Page 78 of Caging Liberty
Angel shifts, and I close my eyes, my cheek warm against his slacks. His arm rests on my back as he caresses my shoulders, sending tingles down my limbs with each touch.
I like this. I fight it, so hard. I tell myself that I should hate Angel, but I can’t. He’s the only good thing on this island. Him and Naomi.
Naomi.
My eyes snap open, and a rush of guilt flows into me for being so consumed with my own life that I forgot about hers.
“Where’s Naomi?” I ask, sitting up abruptly.
Angel startles at my sudden urgency before grabbing the remote to pause the movie. “What?”
“Naomi, my… You know, April? Do you know where she is?”
Angel shakes his head, his eyes sleepy. “No…”
“But you can find out, right?”
He’s quiet for a few moments.
“Angel?”
“Yes, Liberty, I’ll find out.”
“Could you do it now?”
Angel’s head tilts as he stares at me, taking his time to respond. “Why is this suddenly a pressing matter?”
Because I’m a shitty,shittyfriend.
“I… It just is.”
He nods slowly, like he’s reading my mind. “I can’t find out anything tonight, but I will tomorrow.”
“But why? Can’t you just text Sawyer and—”
“No.” He says it with a finality that has my lips pressing together. After a moment, he sighs. “If Sawyer is at the manor, he doesn’t have his cell phone. If he’s home, he doesn’t want to be bothered. It’s the middle of the night.”
I deflate, diverting my eyes as my body slumps.
Angel cups my face and guides me to look at him. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Don’t look sodefeated. You’re stronger than that.”
I drop my gaze, avoiding his eyes this time when he caresses my jaw.
He sighs. “I promise, wherever Naomi is won’t change just because I ask. It makes no difference whether you find out tonight or tomorrow.”
I remain quiet, still not able to meet his eyes. I know he’s right, and it’s worse than that. It won’t make a difference what he finds out tomorrow or the next day or whenever he decides to ask for me. He isn’t going to change her situation. He won’t even change mine.
“Liberty…” He pushes my hair off my face before taking my chin and forcing me to look at him. “We were good just a minute ago. What happened?”
“If something’s happened to her and she needs help … are you going to help her?”
His eyelashes flicker, confirming what I already know. I don’t need him to answer verbally.
After an impossible amount of time, he takes my cheek and roams his gaze over my face. “Is it not enough for me to protect you?”