Page 58 of All That She Needs

"Liam," Asha said my name. I always loved the way she called my name. There was always a little sigh at the end, like there was a soft, velvety'h'added to my name. It never failed to stir something deep within me. I decided then that my new goal in life would be to hear her say my name as many times as possible for the rest of my days. "Do you have an idea where we should have dinner?"

"What do you want to eat?" I asked, while gazing down and counted each of the shadowy freckles on her nose.

"I remember you mentioned you love Chicken Kung Pao. Know any good spots?"

"Of course!" I replied, perhaps a bit too eagerly. But when I saw her eyes widen, glinting with amusement, I figured my excitement had somehow delighted her in some way. "We'll need to grab my car first to get there."

"Oh, I can have Brody take us." She started reaching into her small bag, likely for her phone.

I stiffened. "Brody?"

"My driver," she clarified.

"Absolutely not," I said, frowning. "It'd be embarrassing for me if our first official date involved being chauffeured by your driver. We either take my car, grab an Uber, or ride the subway."

As I spoke, I noticed her face light up, and my heart softened instantly. "Which one made you light up like that? The idea of the first date or the subway?"

"Both," she replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"It is our first official date, isn't it?" I said softly, wanting nothing more in my life than to kiss her right now.

"Yeah..." And she flushed even more.Oh, God. Give me strength.

"What do you say if we take the subway?" I suggested. "When was the last time you've been in one?"

She looked like she was pondering it for a moment before saying, "I don't even remember. It's been too long."

"So, what do you think? The nearest station is just minutes from here."

"Okay," she nodded, seeming almost too eager for the prospect of commuting in the most commonly used, budget-friendly way of transportation. I'd bet my right arm she wouldn't be this excited if I'd offered to take her there in a limo. That just made me love her even more.

I love her. I really love her. I've told her this before, but I wasn't sure she truly believed me. Maybe I hadn't said it with enough conviction or shown it in the way she needed to see. But standing here now, every part of me knew it was real.

"Okay," I echoed, taking her hand in mine. We walked toward the subway station, both of us with a little bounce in our steps—Asha, excited to ride the subway after so long, and me, just thrilled to be able to hold her hand.

I bought our tickets, including a day pass, just in case she wanted to go for another round of trips with the subway. We stood on the platform, her hand still resting on mine as the loud rumble of the approaching train echoed through the tunnel. The station was alive with the usual noise—footsteps, muffled conversations, the distant screech of metal on metal—but none of it seemed to reach us. Or me, specifically. We were in our own little world.

As the train's headlights appeared in the distance, Asha squeezed my hand a little tighter, her excitement radiating off her in waves. I couldn't help but smile, swept up by her energy. When the train finally stopped in front of us, I stepped aside and let her hop in first. The car was packed, commuters crammed shoulder to shoulder, all trying to get home. We squeezed in, and I shifted to stand cautiously, so carefully behind her, sliding my arm around her waist.

"I will hold you to keep you safe," I whispered in her ear, and I felt her shiver against me. "I won't let you fall." I meant it with all my heart—not just in that moment on the subway, butfor everything that lay ahead in her life. I wanted to be a steady presence through whatever challenges came her way.

The jolts and bumps of the train made her press her body against me, and I could feel her warmth seep into my skin. She felt soft and feminine, the gentle curve of her back fitting perfectly against my chest. The lovely scent of her hair wafted up to my nose, and I inhaled deeply. I couldn't help it. My heart raced, pounding so loudly I feared she might hear it. Or felt it against her back. My breathing quickened, each inhale catching in my throat as I tried to control myself.

One of her hands gripped my forearm to steady herself, and I felt her grip tighten, telling me she was as affected as I was. I leaned down, my lips brushing against her ear as I whispered again, "Am I making you nervous?"

She stiffened for a moment, then tilted her head up to meet my gaze. "Yeah. A little."

I smiled at her, and her eyes fell to my dimple. "You're making me nervous too."

"Really?" she asked softly, her voice almost dreamy, but her gaze still didn't move from my cheek. "Why?"

I found a bit of courage and let my nose brush lightly against hers. "Because of this," I said, tightening my arm around her. "Feeling you against me like this." I pulled in a slow, deep breath. "It feels surreal." She sighed in response and closed her eyes, resting her head against my shoulder. We settled into a comfortable silence, ignoring the world and letting it fade away.

Our peace was interrupted by the announcement that we had arrived at our station. The ride had been too short—just one stop away, a mere ten minutes—but it would become a memory that would stay with me for the rest of my life.

"We're here," I murmured to her, watching her eyes flutter open, revealing a pair of emerald green eyes that never failed to take my breath away.

As the train doors slid open with a hiss, I gently nudged Asha forward, guiding her through the crowd of commuters. We stepped onto the platform, the din of the station immediately enveloping us. We navigated through the throngs of passengers, weaving through the bustling crowd until we reached the stairs leading up to the street. Asha's hand was still in mine. I didn't think I could ever let go.

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