Page 83 of A Simple Reminder

“Well, that’s what Micah said at first too,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “But, you know, there weren't that many people around, so we thought, ‘What the heck, we’re in Thailand, right?’ So, we decided to…you know…embrace it. Stripped down and went for a swim. The water was perfect, like the kind you’d see on a postcard.”

I raise an eyebrow, trying to picture him like that. ”So, you’re telling me you both went all in?”

“Yup.” He laughs, eyes twinkling. “It was great…until our guide came back and started laughing his head off.”

“Oh no.” I cover my mouth, holding back laughter. “What happened then?”

Liam leans in, his voice lowering as if he’s letting me in on a secret. “We walk out of the water, trying to cover ourselves, and…no clothes. No phones. Nothing. Our guide couldn’t stop laughing, saying something about ‘real experiences.’ Meanwhile, Micah and I are furious, asking him where our stuff went.”

I’m already laughing, shaking my head. “So, what did you do?”

He grins. “Well, our only option? We had to buy something from the only stall on the beach.”

“Oh god, please don’t tell me it was something embarrassing.”

“Oh, it was.” He can barely hold back his own laughter now. “The only thing they sold were these hideous, bright pink sarongs. They had cartoon elephants on them and the words ‘Hot Stuff in Thailand.’”

I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. “No! Please, please tell me there are photos.”

Liam groans, running a hand down his face, but his smile gives him away. “Unfortunately, there might be one or two, thanks to our guide and his amazing timing.”

I laugh even harder, picturing the scene. “That’s it. I need to see those someday. ‘Hot Stuff in Thailand,’ huh? Definitely your finest moment.”

He shrugs, chuckling. “Hey, when in Thailand…”

I wipe a tear from my eye, still laughing. “Please, tell me more. I need more of these stories.”

Liam shakes his head, grinning. “You get one of these per week.”

“Per week?” I give him a playful pout.

“Okay, maybe two, if you play nice,” he concedes, his voice softening just enough to make me smile. “But it’s time for you to rest. It’s been a tough day, and it’s already evening. We’ve been talking for hours.”

He tries to steer me toward his room, his hand warm and steady on my back, but I catch his arm and stop him. The thought of being alone right now feels unbearable, and the silence is too heavy to face.

“How about we rest together on the sofa, watching a movie?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light, even though my insides feel like a tangled mess. I offer him a hopeful smile, adding a playful bat of my lashes for good measure. It’s a little shameless, I know, but I can’t help myself. I need him close—his steady presence, his warmth—without having to admit how much.

For a moment, he just looks at me, his expression unreadable, and I brace myself for a refusal. This man really wants me to rest. Then he sighs, a sound that’s both exasperated and fond, before shaking his head. The corners of his mouth lift into a small, lopsided smile, one that does something I can’t quite name to the space between my ribs.

“As if I can say no to you,” he mutters.

THIRTY-FOUR

LIAM

Sophie’s head rests on my thigh, her breathing soft and steady, like a lullaby only my skin can hear. A secret meant only for me. It’s overwhelming, watching her like this—so beautiful, so fragile. So calm. There’s a peaceful glow on her face, a softness I haven’t seen in a long time—not at work, not anywhere else. She needs this rest, especially after today with her dad, after everything she’s kept bottled up finally spilled over.

I think she needed me with her today. Maybe I needed to be there too, to meet her dad. Maybe it was all meant to happen this way. Everything.Nasib.

She drifted off about thirty minutes into the movie, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her. Somehow, my hand found its way to her hair, threading through the thick blonde strands, slow and deliberate. She shivered at first, a soft tremor running through her, but then she sighed, melting into my touch like she was made for it. And I haven’t been able to stop.

It feels like therapy—like grounding myself in something real.

She looks at peace now, but I know the storm inside her hasn’t passed. It never truly does. Every time her father hurts, so does Sophie. And when she hurts, so do I.

So I stay still, comforting her even though she isn’t awake to notice, letting the movie she chose—Atonement—play on. We’re at the part where the main characters, who sacrificed so much to be together, are finally close enough to make that life happen. But I know how this ends. Circumstances, lies, and mistakes rip them apart forever. It’s tragic, how two people who are meant to be together never get that chance.

I look down at Sophie, watching her sleep, and something hits me hard. Is that in our future too? Circumstances and mistakes tore us apart once, but I can’t accept that fate for us. I won’t be like the two characters in the movie. I won’t. If you find your person, you should hold on to them tight. I’ve failed before—more than once—but I won’t make the same mistake again. If she can’t fully be with me until we’re no longer working together, then I’ll wait. I’ll wait until there’s no shadow of implication connecting us professionally. I’d wait ten more years if that’s what she needs. I’d never want her to lose anything because of me.

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