Page 24 of Falling For Liam
“Now. Before I change my mind.”
“Liv, I really mean it, you don’t—”
“I’m joking. I’m ready.”I think.
* * *
Nic and Dec help me carry my few bags to my car before they follow me to the house. I tell them it’s not necessary, but they insist on getting me settled. As I pull up on the driveway, I realise the house is much bigger than I remembered. It’s got huge windows to make the most of the bay beyond, and a giant black front door. It looks like a perfect family home and nothing like the bachelor pad it really is.
I’m lost in my thoughts, staring up at the brickwork, when Nic scares the shit out of me by looking through the car window. I scream in fright and my heart races in panic. I’m immediately transported back to that night last week when the door crashed open behind me.
“I’m sorry.”
Resting my head back for a few seconds, I take a deep breath and try to remind myself that I’m here and safe. I hate how that bastard still has an effect on me, but as much as I want to forget about that whole nightmare, I think I’d be kidding myself to think it’s going to happen overnight. He got himself deep inside my mind, and he knew it.
Pushing him and everything he did to me to the back of my mind, I jump out the car to embark on the next part of my life. I’ve got friends who’ve already proved how far they’ll go for me. I owe it to them not to drown in my own sorrow.
“Wow, Dec. This room’s incredible,” I say, looking around what I presume is the master bedroom.
“It’s not bad, huh?”
“Do you want us to stay and help you unpack?”
“No, you two have already done so much for me. Go and spend some alone time together.” Dec’s eyes light up at my suggestion. Nic starts to argue but he’s having none of it, and, after threading his fingers through hers, he pulls her from the room.
“Call me if you need anything,” she yells, giggling as she goes. I agree with a laugh as I walk over to the little balcony and breathe in a lungful of fresh sea air. A little slither of positivity nudges its way in. It’s an odd feeling after living a life full of grey and muted colours for so long.
After a few minutes, I pull myself back to the here and now and start figuring out where I want to put everything. I have nowhere near enough stuff to fill all the storage in the room, and I’m a little deflated at what my life consists of.
“Has Nic come to her senses and kicked your arse to the curb?” is shouted up the stairs, followed by heavy footsteps.
Sucking in a giant breath, I prepare to see him in the doorway. His footsteps get louder until they’re right outside. My heart pounds and my eyes flick to the opening as he appears. Dressed in a pair of stonewash jeans and a black t-shirt, he looks like a freaking model stood there with his windblown hair. The second his eyes land on me, he mutters, “Damn,” before running his hand though the shaggy mess that’s his hair, pulling it away from his face, and biting down on his lip.
“Hey,” I say awkwardly, before dragging my eyes away when I fear he sees too much.
Liam
When I come in and hear movement up in Dec’s room, the last thing I expect to find is Liv in a pair of cut-off shorts, showing off her mile-long legs, and a vest. Her hair’s hanging loosely around her shoulders, and the need to thread my fingers through it has me clenching my fists and shoving them deep in my pockets. Knowing she’s been so close yet so far away this past week has been torture. Every day, I’ve either been at Nic’s front door begging to be allowed in, or on the other end of the phone trying to find out if Liv’s okay, if there’s anything I can do. I was desperate to march in there and demand she forgive me, but I knew Nic was right and that I had to give her the time she asked for. But she’s right here, in front of me, in the house I call home. Has it been long enough?
Taking a step forward, I watch as her head spins back around to me. I don’t stop moving until I’m right in front of her. I can feel the heat of her body against mine, and every one of my muscles tenses with the need to reach out and touch her. Her sweet scent engulfs me, making my mouth water. “Liv,” I breathe, staring right into her blue eyes. I can see her fear and her lingering anger, but there’s more. There’s hope, fight, passion. It’s staring right back at me. She just needs to be strong enough to allow it to fuel her instead of everything she’s afraid of.
“D…Dec said…” She swallows and I watch the smooth skin of her neck ripple as she tries to get a hold of herself. A huge part of me wishes she wouldn’t; I like knowing how much I affect her. “He said I could mo…move in.”
“Motherfucker,” I mutter, dragging myself away from her and walking over to the open balcony doors. I scrub my hands over my face as I try to get any inappropriate ideas to do with us living under the same roof out of my head.
“Fuck you,” she spits, clearly getting the wrong impression about my reaction. “I won’t leave just because you don’t like it.”
“It’s not that—”
“You need to leave.”
“What?”
“Get out.” Her arm comes up. I half expect her to slap me, but instead she points towards the door. “Go.”
Running my eyes over her face, I can see that her shutters have come down. I’m not going to break through them, so I may as well do as she says.
“Fine. But this isn’t over, Liv. We’re going to talk.”
