Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

28. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Liam

Location: Liam’s grandfather’s backyard

Time: fifteen years ago

I pull Seraphina under the weeping willow between our two houses, right to the center. Her grandmother won’t be able to see us from here.

“What is it you wanted to show me?” Seraphina asks.

“Do you even know what patience is?” I tease her.

“It’s never worked for me.”

I know. That’s why we get along so well.

“Stand right there and close your eyes.”

Seraphina shakes her head but puts her hands over her eyes anyway. “You better not put another frog on me. I know where you sleep.”

“What would your grandmother think if she heard you say that?” I chuckle as her cheeks turn pink. Her grandmother is overprotective, but at least she’s not abusive like my father. I’m dreading going home tomorrow, but it’s only for a week. These summers, far away from my father, are my haven. Just me and my grandfather.

And Seraphina.

“Just show me already. ”

I slip the small canvas out from under the tree branch. I peel her hands from her face and place the canvas on top. “You can open them,” I whisper, suddenly afraid. What if she hates it? What if she thinks it’s awful? Not that she ever thinks that. She loves every picture I give her, then immediately asks me to teach her how to paint the same thing. She’s not artistic, no matter how much I’ve tried to teach her. But she has a love for art.

Her eyes crack open and then go wide. “You painted… me?”

“I started it at the beginning of the summer. It took me forever because I couldn’t get your beauty right.”

Her cheeks turn bright red, and she bites back a smile. “Thank you, I love it.” She crushes it to her chest.

Time for step two of my plan. “Are you going to miss me?” I ask, taking a step closer.

She lifts a single shoulder, squishing her lips to the side. “Probably not, you’re always getting me into trouble with grandmother.”

“Someone’s got to teach you how to have fun.” I tease. “Admit it, you’re going to miss me.”

Her smile falls just a bit. “Yeah, I am.”

I may only be fifteen, but I know love. Or maybe I know the absence of it since I’ve never experienced it from my parents. Seraphina is the only one in the world who understands me. She’s been my friend for as long as I can remember. And tonight, I’m determined to tell her how I feel.

She looks at me with those dark brown eyes, still curious and innocent. My heart leaps to my throat, and I can’t say the words I’ve been practicing all night.

“I dare you to kiss me.” That was not what I practiced.

Seraphina’s eyes widen before narrowing. “If you want a kiss so badly you can ask my grandma.”

“Are you chicken?” I taunt, because I know Seraphina. This is how we play the game. Make it a challenge, and she’ll have to win. I’m taking the easy way out; I’m scared she’s going to reject me, and it might just kill me. But if I can get her to make the first move…

“I’m not a chicken. And I never said I’d kiss you. ”

“You never said you wouldn’t.” I lean over her; I’ve hit a growth spurt recently and I tower over her. I’m terrible for egging her on like this. I should be a man, like my dad always chides. I dart a glance at her eyes. There’s determination in those dark irises I’m so familiar with, but something else as well. She’s scared. That’s even more lethal. She knows she can get me to do anything if she’s afraid. I’ll stand up to her grandmother, I’ll swim oceans—or in this case—I’ll kiss her.

I step forward and grab both sides of her face, pressing my lips to hers. She gasps but doesn’t pull away, instead melding her lips to mine.

My heart is doing that weird beating thing it does sometimes. I feel like I’m flying. I’m kissing Seraphina.

But… I’m not. Seraphina is gone, being dragged out from under the tree by her grandmother. “I told you not to go near that boy again.”

“But I wasn’t—” Seraphina’s protests are cut off with a slap to the face.

“Let go of her!” I yell. Her grandmother turns, the back of her hand slapping my face with a blinding force.

“This is your fault, boy. And that was Seraphina’s last chance,” her grandmother screeches, then turns on Seraphina. “I’m done with you.”

I try to run after them, but my grandfather is suddenly there, pulling me back. “Get off me,” I shout, trying to fight him but careful not to hurt him.

“You’ve got to let her go, son. She’ll be fine. I’ll watch after her.”

I tear away from him and rush under the tree to retrieve the painting, planning on giving it to her the next day before I leave. But I never saw her again.

And clearly, she wasn’t fine.