I draw circles on the table between us, sighing. “I don’t know. Are you into dragons or rom-coms?”
“What would you classifyGrey’s Anatomyas?”
“An emotional roller coaster medical drama where everyone you love leaves or dies. Oh, with a very well curated playlist and highly attractive people.”
Liam’s mouth opens and a loud laugh follows. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he admits, palm clenching his chest. “That’s pretty damn spot on.”
He smiles again and it’s a nice smile. One that feels like it should be contagious, but I’m too in my own head right now to mirror him, so I simply nod and use my coffee as a buffer and take a sip.
“Can I ask you something? I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, because I don’t want to invade your private life, but I’ve known you a while and…” He trails off.
My eyes narrow suspiciously, but I find it endearing that Liam always tries to be as respectful as possible.
“Suuuuure.” The word drags.
“Are you happy?” Well, there was no beating around the bush there.
“I know you’ve gone through a lot of shit recently, and while I don’t know or need to know specifics, I just want to make sure you’re okay. You lied the other morning when you said you were fine. I could tell, but it’s okay. I figure there are a lot of things you’re still working through and processing, and maybe you still have bad days…but…” He sighs, and I can’t help but just sit back and stare.
It’s such a loaded question to ask someone if they’re happy. It could go so many different ways, even backfire, but I feel my shield lower the tiniest bit at his question because no one ever asks if I’m happy. It’s a question that catches me off guard, but maybe it’s one I need to be asked every now and then to let myself say it out loud.
Despite the hard days, I am happy.
“I guess I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“We all have bad days,” I say in nearly a whisper. “But a bad day doesn’t mean a bad life.”
He nods as he takes a sip of his drink, his eyes focused on mine.
“So, yes, I’m happy.”
I feel warmth run through me. So much comfort and safety that it almost feels wrong. I haven’t felt this way in god knows how long.
“That’s all I need to know.”
I appreciate Liam’s tenderness. It’s a different side to him than I normally see. He’s typically full of sarcasm and wit, a true goofball in every sense of the meaning. But lately, I’ve been seeing his more mature side, the one I’ve only heard about through his friends and teammates, and I’m not quite sure what to think of it yet.
The sun hits Demi at the perfect angle, giving her an angelic glow as we sit across from each other in this coffee house. I can’t stop fucking staring. I can’t stop internally freaking out that she’s actually sitting here with me, and I want to keep asking her a million questions to make this afternoon last as long as I possibly can.
This may have only happened because of a bet, but she didn’t have to follow through. I gave her an out, and she still wanted to come. Whether that was her need to keep her word or maybe that she actually wanted to, I’ll probably never know for sure. But I’m sure as hell thankful nonetheless.
“It’s kind of an up and down thing,” she says after a bout of silence between us.
I nod, not knowing her exact situation, but understanding what she means. I know what it’s like to look happy on theoutside and want so badly to feel it on the inside, but you hide behind all the darkness with a smile and positive attitude.
“Yeah, I get it. Emotions ebb and flow…been there,” I admit, without sharing too much of my own experience.
Her lips part ever so slightly, if I hadn’t been staring at them so closely I may have missed it.
“Right.” She shifts her eyes to the other side of the cafe.
Demi’s walls are so fucking high. It’s obvious she doesn’t want to let a soul into her mind—or heart right now. She goes quiet for a moment again, and I don’t want to let her get too in her head, so I perk up.
“About those books.” I smirk, watching her eyes refocus on me instead of zoning out. “What are your three deserted island books?”
She takes a sip of her coffee, and my gaze is stuck on her lips as she coats them with her tongue, tasting the remnants of her drink. It’s a quick swipe, but I don’t miss it.
“Oh god.” She chuckles, shaking her head. “I don’t even know. There are so many books I love. Asking me to pick three is a crime.”
