“It’s cold,” he mumbles shyly, and I laugh as he shakes his head. I swipe the light purple over one of the tulips, and his hand comes to rest around my waist as his thumb rubs comforting circles. I eventually get down to his arms, and my eyes home in on one I didn’t even notice he had.
Señora Bearington in all her blank ink-traced glory. A smile starts on his face, but he continues to watch the movie, pretending he doesn’t know what I found. I start to color her, the red bow on her ear, her pink little nose, and her dark brown fur. Satisfied with my handiwork, I get off him slowly and run over to my closet to grab her.
Her fur and precious stitching are my favorite things. I walk to find Liam, looking right at me, and his eyes soften that much more when he sees the teddy bear. I smile as I sit back in my spot in his lap, and he pauses the movie as he glances down.
“You kept her all this time?” he asks.
“I needed something to remember you by,” I respond.
A hint of sadness creeps through before he shakes his head, looking back down. “I remember that day, ten years ago. I came home, angry at myself when we played hospital and I accidentally cut a hole in her. I needed to do something to fix her for you.” I listen intently to the story. “Mom asked why I was frustrated and crying, and I explained the situation, and that’s how I learned stitch lettering.” A small smile graces his face. “You know I still have mine too. Señor Bearington has been missing the love of his life for a while now.”
I giggle. “We have to get them together again.”
He smiles, and I look at my guy with color bursting from his skin. I then look down at Señora Bearington. Even as my best friend, he was always the sweetest boy ever. I trace over the stitching, the wobbly letters of a trying ten-year-old showing.
“Besides the star plush from Dad, it’s the most important thing I own,” I continue. There’s a somber smile from him as he rubs his thumb over my cheekbone. A delicate hue is already starting on my skin under his attention.
“I never knew your dad, but I’ve always known that he would be so, so proud of you.” He drops his hand, interlaces our fingers, and brings my hand up to kiss it. “I know I am.” Tears well in my eyes, but I blink them away as he gives me a sweet smile.
“Honey.”
I groan at someone shaking me, and I push another pillow over my head, though that gets ripped away. Huffing, a headache starts forming at how fast I get up, and blink to see Mom. She’s giving me a confused look, a ghost of a smile on her lips. I tilt my head slightly, scrunching my eyebrows at the warm arm slung across my waist, and I shut my eyes in panic.
She asks, “Something you wanna tell me?” I look down at Liam, who’s sleeping peacefully, as I try to find a way to explain this away.
“Well . . .” I trail off.
She chuckles. The front door slams and her head snaps toward the hallway. A look of unease comes over her face. “I’m okay with it. Let’s not tell Josh yet, though.” I sigh, Liam snuggling into me more, a sound of adoration coming from him. Mom smiles down at us as she heads to leave. I lie back down, hugging him, feeling safe in his arms.
I wake up at the feeling of little shapes being drawn on my skin, warmth enveloping me.
“Freckles. Wake up, love.” Peeking with one eye open, Liam’s looking at me adoringly, a small smile making its way onto his face, and slowly, one comes on mine. He runs his fingers through damp hair to get it out of his face. “Good morning, Cinderella,” he whispers teasingly, andmy goodness, it’s true what they say about guys in the morning.
Their voice is truly that deep.
“Hi, Prince Charming.” He groans, rolling his eyes, wrapping his arms around me. Sighing contentedly, I play with the little bits of hair at the nape of his neck, puffs of his breath causing my skin to litter with goose bumps. “I wish I could stay here every day.”
I pull back, and he’s wearing his signature pout. “My mom knows, meaning it won’t be long before she lets it slip to Ana, soyouneed to get going.”
He nods as he gets up, stretches, and I stay down, looking at him. His back muscles flex, the tattoos moving back and forth, and my mouth waters at the sight. I gawk shamelessly as I trace over each one with my eyes. He then leans back on one elbow, turning around to look at me, a smirk tugging on his lips.
“What are you looking at, you little perv?” he jokes, and I giggle at that. He leans in, and we’re close to touching lips when his phone rings. Ana’s picture appears on the screen.
Pulling back, he reaches and mutes the ringtone and I make my way to stand.
“What do you say about coming over tonight? I can pick you up at nine,” he suggests, sitting to make himself be somewhat at eye level with me. I smile as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Aren’t you sick of me?” He looks at me as if I’ve offended him. He circles his arms around my waist, molding me to his body.
“I’ll never be sick of you, sweetheart,” he says. I rub my nose against his. “So, is that a yes to coming over?”
“That’s a yes.” A chuckle escapes him as he gives me a chaste kiss in return. We stay there for a bit, and I run my hands over his neck and shoulders, my fingers skimming little red dots. “These weren’t here yesterday.” I observe them more intently.
He winces, stopping my hands, and a sheepish smile forms on his face. “I, uh, this is gonna sound dumb.” I raise an eyebrow as a blush of embarrassment starts on his face. “My skin’s very sensitive, which is why onlycertainink can go on it.” He doesn’t say the rest, merely alluding to it, and I gasp.
“Liam! Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shakes his head, shrugging. “They don’t hurt, they’re a little itchy, but that’s it. They’ll go away after I put something on them.” A frown comes on my face and he sighs. “You were so excited, so that’s why I didn’t say anything.” He cups my face. “I would put up with anything to see you smile.”
