Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(52)

“You couldn’t be further from the truth! Liam likes Ella,” I retort.

With those words, I trigger off a chain reaction I never dreamt possible.

“I’ll leave you to it,” says Liam to me, continuing to act as if Craig isn’t in the room, and heads toward the stairs.

“I don’t want him around my daughter.”

“Hypocrite,” I snap.

“What the f-uck does that mean?”

“It’s two weeks since you saw her! Why are you here?”

“I’ve been busy, working hard to give you money for Ella!”

I sweep a gaze over his clothes. His smart jeans and designer trainers would’ve cost as much as a week’s groceries. “Right, sure. Too busy for your daughter?”

“I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“You should’ve called first. We need to organise days for you to see Ella. You can’t just turn up. We have plans today.”

“We?” he says narrowing his eyes.

“Yes, we. Me and Ella.”

“So the half-naked man in your house is a casual thing?”

“Seriously, Craig, my relationship with Liam is none of your business. Me and you ended almost six months ago.”

“I came across the city to see Ella; I’ll wait for you to bring her home.”

“You can visit Ella next weekend. This is too short notice.”

“What the f-uck?”

I dig my nails into my palms, surprised by my new ability to stand up to Craig. “Me and Ella have a different life now; you can’t expect us to drop everything when it suits you.”

Craig glances over my shoulder toward the direction Liam went. “If you try and keep her from me...”

“I’m not! I just want us to organise this properly if you’ve decided you want to see Ella more often!” I temper my tone. “Look, today is a bad day. Let’s catch up in the week and sort something out? It would help Ella too if she knows when to expect you.”

“So you’re saying ‘no’ to today?”

“Correct.”

Craig steps toward me. “Remember, this is partly my house, for my daughter. Not you. If you make things difficult for me, you’re out.”

His deep brown eyes are filled with anger, anger I know he’s close to the edge of. He’s not violent, but Craig’s moods are unpredictable. Christmas was a prime example of decisions he makes when gripped by whatever the fury does to his logic.

“I won’t. We’ll sort something out. Maybe if you came round tomorrow?” I say, using my well-practiced calming tone.

Will he leave or will this escalate? What possessed him to come and see us out of the blue? Liam moves around upstairs and the situation turns my stomach. The only good thing in all this is that Ella isn’t here.

Craig pulls his car keys from his pocket. “I’ll call you.”

Relieved he’s closed down and the unpredictable mood hidden, I smile with false gratitude. “Thank you, Craig. I’m so sorry about this, I wish you’d called.”

“Yeah,” he mutters with a final glance toward the stairs.

As I close the door behind Craig, I lean against it and take a shaky breath. This guy kicked me and Ella out in a fit of rage at Christmas. He holds the cards when it comes to financial support for Ella, and by default, for me. Please don’t let this go badly.

Dazed by the encounter, I don’t notice Liam approach and touch my arm. “Are you okay?”

“I need to get Ella,” I say absent-mindedly.

“Do you want me to come?”

“No!”

Liam’s face registers surprise. “Okay. Do you want me to leave?”

“No,” I say quietly.

“Cerys, you’re shaking.” He takes my hand and squeezes. “Don’t let the dickhead get to you. He’s behaving like a dog pissing on his territory.”

I pull a face. “That’s gross, Liam.”

“Here.” He holds his phone out. There’s a picture of me and Liam, hand in hand, leaving the club last night. My first exposure by the media.

“Where’s that from?”

“Our PR girl sent it across, the picture was on my phone when I checked this morning. We both knew this was coming.” He brushes hair from my face. “Do you think someone sent it to him and that’s why he came over?”

Who would do that? “Maybe, but that was bloody quick! Where’s the picture now?”

Liam shrugs. “A few places probably.”

My thumping heart pushes harder. “The press won’t come after me, will they?”

“Not sure. They don’t always get on my back as quick as they do Dylan’s or Jem’s, but there’s the whole Honey business. You’re the first girl since.”

Honey. “First girl,” I say to myself.

Liam turns my face to his. “And last.”

“This is really happening, isn’t it?” I ask him.

“Cerys, I wouldn’t have let you seduce me last night unless I thought I meant something to you.” His mouth tips at one corner and his teasing takes the edge off my anxiety.

“Very funny,” I say.

“You’re special to me and if that means I have to share you with the world, I will. I want everyone to know Liam Oliver has a new girl. Then when they realise how uninteresting we are, they’ll leave us alone.”