13
Istared at Liam, unblinking, disbelieving. I searched his eyes for any hint of mockery or teasing.
But they were open, sincere.
A sense of wonder ballooned in my chest. Liam really did think all those things about me.
My fingers began to tremble ever so slightly. I pressed my palms against the sides of my hips.
"That's some impressive symbolism," I said, pretending to smooth down my skirt.
Liam raised an eyebrow, as if confused by my statement.
"Sun. Supernova. Rockstar." I said the words slowly.
"I wasn't trying to make a pun." He cracked a smile. "You're amazing, and soon the whole world is going to know it."
"You're the one who's amazing." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. A flush crept up my neck and onto my cheeks. "I mean, you're an amazing guitar player, and a great singer. Of course, you know that already."
"I do know that." He examined me closely. "But that's not what you meant, is it?"
Flustered, I looked away.
Liam couldn't have known how much he had motivated me. He couldn't have known how much I'd needed to hear his words back then.
He couldn't have known how important he was to me.
"Why don't you tell me what you really meant?" he asked softly.
"I didn't mean anything," I said quickly. "Just what I said. You're good at what you do."
"I think there's more to it than that." His probing eyes pinned me down, like he was trying to dissect me. Like he was trying to figure me out.
"What you said before. In that interview. About the name of your band."
My heartbeat spiked. "What about it?"
"You lied to that journalist when she asked you how you came up with Cherry Lips."
"No I didn't," I said immediately. "I named the band after myself."
"You named the band after my nickname for you."
Pulse racing, I deflected. "So what if I did? It's catchy."
"Why did you lie about it in the interview?" he persisted.
"Because—"
Because you moved me.
Because you inspired me.
"Tell me why," he asked again.
"Because you saved me."
The words came out quiet. Quiet, but not weak. Not timid. I forced myself to meet his gaze head on. His eyes were wide, perplexed. I don't know what he had been expecting me to say, but it wasn't that.
