27. Alex
27
ALEX
S tepping into Bianca's apartment, I can't help but wonder what this meeting's about. Liam, James, and I shuffle into the living room, the tension so thick you could slice it with a knife.
"Take a seat," Bianca says, her voice steady. She remains standing, looking at each of us with an intensity that makes me sit up straighter.
Liam leans back, crossing his arms. "Alright, Bia. What's this all about?"
She takes a deep breath, eyes locked on the floor for a moment before meeting our gazes. "I need to tell you something important. The day my mom saw us together... it didn't end there."
James raises an eyebrow but stays silent. His usual cool demeanor is replaced with something closer to curiosity.
Bianca continues, "I went to her after you guys broke up with me." She pauses, swallowing hard. "She told me if I stayed with you, I wouldn't be welcome home."
A low whistle escapes my lips before I can stop it. "That's harsh."
Liam shifts in his seat. "And?"
"And I love you," she says, the words rushing out like she’s been holding them back for years. "All of you. It wasn't just some fling back then or now. It was real for me."
The room falls into a heavy silence, broken only by the distant hum of city traffic outside. James clears his throat, breaking the tension.
"So, you're saying you chose us over your family?"
Bianca nods, her braids swaying with the motion. "Yeah. I did."
Liam leans forward, elbows on his knees, eyes searching hers. "Why now? Why tell us this now?"
She takes another deep breath, her gaze unwavering. "Because losing you once was hard enough. I can't go through that again without at least trying to explain."
"I had a revelation today," Bianca continues, her voice steady but her eyes full of fire. "I realized I didn't fight hard enough for you guys. I let my fear and my mom's disapproval control me."
I exchange glances with Liam and James. We're all thinking the same thing: where the hell is she going with this? The same confusion and curiosity is reflected in their eyes. It's not like Bianca to get this serious out of nowhere. Usually, she's the one keeping us on our toes, not dropping emotional bombs.
She takes a step closer, her eyes locking onto each of us in turn, the intensity radiating off her. "I'm not accepting the breakup. I just won't. In my mind, we aren't broken up at all."
James raises an eyebrow and leans back in his chair, clearly intrigued but skeptical. "And how do you figure that?" His tone is challenging, but there's a hint of curiosity there too, like he’s almost daring her to explain.
"Because," she says, her voice gaining strength, "I love you all too much to let go without a fight this time. You mean more to me than anything, and I won't let history repeat itself."
Liam sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Bia, it's not that simple."
"Yes, it is," she insists. "You broke up with me because you think I'll leave again. But I know a way to prove to you that I won't."
The room goes silent as we wait for her to continue. My heart pounds in my chest; I'm torn between wanting to believe her and protecting myself from another heartbreak.
"And what exactly is your plan?" James asks, his tone skeptical but curious.
Bianca squares her shoulders, determination etched in every line of her face. "We're all flying to my family's Christmas celebration next week."
Liam's eyes widen, his posture stiffening. "What?"
"Yes," she continues, unwavering. "We're going to debut our relationship. If it's a bloodbath, I'll never go back home. We can return to San Diego and start our lives together. But if it works and they accept me—accept us—then great."
James leans forward, scrutinizing her. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious." She looks at each of us, challenging us to object. "I want to be with you, and nothing will stop that."
I glance at Liam, who looks like he’s trying to process this bombshell. "Bia, this is... a lot," he says finally.
"No kidding," I add, scratching my head. "But you’re really willing to risk everything? Your family might never talk to you again."
She nods without hesitation. "Yes. I can’t keep living a lie or hiding from what I want."
James's lips curl into a smirk. "You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that."
"That's not all she's got," I mutter under my breath, earning a sharp look from Liam.
Bianca steps closer to us, eyes blazing with conviction. "I need you all to know I'm in this for real. I’m not running this time."
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Bianca's standing there, eyes blazing with determination, and all I can think about is how much I've missed her. But this isn't just about me; it's about all of us.
"Bianca," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, "can you give us a moment alone? We need to discuss this."
She nods, her gaze lingering on each of us before she heads out of the room. The door clicks shut behind her, and the tension ratchets up a notch.
I turn to Liam and James. "Alright, what do you guys think?"
Liam leans forward, elbows on his knees. "Honestly? I think she's serious. Look at her—she’s ready to risk everything for us."
James crosses his arms, his face unreadable. "It's a big gamble, man. If we do this and she bails again, we're back to square one."
I nod, understanding their hesitation but feeling the need to push forward. "Yeah, but clearly she’s different now. She’s willing to stand up to her family for us."
Liam looks between James and me. "I'm in," he says firmly. "I want to give her one last chance. We owe it to ourselves, and Bianca, to see if this can work."
James sighs, rubbing his temples like he’s trying to stave off a headache. "You’re both sure about this, because we can’t keep flip flopping on her like this."
"Positive," Liam replies without missing a beat.
James lets out a long breath before nodding slowly. "Alright, let's do it then."
Liam’s determination solidifies my own resolve. Seeing him so on board with Bianca’s proposal makes it easier to confirm my decision. Maybe this could work after all. I turn towards the door, and it clicks open before I can call Bianca back in. She steps inside, a smirk playing on her lips.
"You know," she says, folding her arms across her chest, "I could hear everything."
We all exchange looks, and then burst out laughing. The tension that’s been weighing us down finally breaks.
"Of course you were listening," Liam says, shaking his head with a grin. "Nosy as ever."
"Hey, it's my life we’re discussing," she retorts. "I have a right to eavesdrop."
James chuckles. "Fair point."
I stand up and walk over to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. "Alright, Bia. We’ve talked it over, and we’re in. We’ll go with you to your family's Christmas celebration."
Her eyes widen. "Really?"
Liam nods, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah. We want to see if you can truly handle it if your family doesn’t accept this."
James crosses his arms, his expression serious. "This isn't just about proving something to us, Bia. It’s about proving it to yourself too."
Bianca looks at each of us in turn, her eyes glistening with determination and something else—maybe relief. "Thank you," she says softly. "I know this isn't easy for any of us."
"It won’t be a walk in the park," I admit, squeezing her shoulders gently before letting go. "But we’ll face it together."
Liam stands up and walks over to join us. "If your family can't accept this relationship," he says firmly, "then maybe they aren’t worth the stress you’ve been putting yourself through all these years."
Bianca nods slowly, as if absorbing the weight of his words.
James steps closer too, his gaze never leaving hers. "But you need to be sure this isn’t a dealbreaker for you like it was in the past. Because once we’re in this together again, there’s no going back."
She takes a deep breath, her eyes steady and determined as they meet each of ours in turn. "I’m sure," she says with conviction, her voice steady.
"Alright then," Liam says, flashing that confident grin. "Let’s make some holiday magic happen."
I can’t help but laugh, as a surge of excitement and relief fills me. "Yeah, let’s show them what we’re made of," I add, my voice brimming with confidence. "Together, we’ve got this."
James turns to me and Liam. “Guess we better get ready for some family drama then.”
“Wouldn’t be our lives without it,” I chuckle.
Liam's eyes narrow slightly as he looks at Bianca. "Just remember, Bia—this is your shot to prove you won't run again."
“I won’t,” she promises, her voice firm.
James uncrosses his arms and sighs heavily. "Alright then, let's do this."
Bianca's smile grows wider as she looks at each of us in turn. "Thank you," she says softly.
Liam grins and winks at her. "You owe us one hell of a Christmas gift."
Her laugh is music to my ears as the tension starts to dissolve from the room.
“Alright,” I say, standing up and stretching my arms above my head. “Let’s get out of here and grab some food. We’ve got a lot to plan.”
As we leave the apartment together, a sense of optimism fills the air around us—like maybe this time things really could be different.