6. Lucy
Chapter six
Lucy
I walk into the break room, hoping for a quiet moment to myself, but of course, it’s not that easy. Emma and Stella are sitting at the table, laughing and talking about something I’m not quite following. They stop when they see me, their expressions shifting to something far more mischievous.
“Lucy,” Emma says with a knowing grin, “you’ve got a fan.”
I freeze. I know exactly where this is going.
Stella raises an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Oh, don’t play coy with us. We saw Liam leave in a hurry after your little ‘meeting’ in the office. And you, well…” She pauses, glancing at Emma before turning back to me. “Let’s just say you were looking a bit... flustered when you came out.”
My heart sinks, and I try to ignore the blush creeping up my neck. It’s like they can read me better than I can read myself. I can feel their eyes on me, waiting for an answer, but I refuse to give them the satisfaction.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say quickly, grabbing the kettle to make myself some tea. I don’t even look at them. “It was just... work stuff. You know, tech things.”
Emma doesn’t buy it for a second. “Right,” she teases, “tech things. Is that what we’re calling it now?”
I feel my cheeks burn even hotter, and I start to pour my tea, hoping the steam will hide my embarrassment. “It was nothing. Really.”
Stella leans back in her chair, her grin widening. “Mm-hmm, nothing. That’s why Liam was practically running out of here. You know, it’s funny... He looked like he was in a rush to get away from something. And you,” she gestures to me, “looked a little, uh, flushed. So, what happened?”
I should’ve known better than to come in here.
But I’m stuck now. I set the kettle down and lean against the counter, my gaze focused anywhere but on them.
My mind flashes to the moment earlier in the office — when Liam slammed into me, our bodies coming together in a way that sent my heart into overdrive.
The way he held me, the way his eyes lingered on mine before the moment broke.
But I can’t think about that. I can’t. Not when my future is already written out for me. Not when the deadline is hanging over me like a storm cloud.
“I’m sure it you’re imagining things,” I say, my voice quieter now, not quite as confident. I glance up briefly to see Stella and Emma watching me with knowing eyes.
“I’m sure it was,” Emma agrees, but there’s a teasing glint in her eyes. “You know, I’m not blind. I can tell when something’s there.”
I feel my stomach twist at the thought. Something’s there? What does that even mean? And why does it make my chest tighten like this?
Stella laughs lightly, clearly enjoying this more than she should. “Oh, don’t worry, Lucy. I’m just messing with you. But I can tell you, that guy doesn’t leave the clinic like that unless it’s for a good reason. He was practically sprinting out of here.”
I force a smile, trying to deflect. “He probably just had other things to do. He’s busy.”
“Well,” Emma says, standing up and stretching, “whether you like it or not, there’s something going on with you two. I’m not sure what yet, but I’ll keep an eye on it.”
I quickly change the subject, the last thing I need is any more attention on Liam.
“Have you seen how busy it’s been here lately?
” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from me.
“People from the neighboring towns have been coming in non-stop. We’re getting more appointments every day.
Adoptions are up. The clinic’s growing.”
Stella perks up at the mention of the clinic. “Oh, yeah! It’s amazing. People are starting to talk about it more, and word of mouth is really working. I think we’re doing something right.”
Emma nods proudly. “We’ve come a long way since we first opened. People are seeing the results, and that’s what keeps them coming back. We’ve got loyal clients now, and more new ones every day.”
I feel a brief sense of relief, the conversation turning to something I can focus on. The clinic, the animals, the work that’s being done here. It’s steady, grounded. And for a moment, I feel like I belong in this world.
But even as I talk about it, I know it’s not enough. It’s not enough to ignore the life waiting for me back home, the life I’m supposed to return to. And it’s certainly not enough to ignore the way Liam makes my heart race, the way he’s starting to break through my carefully constructed walls.
I take a deep breath, pushing those thoughts aside. I can’t afford to feel anything about him. Not now. Not when I’m running out of time.
“I’m glad things are going well,” I say, trying to sound more upbeat. “We’re doing good work here.”
Stella grins. “You’re right about that. I think this place is going to keep growing. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stick around long enough to see it happen.”
The comment lingers in the air, heavy and unspoken. It’s not just about the clinic. It’s about me. About whether I’ll still be here when everything changes.
But I don’t answer. Instead, I just take a sip of my tea and nod, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach.
***
It’s been a long week, and the weekend feels like a breath of fresh air. I’m not scheduled to work today, and for once, I’m allowing myself to have a bit of time off. My apartment feels too quiet, though. The silence is pressing down on me, so I grab my tote bag and head to the grocery store.
I’m not even sure why I’m going. I’m running low on a few things, but I know I’ll probably just buy snacks I don’t need and waste time walking around the aisles. It’s mostly just an excuse to clear my head.
But as I walk past the produce section, I start thinking about Liam.
And it’s not the first time today. He’s been on my mind a lot lately, ever since he started working on the tech project with me.
I tell myself it’s just because I’m around him all the time now, but that explanation doesn’t sit well.
I didn’t realize how much I’d gotten used to seeing him every day. The way he’d drop by the clinic, his casual smiles, the way he’d always find a reason to stay a little longer than necessary. It feels strange to not see him today.
Why does it bother me so much?
It’s not like I want to miss him. It’s just that.
.. well, when someone’s a constant presence in your life, it’s hard not to get used to them.
I’ve had my fair share of solitude — this little corner of Bayview is supposed to be my escape.
But now, I’m starting to feel like I’m not so sure about that.
I sigh, picking up a bag of apples and some peaches. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I shouldn’t be thinking about him this way.
I continue down the aisle, grabbing a few more items when, out of nowhere, I bump into someone.
I look up, startled, and my heart skips a beat. Of course. Of all people, it’s Liam.
“Lucy?” His voice is warm, a bit surprised, but with that hint of amusement I’ve come to expect.
I freeze for a second, unsure of what to say. I wasn’t expecting to see him here. “Liam? What are you doing here?”
He shrugs, his usual casual smile spreading across his face. “Grocery shopping,” he says as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. “I needed to stock up, and I had a few minutes. Didn’t expect to run into you.”
I can’t help but laugh.
"Well, I can say the same for you,"
"How have you been?"
"Fine, and you?" I ask.
"Great. You look beautiful as always," heat rises up my cheeks hearing him give me one if his hand off compliments. I wonder if he is the same with other women. But I've seen him interact with Emma and others at the clinic he isn't the same with them.
“Well, you’re not looking bad yourself. It explains why people keep glancing in our direction.
” I glance at a few curious stares coming from shoppers further down the aisle.
It’s hard not to feel self-conscious with Liam in tow, looking like he belongs on the cover of a magazine.
But I try not to focus on the attention we’re getting.
He chuckles, looking around at the other customers who are clearly trying to be discreet. “Yeah, I noticed that. I’m sure it's all your effect. I've been shopping for myself and I don't think I get these looks.”
I raise an eyebrow, my lips quirking up in a teasing smile. “I didn’t know billionaires still did their grocery shopping themselves.”
Liam laughs, a genuine, deep laugh that makes me feel a little lighter. “Billionaire, huh? How’d you figure that one out?”
I freeze for a split second. The words are already out of my mouth before I realize what I’ve said.
Billionaire. I’ve never actually heard him say it.
I’ve actually spent most of my leisure looking him up.
To say I'm stunned by who he really is, is an understatement.
But I can't tell him that, I'll look like a stalker.
And before I can stop myself, I blurt out the first explanation that comes to my mind.
“Emma mentioned it,” I say quickly, trying to sound casual. But as soon as I say it, I feel the tension in the air. It’s not convincing, even to me.
He arches an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Really? Emma, huh?”
I feel my cheeks warm. “Yeah. She mentioned you once, a while ago, and I kind of put two and two together.”
He doesn’t seem convinced, but he lets it slide, not pressing further. “I see. Well, it’s true, I suppose,” he says with a shrug, “but I don’t really talk about it much. I’ve never been one for the whole ‘showing off’ thing.”
I nod, understanding exactly what he means.
I’ve always thought there was something different about him.
He’s not like the people who use their wealth as a shield or as a way to command attention.
There’s something understated about him — the way he moves, the way he talks.
It’s almost like he doesn’t care about the labels.
“I get that,” I say, my voice softer. “Sometimes it’s nice to just do the small things for yourself.”
He smiles, his gaze lingering on me just a moment too long, and I feel it again — that pull between us. “Exactly. That’s why I’m here, in the grocery store, buying things I could easily have someone do for me. It’s just... nice to do things for yourself once in a while,” he mimics.
I can’t help but smile at his sincerity. It’s sweet. “It is. And it makes you seem... normal.” I say it lightly, but I mean it. There’s something refreshingly normal about him, despite everything.
“Well, I do try,” he says with a wink, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth. “I’m not all fancy meetings and business deals.”
I laugh softly, not realizing just how easy it is to be around him.
We continue walking down the aisle together, chatting about the usual things.
I find myself relaxing, enjoying the simplicity of this.
It’s almost like nothing else matters when we’re talking.
The world fades away, and it’s just us, standing in the middle of the grocery store like. .. well, like normal people.
Eventually, we finish up the shopping, and Liam offers to walk me to my car. It’s a short walk across the parking lot, but even the distance feels too charged. The air between us is thick with unspoken words, unacknowledged feelings, and I don’t know how to handle it.
“Thanks for helping me shop,” I say awkwardly as we stop by my car. I open the door, but I hesitate for a second before turning to face him.
Liam smiles, his eyes softening. “I’m glad we ran into each other.”
I feel my pulse quicken at the way he says it, the way his eyes linger on mine. It’s like he’s saying something more than just the words. Something that I don’t want to acknowledge, but I can’t seem to ignore.
“Yeah, me too,” I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
We stand there for a beat, neither of us quite knowing what to do next. The moment stretches, and I feel the weight of everything I’ve been trying to ignore pressing down on me.
I clear my throat, trying to shake off the feeling. “Thanks, Liam. I... I’ll see you around.”
He nods, a soft, lingering smile on his lips. “I’ll see you around, Lucy.”
And then, with one last glance, he turns to leave. I climb into my car, the engine roaring to life, but I don’t drive off immediately. Instead, I sit there for a moment, watching Liam walk away.
And that’s when it hits me.
I like him. I like him in a way I can’t explain.