Chapter 11

Eleven

Mia

A Week Later

I woke up to the soft light filtering through the cabin's curtains. The quiet was broken only by the gentle rustling of the trees outside. Today was the day—San Antonio, the gala, and this entire whirlwind of a trip with Liam. I'd spent the last few days trying to convince myself that everything was under control, but now, standing in the middle of my small bedroom, suitcase open on the bed, I wasn't sure I was fully prepared.

Glancing at the garment bag hanging from the door, I reassured myself that the gown I had chosen for the gala was neatly tucked inside. I'd carry it separately, along with my suitcase. At least that was one less thing to worry about. But with everything else—Liam, the strange tension between us, and the constant feeling I was in way over my head—my stomach churned like a stormy sea, each wave crashing harder than the last.

"Okay, focus," I muttered to myself, tossing a few last-minute items into my suitcase. Toothbrush, check. Shoes, check. I looked around the room, mentally running through my packing list, trying to keep the panic at bay.

As I zipped up the suitcase, a sudden, unusual sound broke through the quiet, followed by a low whine. My heart dropped. Daisy.

I rushed into the living room, where Daisy was lying on her bed, panting and looking miserable. Panic set in immediately. She was never like this. I knelt beside her, my hand brushing over her fur as I tried to assess what was wrong.

"Daisy, what's going on, girl?" I murmured, feeling a surge of worry rise in my chest. Her normally bright, happy eyes were dull, and her body was tense. She let out another pitiful whine, and that's when I noticed the small puddle of vomit near her bed.

"Oh no, no, no…" My voice wavered as the reality hit me. She was sick, and there was no way I could leave her like this, let alone drop her off at Tessa's. How could I ask Tessa to watch Daisy when she was clearly not well?

My mind raced, trying to figure out what to do—the trip, the gala, Liam. I pulled out my phone with shaky hands and dialed his number. The moment I heard his voice, the floodgates opened.

"Liam, it's Daisy," I said, my words rushed and breathless. "She's sick, and I—I don't know what to do. I can't leave her like this. Maybe I should just cancel."

"Mia, slow down," Liam's voice came through, calm and steady. "What's going on? What's wrong with Daisy?"

"She's been sick—she threw up, and she's not acting like herself." My throat tightened as I glanced at my dog again. "I just can't leave her with Tessa, not when she's like this."

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I thought Liam might agree that canceling was the only option. But then he spoke, his tone shifting into problem-solving mode.

"Okay, listen. Don't cancel yet. I'll call an emergency vet and meet you at your place as soon as I can. We'll figure this out."

"Liam, I?—"

"No arguing," he interrupted gently but firmly. "I'll handle it. Just get Daisy ready, and I'll be there soon."

His confidence was like a lifeline, and I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Okay. I'll…I'll get her ready."

After we hung up, I moved quickly, gathering Daisy's things and trying to calm myself down. She looked up at me with those sad eyes, and my heart ached a little. I couldn't leave her if she was sick, not with anyone, not even Tessa. But maybe Liam was right—maybe the vet could help, and we wouldn't have to cancel everything.

A few minutes later, I heard Liam pull into the driveway. I carried Daisy outside and found Liam holding the door open for me. His doctor had given him permission to leave the crutches behind, now only wearing the boot on his ankle, but he still limped slightly as he came to help me.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Liam said softly, taking Daisy from my arms and settling her in the back seat of his truck. His hands brushed mine as he did, and despite the situation, there was something reassuring about his presence.

"I called the vet," he continued. "They're expecting us. Let's get Daisy checked out, and we'll go from there."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without the panic spilling out again. Instead, I climbed into the passenger seat, casting one last worried glance at Daisy in the back.

As we drove to the vet, a swarm of butterflies fluttered erratically in my chest, their delicate wings creating a tumultuous storm of nerves within me.

We rushed into the vet's office, Liam walking beside me with that steady presence that seemed to ground me even when my thoughts were spiraling. Daisy whimpered softly in my arms, and my heart squeezed as I glanced down at her. She was never this lethargic, and I couldn't shake the worry that something serious was wrong.

Liam held the door open for me, his hand brushing my back as I passed through. "We'll get her looked at, and she'll be okay," he said, his voice calm, almost soothing. He was good at that—staying level-headed in times of stress.

"Thanks for this," I mumbled, glancing at him. He met my eyes for a moment, and I saw something there—a softness I hadn't noticed before. It wasn't just his calm demeanor that was getting to me; it was the way he seemed to care without making a big deal out of it.

The vet tech at the desk smiled kindly as we approached, her eyes immediately landing on Daisy. "You must be Mia," she said, glancing at the computer screen in front of her. "Dr. Martinez is ready for you. Come right this way."

I followed her down the hallway, Liam close behind, his presence as steady as ever. We were led into an exam room, where a middle-aged man in a white coat greeted us with a warm smile.

"Let's take a look at this sweet girl," Dr. Martinez said, his tone soothing as he reached out to gently take Daisy from my arms. I reluctantly let her go, my worry still gnawing at me as I watched him examine her.

Liam stood beside me, his hand resting on the back of the chair next to me. I found myself grateful for his silent support, even though I wasn't used to needing help from anyone. The vet's hands moved quickly and efficiently, checking Daisy's vitals and examining her belly.

"She probably just ate something she shouldn't have," Dr. Martinez said after a few moments, offering me a reassuring smile. "Nothing to worry about. I'll give her a shot to settle her stomach, and she'll be feeling better soon."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you," I whispered.

Dr. Martinez gave Daisy the shot, his hands gentle as he worked, and then he turned to me. "She should be fine in a few hours, but keep an eye on her. If she seems off tomorrow, bring her back in."

I nodded, feeling the weight lift from my chest. But there was still the problem of leaving her behind. I glanced at Liam, my brows furrowed. "I don't know if I can leave her with Tessa. It doesn't feel right."

Liam's gaze softened, and without missing a beat, he turned to the vet. "Do you offer kennel services here?"

Dr. Martinez smiled, nodding. "We do, actually. We have a boarding area in the back where we can monitor her overnight and make sure she's comfortable."

My heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, relief flooding through me. I turned to Liam, my eyes wide. "You'd trust them to watch her here?"

Liam smiled gently. "I would. They know what they're doing. And it'll put your mind at ease, right?"

I hesitated for a moment, looking between Liam and the vet. But when I saw the clean, well-kept facility as we followed the vet to the kennel area, I was reassured. The room was spotless, with cozy-looking beds and soft lighting. The staff seemed attentive, and when they took Daisy, she was already starting to look more relaxed.

"Okay," I said softly. "This will work."

Liam placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "She'll be fine. And now, you can relax a little too."

I turned to him, feeling a rush of gratitude. "I don't know what I would've done without you today."

He chuckled softly. "Glad I could help."

I laughed, a realization settling over me. Liam had become the person—a friend like Tessa—who I could turn to. It unnerved me to depend on a guy, but there was a comfort in it, too—one I hadn't expected.

After saying goodbye to Daisy and making sure she was settled at the kennel, I stepped aside to call Tessa. As the phone rang, I overheard Liam on his own call. His voice was low, but I caught snippets—something about logistics and timing. It sounded important, but before I could focus too much, Tessa picked up.

"Hey! I just wanted to let you know you're off the hook for Daisy-sitting," I said. Keeping my tone light, I explained what had happened.

"Off the hook?" Tessa teased. "Sounds like your knight in shining armor came to the rescue?"

I rolled my eyes, even though her teasing hit closer to the truth than I'd care to admit. "Sort of. Liam found out there was a kennel at the vet's office, and Daisy is staying there. She ate something bad, but they said she'll be fine."

"Well, you're lucky to have him around," Tessa continued, her tone playful. "Sounds like he's more than just an occasional houseguest."

"Stop," I laughed, brushing off her comment, though the truth of her words settled in the back of my mind.

After finishing my call with Tessa, I noticed Liam's voice drop to a near-whisper as he stepped around the corner with his back to me. Although my curiosity flared, I forced myself to focus on finishing my conversation. When I hung up, Liam had also ended his call, and his expression was unreadable.

After everything was taken care of at the vet, we drove back to my cabin. The drive was quiet, with a comfortable silence between us, but my mind kept going back to the phone call I had partially overheard. Liam had been speaking so softly, almost whispering, and there was something about it that unsettled me. What was he talking about? And why did I feel like it was something important, something he didn't want me to know?

As we pulled up to the cabin, the familiar sight of home gave me a brief sense of calm. Daisy was in good hands, but the tension between Liam and me was still there, lingering like a shadow. I glanced over at him as he parked his truck, wondering if he could feel it, too, or if it was all just in my head.

Before I could dwell on it any longer, he turned to me with that signature smirk, though his eyes were softer than usual. "So... change of plans."

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of change?"

"I called Derek while we were at the vet," Liam admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're not going to make it to San Antonio on time if we drive. I didn't want to stress you out with everything going on with Daisy, but..." He hesitated for a second before continuing, "Derek is sending a private plane to pick us up. We'll head to the airport after we grab your things."

A private plane? My eyes widened, the words taking a moment to sink in. "A private plane? Just like that?"

Liam shrugged, looking almost sheepish. "Yeah, he's got connections. Figured it was the easiest way to make sure we get there without any more delays."

I blinked, trying to process the sudden shift in plans. A part of me wanted to question it, to dig deeper into this strange world Liam seemed so comfortable in, but I couldn't. Not yet. There was something in his expression, a hint of vulnerability, like he was waiting for my reaction, waiting to see if I'd make a fuss.

Instead, I just nodded. "Okay... Well, that solves the problem of being late, doesn't it."

He gave me a small, relieved smile. "Yeah, it does. So, let's get your things and head to the airport."

Soon, we stepped inside the sleek jet, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to all of this—more to Liam's story, more to the man sitting beside me. But with the gala ahead, I knew now wasn't the time to push for answers. And now that we were closer to San Antonio, I had a sinking feeling Liam would reveal something new.