Liam handed me hot cocoa from a corner vending machine. I held it, warmth seeping through my gloves into my palms. Liam bought nothing for himself, shoving his hands back in his pockets.
After about five minutes, Liam spoke.
"Chloe, you've been upset lately. Is it because of Enzo?"
His voice wavered, like the words took serious resolve.
I wanted to say no, but the lie stuck in my throat. Liam had been good to me, helped me too much. He didn't deserve bullshit.
"Yes," I admitted it.
Liam went quiet. We kept walking past the street corner. Just when I thought he'd drop it, I heard him mutter some curses under his breath. That surprised me—he usually seemed so mild-mannered.
Silence fell between us again as we reached my shabby apartment building.
"Here we are." I turned to face Liam. "Thanks for walking me back, Liam. Get home before you freeze."
He nodded, hands still in his pockets, taking half a step back. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something, then closed. He looked down at his shoes, glanced up at me, then back down.
He clearly had more to say. But I wasn't going to push. If he didn't want to talk, he had his reasons. I turned around, reaching for my keys.
"Chloe."
I looked back.
"Enzo's getting married."
After dropping that bomb, his eyes locked on my face, like he was checking whether it hurt me.
"His fiancée is Valentina Lombardi. They're already planning the wedding."
Autumn wind rushed down the alley, whipping my hair across my face. I stood in the apartment doorway, keys gripped in my hand, metal coldness seeping from my palm straight into my bones.
My brain went completely blank. Like someone hit pause—every thought cleared out in that instant. Then play resumed and they flooded back, jumbled together. It took serious effort to sort out what the hell I was thinking.
I thought he'd just gotten bored with me. I thought he slept with me and left because I meant nothing to him. I never imagined—from the very start, I was never even on his radar.
And like a complete idiot, I'd secretly hoped something real might grow from those brief moments.
"Oh." I paused for two seconds. Then heard myself say, "Well, that's big news."
"Chloe? You okay?" Liam's voice went tight with concern.
"I'm really fine, Liam." I smiled at him, forcing my mouth into what I hoped passed for a decent curve. "He and I weren't what everyone thought."
As I spoke, something warm slid from my eye.
I didn't allow this, but my tears completely disobeyed. They spilled out without warning, one after another, streaming down my face.
"Fuck." I cursed under my breath, swiping fast with my sleeve. But after wiping the left side, the right started up. After the right, the left again. My frantic fumbling made everything more pathetic—tears mixed with wind-reddened snot smeared across my face.
"I'm fine, I just... fuck."
Still wrestling with my tears, Liam stepped forward, arms opening wide, pulling me into his embrace.
He held tight, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other around my waist. That warmth made my tears pour harder.
"I know. I know everything, Chloe." His voice came from above my head.
