Chapter 153

Wendy truly did want to help. In her mind, James's lashing out and hitting someone was partly her fault. Wendy felt guilty toward Liam, but it seemed like he didn't exactly appreciate her trying to make things right. Back in her room, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Zelda. She wrote that Ethan had gone straight to bed after getting home and that James had just walked in, too. Wendy didn't reply immediately, but when she saw the photo Zelda sent—Ethan curled up, fast asleep—a gentle warmth spread through her chest. In the master bedroom, Liam lay in bed after his shower, unable to fall asleep. He stared out the window at the crescent moon, a heavy feeling pressing on his chest. He could still smell the soft, clean scent of Wendy's shampoo lingering in the air. It was light and comforting, threading through his senses and easing some of his restlessness. No matter what, at least now he had a legitimate reason to stay close to her. He had the chance to protect her. It didn