Liam notices me glancing at him from the passenger’s side. He turns his head for a few seconds, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “What are you thinking?”
He never admits it out loud, but he loves when I just gaze at him in marvel.
“That you look good enough to eat.”
After all this time, he still grabs my hand when he’s driving to pepper my knuckles with sweet kisses. “Oh, I know.”
Safe to say, over the span of five years, Liam has grown in confidence and embraced all the pieces that compose his beauty. I’m so happy to have witnessed the work he’s put into respecting and accepting his whole being. Self-love looks wonderful on him.
“You look good enough to eat too.”
I give him a knowing expression. “Two hours until our next en route stop and I’m fully banking on you keeping that promise.”
A full-belly laugh erupts from him. He’s used to my humour by now. “Deal.”
We enter the highway and I surf through my Spotify until I find what I’m looking for.
Liam & Mabel’s playlist.
Soft RnB filters through the car and our hands tighten together, listening to old and new songs that are reminiscent of our relationship.
I notice the GPS reroutes us. “What’s going on?”
“We just need to make one more quick stop.”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise.” He rubs my bare thigh in comfort. “Don’t worry, you’re going to like this.”
“Can I get a hint?”
“No, but I want you to do me a favour.”
I cross my legs and quirk an eyebrow. “Shoot.”
“In exactly thirty seconds, I want you to close your eyes and only open them when I tell you.”
“Okay,” I drawl, confused.
Liam shakes his head. “It won’t be for long, I promise. I wanted to bring a blindfold, but that would ruin your makeup and leave you unhappy so…”
“Good call.” I laugh. “Okay, I’m excited about whatever this is.”
Giddiness unfurling in the pit of my stomach, I close my eyes with a deep breath and lean the side of my head against the window. Moments pass in companionable silence with a gentle love ballad murmuring in the background.
The car rolls to a stop.
Curiosity nearly has me peeking one eye open to cheat, but Liam wants to surprise me and I give him that courtesy.
Maybe we’re stopping by the florist to grab a bouquet of sunflowers? Although that doesn’t make much sense, considering the blooms will wither away during our drive to Mystic Falls.
I hear Liam turning off the car, unbuckling his seat belt, and opening and closing his door. He’s rounding the car, I know, because he never lets me open my own door. Such a gentleman, this one.
My door clicks open and Liam says, “Keep your eyes closed.”
“I will,” I mock-grumble as he unbuckles my belt and hauls me out of my seat. I have to hold on to him so I don’t fall. Except if I ever fell, Liam would always catch me.
“Your eyes are still closed?”
