them up.”

  He chuckles and starts walking to his truck with Liam next to him. “Okay Nurse Mack.”

  Mack glares at him. “That’s right. It is Nurse Mack to you.”

  “I hope your bedside manner is very hands on.”

  He winks at her and she smiles back as she walks to the driver’s side of her car. Without another word said, Mack and I get into her car and we head to her apartment. As we get closer to Mack’s apartment, Drew and Mack’s interaction keeps running on loop in my head. “Mack do you want to be with Drew?”

  “What!?! No. Us together was a one time thing. We’re just friends.”

  I watch as the shock turns to confusion on her face as she tries to figure out why I asked. “You know I’m okay with you guys being together right?”

  She quickly turns to smile at me before looking back to the road. “I know, but there’s nothing there. He made it clear on New Years that he doesn’t want a relationship, so there’s nothing there.”

  I turn to look out the window thinking how stupid my brother could be. “Okay.”

  “What about you and Liam? It didn’t feel as icy as I remember.”

  I can see Mack look at me in the window. “I’m still hurt by it. But it was six years ago. Maybe it’s time to move on.”