16. Lucy #2
As I grab the clutch from the counter, I notice something that catches me off guard — this is his first time in my place. I’ve been so focused on everything else; I hadn’t realized that he’s never been inside my apartment.
It’s not much. Just a small space I’ve set up since I came to Ocean Bay. There’s nothing extravagant about it. Nothing even remotely close to what my life used to look like.
I watch him as he steps inside, his eyes scanning the room. He doesn’t say anything right away, just observes.
"You arranged this yourself," he finally says, his voice quiet. "It looks good."
I can’t help but feel a little self-conscious. "Thanks," I reply. "This is the first time I’ve set up my own place, actually."
He raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "The first time? But I thought you’d worked on your previous apartment..."
I hesitate, the lie rising in my throat. How could I explain that I’ve never actually lived in a space like this? That I’ve always had help, always had people to do things for me. It’s easier to lie. Easier to pretend I’ve had the same kind of life everyone else has.
"Yeah," I say, trying to sound convincing. "I just... took my time with this one. Made sure it felt right."
He seems to accept that, nodding slowly. "Well, I think it suits you."
My chest tightens. It’s such a simple thing, but it feels important. The way he looks at me, the way he sees me as I am, not as some version of myself I’ve created for the world.
But there’s an underlying sadness in my chest as I stand there, trying to keep the conversation light. This place, this tiny apartment, is a reminder of what’s coming.
The reality is, I can’t stay here. Not for long.
But I don’t tell him that.
Instead, I change the subject, pushing the uncomfortable thoughts to the back of my mind. "You’ve been spoiling me with all these gifts," I say, trying to keep my voice light. "I’m not sure how I can repay you for all of this."
Liam chuckles, his gaze lingering on me for just a second too long. "There’s no need to repay me, Lucy. I just want you to be happy. That’s enough for me."
His words send a rush of warmth through me, but it’s quickly followed by a pang of guilt. This isn’t supposed to happen. I shouldn’t be letting myself get close to him.
But as I look at him, the sincerity in his eyes, I know it’s already too late.
So, are we ready to go?"
I laugh softly, relieved to be distracted. "You bet.” I say, turning to grab my again.
Liam watches me, his expression unreadable. "What about our cute buddies?"
I pause, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "Emma agreed to watch them for the night," I say, forcing a smile.
Liam smiles back, a soft laugh escaping him. "Emma is the sweetest."
I shake my head, amused. "She’s just trying to play matchmaker, that’s all."
Liam’s expression shifts, his eyes darkening slightly. "It wouldn’t be such a bad idea, would it?"
I freeze. The intensity in his gaze catches me off guard, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond.
His fingers brush against mine, the contact sending a jolt of heat through me.
But I can’t let it linger. I can’t let him in. Not completely.
I force a smile, trying to play it off. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves."
He watches me for a beat longer, his gaze searching, but then he nods slowly, as if accepting my words without question. "Alright. Let’s get going."
He offers me his hand, and despite the flutter in my chest, I take it. The touch of his skin against mine sends another wave of heat rushing through me. I try to ignore it, focusing on the steady beat of my heart.
He leads me out of the door, his hand still holding mine, and I can’t help but feel the pull between us. Every step we take seems to bring us closer, and yet, I can’t shake the fear that it’s all slipping through my fingers.
He opens the door of his Porsche for me, and I slide inside, trying to act like this is just another evening. But everything inside me is telling me it’s not.
As he climbs into the driver’s seat, I glance at the car and feel a sense of déjà vu. It looks eerily similar to the one I’ve seen at my father’s house.
"You like it?" he asks, glancing over at me with a raised eyebrow.
I nod, trying to keep my tone casual. "It’s nice. Actually, its one of my favorite cars."
Liam’s eyebrows knit together. "You love this car?"
I shrug, trying to downplay it. "I’ve read a few things about it. It’s a great car."
Liam’s expression softens. "I could get you one. If you want it."
I freeze, my heart racing. "What?"
He shrugs casually. "Just tell me the color, and it’s yours."
I laugh nervously. "You’re crazy."
"I am," he says, his voice low, almost serious. "Crazy about you."
My breath catches in my throat. I wasn’t expecting that.
But before I can say anything, he adds, "I’m serious, Lucy. If you want it, I’ll get it for you."
I shake my head, a little stunned by the offer. "I can’t accept that, Liam."
He laughs softly, clearly not bothered by my refusal. "I’m not asking for anything in return. I just want you to have what you want."
I stare at him, speechless. He’s crazy. But there’s something about the way he says it, so casually, so sincerely, that makes my heart race in ways I can’t explain.
We drive in comfortable silence for a while, and before long, Liam pulls up to a small, local seafood spot. "Here we are," he says, turning off the engine.
I glance at the cozy restaurant, feeling the warmth of the moment. "This place looks perfect."
Liam smiles at me, his eyes soft. "I thought you’d like it."
And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
***
The moment we step into the small, cozy restaurant, I’m struck by the intimate ambiance. The dim lighting casts a warm glow over the tables, each one secluded enough to make it feel like it’s just you and the person you’re with.
There’s something peaceful about it, something… soft, unlike the bustling, noisy places I’m used to.
Liam’s hand gently presses at my lower back as the host leads us to our table, and I can’t help but feel the weight of his attention on me. The way he moves around me, always just a little closer, making sure I’m comfortable, it’s almost too much.
When we get to the table, Liam pulls out my chair, his movements fluid and careful, as though he’s afraid of doing something wrong. I sit, watching him as he positions himself across from me, and I can’t ignore how much effort he’s putting into making this night perfect.
He takes his seat, but not before looking at me, his eyes softening just a bit. “Are you okay?”
I nod, forcing a smile. “I’m great, Liam. Thanks for bringing me here. It’s beautiful.”
He smiles, leaning back a little in his chair, clearly pleased. “I’m glad you like it.”
The waiter arrives almost immediately, placing two glasses of wine in front of us, his hands steady as he serves us both with practiced precision.
I pick up my glass, trying to steady the nervous flutter in my stomach. I don’t know if it’s the wine or just the overwhelming sense of being with Liam in this quiet, intimate space, but my heart races.
We both sip the wine, and for a while, it’s just the sound of the gentle clink of glasses and soft laughter from nearby tables.
Liam watches me, his gaze focused, and there’s something about the way he’s looking at me that makes me squirm. It’s like he sees right through me, like he knows all my secrets. Like he knows what I’m hiding — the part of me that’s terrified of letting him in.
I don’t want to be the person who leads him on. I don’t want to be the one who gives him false hope. But every time I look at him, I want to stay. I want to let him in.
He’s so kind, so thoughtful, and I’m just… me.
I take another sip of my wine, trying to hide the turmoil brewing inside.
Liam leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, his eyes never leaving mine. “Tell me something about you, Lucy,” he says, his voice low and warm. “Something I don’t know.”
I blink, taken off guard by the question. My mind races as I try to find something interesting to say.
The truth is, I haven’t shared much with him. I’ve been careful, avoiding anything too personal, anything that might give away the parts of me that I’m trying to hide. The parts that would make him pull away, the parts that are too broken to be seen.
I try to smile, trying to keep it light. “Well, I used to be obsessed with reading when I was a kid. I’d spend hours at the library, just getting lost in books.”
He nods, genuinely interested. “What kind of books?”
“Mostly fiction. Anything with adventure or mystery. I loved getting lost in other worlds. It made everything feel a little more… manageable.” I pause, realizing I’ve said more than I meant to.
But Liam doesn’t push. He just smiles, nodding, letting the silence linger comfortably.
I feel my shoulders relax a little. This is easy. Talking to him is easy.
For a few minutes, we fall into a comfortable rhythm, talking about random things — childhood memories, favorite movies, and what we think about the world. The conversation flows, and I find myself laughing more than I have in a long time.
But even as I’m smiling, even as I’m starting to feel at ease, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m on the edge of something I’m not ready for.
Every time he looks at me, it feels like he’s looking straight through me. I can feel him noticing the little things — the way I laugh, the way I tilt my head when I listen. He’s taking note of everything.
And I’m not sure if I can keep pretending that I’m not feeling what I’m feeling.
“Do you ever think about the future?” he asks suddenly, his voice breaking into my thoughts.
I freeze, my fork halfway to my mouth. The question hits me like a ton of bricks, and I can feel my chest tighten as I try to answer.
“I… I don’t know,” I say carefully, my voice softer than usual. “I’ve never really been one to think too far ahead. I’ve always just taken things one step at a time.”
Liam watches me, his eyes soft, but there’s a flicker of something there an intensity that makes my heart race. “That must have been interesting,”
I nod slowly, my gaze dropping to my plate. The weight of his words feels heavier than I expected.
“I’ve never been great at planning for the future,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I’ve never been sure where I’m going.”
He reaches across the table, his hand resting just near mine, his fingers brushing against the back of my hand. It’s gentle, the lightest touch, but it sends a shock of heat through me.
“Maybe that’s okay,” he says softly. “Maybe you don’t have to have it all figured out.”
The words sink in, and I can’t help but feel a surge of gratitude for the comfort he’s offering. But at the same time, it only makes the distance I’ve been keeping between us feel more real.
“Maybe,” I say quietly.
We eat in silence for a while, the quiet intimacy between us palpable, but then Liam does something that shifts everything. He picks up an oyster from his plate and holds it up to me, his eyes glinting with playful intent.
I glance at him, surprised. “What are you doing?”
He grins. “Just trust me.”
Before I can protest, he places the oyster against my lips, and I feel a sudden rush of heat flood my face.
I open my mouth slightly, and he gently feeds me the oyster, his eyes never leaving mine.
The sensation is unexpected — the salty, briny taste of the oyster mingling with the warmth of his gaze. It’s intimate, and it’s unexpected, and it’s just too much.
My breath catches in my throat, and I can’t stop the blush that spreads across my face.
Liam smiles, his voice low and teasing. “How’s that? Wasn’t so bad, right?”
I’m speechless for a moment, trying to recover from the overwhelming sensation of him looking at me like that, touching me like that.
“Not bad,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckles, clearly pleased. But there’s something more in his eyes now — a deeper intensity that makes my heart race even faster.
The night goes on, but everything between us shifts, and I know it’s happening — the distance between us is closing.
But then, just as I’m starting to let myself relax, Liam asks the question that makes everything freeze.
"Lucy," he says quietly, his voice low and serious. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
The words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I freeze, unsure of what to say, unsure of what to feel.
I thought I had prepared myself for this, but I hadn’t.
I open my mouth, but the words don’t come.
Liam doesn’t push, though. He just watches me carefully, his voice soft when he speaks again. “You don’t have to answer right now. I just… I like you, Lucy. A lot. And I want to spend more time with you.”
I feel my heart skip a beat. The tension in my chest is suffocating, and all I want to do is tell him the truth. That I can’t be with him. That this isn’t real.
But instead, I sit there, silent.
Before I can say anything, the waiter arrives with the final course — a dessert of chocolate mousse. The interruption is a relief, but it doesn’t erase the tension between us.
We finish our meal in silence, and I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. The joy of the evening is gone, replaced by a heavy uncertainty that I can’t shake.