Page 51 of The Grumpy Actor

It’s like he disappeared off the face of the earth.

It hurts so much more that I don’t know anything about him. I want to know how he’s doing; if he’s fine or if he’s taking this as hard as I am.

Why do I keep trying to deceive myself?

He probably doesn’t care that we’re broken up, and I’m just here losing my mind over nothing.

I put my phone in my pocket and raise my eyes up to the sky.

My gaze fixates on the line between the sky and the water. The sun is setting with an orange starburst in the center of the horizon. It’s magnificent.

I manage a smile, letting out a calming breath.

“Sophie.”

What is wrong with me?

Why am I hallucinating his voice right now?

I need to grow a backbone and get over him.

“Sophie.”

A warm hand settles on my shoulder, and I stiffen in shock. The heat from the body behind me sends my heart reeling.

He’s here.

His musky cologne bathes me in his sweet scent, confirming my suspicions even before I glance beside me.

My heart jumps as I come face to face with Liam.

He’s definitely Liam. But he doesn’t look like himself.

He’s grown gaunt over the three weeks we haven’t seen each other. There’s a light stubble all over his jaw, confirming that he hasn’t been bothering with shaving, either.

His eyes are sunken, with heavy bags underneath.

What happened to him? Is he sick? Is that the reason he hasn’t been in the news lately?

It breaks my heart to see him this way, and I forget my own situation.

I jump to my feet, reaching out to touch his face.

“What happened to you? Why do you look this way? Are you sick?”

Liam smiles softly, his eyes lighting up a bit as he drops his head on my shoulder. He slips his hand around my waist, sending a shockwave of emotions through me.

Something wet drops on my shoulder, and I push his head back to see tears clinging to his lashes.

“Liam, what’s wrong?”

“I was so stupid,” he mutters, the tears sliding down his face. “Too stupid to realize it. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you right now. I’m so happy that I can’t control my tears. I missed you, Sophie.”

He missed me.Liam missed me.

My heart beats wildly in my chest as I try and fail to keep my nerves under control.

“All I’ve done for the past month is think about you. I can’t even sleep because all I see is you.”

---