Page 68 of All That She Needs

*** *** ***

It was already 5 p.m., and I still hadn't given my answer to Liam. The day had slipped away, and now, as I stared at myphone, I realized there was nothing I could do to turn back time. Yet, his words kept circling in my mind.

A single message from Liam read,"I know you need time. I will not push you, Asha. Until you're ready to take this further, I will wait."

I sighed, touched by his patience.

Today, I went through the day and all those meetings, but my mind kept drifting, trying to decide what I truly wanted with Liam. There were a lot of things I needed to consider carefully. A lot of things I should take into consideration.

Yet, despite all that thinking, my thoughts always circled back to the same conclusion. I realized I had known what I wanted all along.

Closing my laptop, I left it behind on the desk, then gathered my bag and coat. With one last glance around the office, I headed out, closing the door behind me.

Outside, I hesitated, staring across the hall at Liam's door. My mind was buzzing with what I wanted to say, but before I could think it over, my feet carried me forward. I crossed the hall, my heart pounding slightly louder with each step until I found myself standing at his door.

A panel rested beside the door, and a small bell was set neatly on it. I paused, my finger hovering just above the button, wondering for a split second if I was making the right choice. But then I took a steadying breath, letting go of my hesitation, and pressed it. The soft chime of the bell echoed through the hall, and I held my breath, waiting.

I waited a few moments until the door swung open, and Keith greeted me with a warm smile and motioned me inside.

"Is he in?" I asked, following his lead.

"He's in his room," Keith replied, leading me through the quiet, dimly lit office. As we walked, I noticed Theo fast asleep on a beanbag, looking utterly adorable, his glasses slipping down his nose, and his mouth wobbling with each soft snore. Keith chuckled under his breath and walked over to handle it.

"Go on ahead," he said, gently lifting Theo and moving him to the big couch, where he barely stirred, deeply lost in his sleep. "Oh, and the code to his door is 1212."

I paused, surprised.1212—December twelfth. My birthday.

Before leaving, I watched as Keith took off his black cardigan and draped it over Theo, gently tucking it around him. The cardigan was oversized, comfortably covering half of Theo's body. Keith then carefully lifted Theo's glasses from his nose and set them on a nearby desk. Once Theo was settled, he lowered himself onto the bean bag Theo had been using, pulling his phone from his pocket and quickly engrossing himself in what looked like a video game.

Maybe Keith planned to stay there until Theo woke up, making sure he wouldn't be alone. The thought warmed me—Keith was so thoughtful.

I turned around and continued down the hallway, retracing my steps toward Liam's room. The quietness of the hall felt calming, each step bringing me closer to the conversation I knew I had to face.

When I got to Liam's room, I entered the code on the panel. The soft click confirmed the lock had disengaged. Holding my breath, I slowly lowered the handle and pushed the door open.

As I stepped inside, Liam's sleeping form came into view. He lay on his stomach, head turned to the side, bare-chested,with a blanket pulled up over his waist. I quietly closed the door behind me and walked silently over the carpet to sit on the edge of his bed.

Liam stirred, mumbling something I couldn't quite catch. I leaned in slightly and whispered, "Liam."

His eyes instantly fluttered open, gradually widening to reveal the bluest of blue orbs sparkling in the dim light. For a moment, he seemed disoriented, blinking as he focused on my face. Then he softly gasped my name. "Asha,"

I smiled at him, warmth spreading through me at the sight of him. "Hi, sorry that I woke you up," I said softly.

"It's okay. This is the best way to be woken up," he said, his voice still thick with sleep. He shifted closer, draping his arm over my lap and pulling me toward him. "Lay down with me."

"I—" I paused, unsure of what I wanted to say.

"Asha," he looked up at me, and I couldn't help but think how gorgeous he looked, still sleepy like this. "Come on. Lay down with me."

I bit my lip, contemplating.

Part 33: Asha

I bit my lip, contemplating, hesitating for just a moment before meeting his gaze. Then, with a small smile, I whispered, "Okay."

Liam's face lit up instantly, his smile wide and bright.

I took off my coat and kicked off my shoes as Liam lifted the blanket, inviting me to slip in beside him. As I settled in, I noticed he only wore boxer shorts beneath the covers. But before I could overthink it, he slid an arm beneath me, the other arm over my waist, wrapping me close until our bodies pressed together, chest to chest. He drew in a slow, deep breath, his voice low and filled with longing as he murmured, "I've dreamed about this more times than I can count. I still can't believe it's real."

---