13. Liam
13
LIAM
The greasy spoon diner buzzes with chatter that I assume must be its usual background noise. There’s a group of construction workers huddled in the corner, and they’re boisterously going about their dinner with loud talks and laughter.
The noise goes perfectly, along with the sounds of clattering cutlery and burgers sizzling on the grill. I take a large bite of my cheeseburger, the familiar salty tang definitely not agreeing with the nervous anticipation bubbling in my stomach.
I drop it back onto my plate.
The diner's warm, ambient noise is good for me. I look around at my own table, which is surrounded by some of the hospital staff on my team today. It’s been a heavy-duty day, and I brought them all here to appreciate their tenacity at work today.
Or that’s the excuse I made for needing the distraction. I almost freaked out when my shift ended earlier today and I realized I would no longer have work to occupy my mind, so I announced a sudden night out to appreciate my team.
The smell of fried food and the chatter of colleagues usually make for a pleasant evening, but tonight, my mind is elsewhere. I poke at my food, barely listening to the conversations around me.
My phone buzzes on the table, and I grab it hurriedly, almost knocking over my drink in the process. I almost pump my fist in the air when I see the name flashing on the screen: Emma. A grin stretches wide across my face as I unlock the phone. I drag in a breath to control the surge of excitement in my belly as I quickly open the message.
| Hey, I have a favor to ask. Tomorrow, can you come with me to look at some wedding venues?
Yes! My inner-self definitely does a fist pump this time. Outside, I let a broad smile spread across my face. My fingers hover over the keyboard, several responses already warring in my mind. Before I can type, Grace, one of the nurses sitting beside me, leans over with a knowing smile.
“Looks like the message you’ve been waiting for finally arrived.” A wink follows her playful chirp.
I frown, quickly tucking the phone back into my pocket. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to play it cool.
She laughs, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Come on, Dr. Miller. You've been a million miles away ever since we walked in here. We’ve all noticed you constantly checking your phone. It’s obvious something’s up.”
Shit! I glance around to see the half-dozen pairs of eyes watching me, their expressions filled with amusement.
Grace continues, “We figured you invited us all to dinner to get your mind off something. Or someone.”
Caught so openly, I feel my cheeks heat up. I shrug, attempting nonchalance. “Alright, you got me. Let’s just say I’ve been waiting for some news.”
Grace’s grin widens. “And now that you’ve got it, can we get back to enjoying our evening?”
I laugh, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Absolutely. Everyone,” I manage a smile, “dig in. Go ahead and enjoy this evening. Don't mind me.”
A little chatter and laughter goes up around the table as we all cheer and clink glasses, and the attention shifts back to food and drinks. I turn back to my phone, focusing on Emma’s message. I start to type a response, but I edit my words several times, not wanting to sound too eager. Eventually, I settle on a simple reply.
| Sure, what time?
Her response comes quickly.
| How about 10:00 AM? I’ll pick you up.
I grin and type back.
| Sounds good. See you then.
I place my phone down and turn to the group. “Another round of drinks on me!” This time, the cheers are louder, and for the first time since this morning, I feel genuinely excited. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.
As I watch the staff around me, laughing and enjoying their evening, my mind drifts back to Emma. It must have been obvious that I’d been staring at my phone all day, fighting the urge to call her. It’s frustrating how much she’s on my mind, and I can’t deny how badly I want to be with her. Every time I think of her, my body reacts instantly, a wave of heat rushing through me. I’ve never felt like this before. It’s why I usually stick to one-night stands, keeping things simple and uncomplicated.
But Emma… She’s different. Last night in the car was unexpected, wild, and mind-blowing. It was…intense…in a way I’ve never felt before. The sex was an unexpected explosion of raw desire, a hunger in her mating that both surprised and thrilled me. I should have known better than to underestimate Emma Cole. She clearly has a whole other side to her, a hidden fire beneath that seemingly composed exterior. I just didn’t think she had that much in her, but she keeps surprising me. I know I need to be careful, to stick to the rules I’ve made, but it’s getting harder every day.
My thoughts are consumed with her—where she is, what she’s doing, what she’s wearing. If that stray curl is escaping her ponytail or if she’s thinking of me as she dresses up and sees herself in the mirror.
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of laughter and conversation. I join in, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Emma. When the dinner finally winds down, we all say our goodbyes, and I head home, my anticipation for tomorrow building with every step.
The streetlights cast an orange glow as I pull out of the diner parking lot, the engine humming a familiar tune. Despite the late hour, the city hums with a low-key energy, and the night sky stretches endlessly above, dotted with stars.
As I navigate the quiet streets, my thoughts drift to Emma. I stare down at my phone, my mind returning to my texts. I wonder if she's still awake, if she's thinking about me.
My fingers itch to type another message. Or should I just call her?
Now that the idea is in my head, the urge to call and hear her voice grows stronger with each passing moment.
I argue with myself, trying to justify it. Technically, it wouldn't be overarching or breaking any of our unwritten and unspoken rules—she texted first, after all. It's a flimsy justification, but I want to tell myself I can call her.
It's not being clingy if she reached out first, right?
Before I can second-guess myself any further, I grab my phone and hit her contact. The phone barely rings once before she answers, as if she’s been holding her phone and waiting for the call. She couldn’t have been, could she?
“Hey,” she greets, her voice soft, warm, and inviting.
“Hey, Emma. How’s your night going?”
“Quiet,” she replies. “Ethan's asleep, and Damon just headed to bed as well. I was just thinking about tomorrow.”
I smile, her words making me feel more connected to her. “Tomorrow should be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.”
“Me too. You at home, too?”
“Uh, no.” I chuckle. “I took the staff to dinner tonight. A little party to appreciate their effort since I arrived”
“Oh.” I can picture her nodding slowly. “How was the party?”
I shrug, thinking back to the evening. “It was good. The staff enjoyed themselves, especially after I offered to buy more drinks.”
She laughs. The sound sends a sudden warm thrill through me that makes me grip the steering wheel tighter.
“Always the generous one. Hope you got to enjoy the money you spent as well?”
“Not really,” I admit. “I kept checking my phone, waiting for your text.”
Her laughter softens into a teasing tone. “Sounds like someone really missed me.”
I grin, deciding not to bother hiding it. “Guilty as charged. So, what did you do tonight?”
“Babysat Ethan, mostly. He's a handful, but in a good way. We watched some of his favorite shows. He missed Damon and June a lot. I’m guessing the exoticness of meeting his runaway aunt in person is starting to wear off.”
“I can imagine.” I laugh, picturing the little guy with his big, curious eyes. “I think he’s just anxious, though. A lot of things that he doesn’t fully understand are happening, and not seeing his dad all day, he must just miss him.”
“Missed him a lot. He practically tackled Damon when he walked through the door.”
We both laugh, sharing a comfortable silence afterward. I pull into my driveway, the familiar sight of my house greeting me. But instead of going inside, I stay in the car, wanting to keep talking to her.
“You’re in bed, I guess?” I ask, breaking the silence.
“In bed, yes,” she replies in a soft whisper. “Thinking of you.”
My heart skips a beat. “I've thought about you most of the day.”
“That's good,” she says, a hint of mischief in her voice. “Keep that thought.”
“I will,” I promise.
A long pause settles between us as I search for what to say. Nothing comes, just my pounding heart and excitement about what tomorrow may bring.
“Goodnight, Emma.”
“Goodnight, Liam.”
The call ends, but I sit in my car for a moment longer, a smile playing on my lips. Finally, I step out and head inside, the night air cool against my skin.
Inside, the house is quiet. Dad is clearly already asleep. I head to my bedroom, my mind still on Emma. Our conversation replays in my head, each laugh and teasing remark making me feel closer to her. I lie down on my bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling excited.
I wake up to a bright day, sunlight streaming through the curtains. I check the time: 9:00 AM. I didn’t get much sleep last night, my thoughts consumed by Emma. Every time I closed my eyes, images of her flooded my mind, making sleep impossible.
I throw off the covers and head straight to the bathroom. The cold water from the shower wakes me up completely, washing away the remnants of a restless night. I get dressed quickly, choosing a casual outfit that’s comfortable but still looks good. Today is about more than just seeing wedding venues. It’s another chance to spend time with Emma.
Descending the stairs, I’m greeted by the smell of breakfast. I find my dad in the kitchen, flipping pancakes on the griddle. He turns when he hears me enter, raising an eyebrow at my appearance.
“Why are you dressed like you’re heading out? You don’t have to be at the hospital for another two hours,” he says, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
I mumble a response, not really wanting to get into it. “Just meeting someone.”
He chuckles, clearly seeing through my vague answer. “Someone named Emma, perhaps?”
I grab a pancake off the stack on the counter, munching on it as I try to avoid his knowing gaze. “Maybe,” I admit, between bites.
“Ah, young love,” my dad teases. “Why don’t you just tell me you’re seeing her? It’s written all over your face.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Can you cover my shift this morning?”
He leans against the counter, crossing his arms. “I’ll cover every shift you want if you can promise me a wedding by the end of the year.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t get your hopes up, Dad.”
He shrugs, a glint of optimism in his eyes. “I’m positive. I know what I see.”
Still shaking my head, I grab another pancake and head toward the door. “I’ll see you later.”
“Have fun, Liam. And say hi to Emma for me!” he calls after me.
Outside, the air is crisp and fresh. I breathe it in, feeling a rush of excitement. Despite my dad’s hopeful teasing, I know myself too well. This thing with Emma, it’s intense and consuming, but it’s also fleeting. Once the passion abates, I’ll be ready to move on. At least, that’s one thing I can promise myself.
As I walk toward the road, my mind drifts back to the moments we’ve shared. Her laughter, her smile, the way she looked at me that night… It all feels so vivid, so real. I can’t deny the pull I feel toward her, but I also can’t ignore the part of me that fears getting too close, too attached.
When I arrive by the roadside, she’s already waiting outside, standing beside her truck, looking radiant in the morning light. Her arms are crossed over her chest, pushing up those full breasts.
She’s mad. I check my wristwatch: 10:04. Ah! That’s why. I jog across the road with a smile on my face as I approach her.