CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE #2
“I don’t get why you like him so much. Prince Eric, I get.
Prince Phillip? Great choice. But him? The guy most likely had a foot fetish and could have done something else besides sending his guards to try a glass shoe on every woman in the kingdom.
” I giggle, and he nuzzles my neck, muttering, “Yeah, not really at the top of my prince list.”
“I love the fact that you have a prince list.”
He raises his head, his lips tickling my ear. “Well, I had to research my competition. Make sure I was better.” I roll my eyes, and he gives me a kiss on the side of my neck.
“You never had any competition.”
“Neither have you,” he retorts, and I smile at him.
He starts to rub my cheekbone, bending down to rub his nose against mine in the most adoring gesture.
He pulls back and my eyebrows furrow. “You’re the most gorgeous woman I know, inside and out,” he mumbles dreamily, and I roll my eyes, returning my focus to the movie.
Every time I’m with Liam, I’m at peace with the now.
The future is tomorrow’s gamble, and I know I’m safe in his arms.
I eventually feel bad as I subjected him to his usual torture, so we watch one of his favorite action movies. He digs his hand into the cheesy popcorn as I trace the tattoos on his neck. I look over and see another beautiful set of tulips over his pulse point, and I have the most brilliant idea.
“Liam?”
He stops the movie, turning to give me his full attention. “Yes, Freckles?” A blush warms my cheeks, but I shake my head, trying not to be distracted.
“I wanna ask something, and if you don’t want to, you can say n—”
He puts a finger over my lips. “Just ask, love.”
“I wanted to ask if I could color in your tattoos.” I take a deep breath as he raises a questioning eyebrow. “I thought the work you have done is beautiful, but it’s all black outlines, and I don’t know . . .”
He smiles. “Color them how?”
I shrug before I think. “With markers?” Something crosses his face before he looks at me, giving me the gentlest smile.
“Go get ’em, love.” I squeal in excitement, and he lets out a deep chuckle as I get my washable markers.
Grabbing my desk chair, I put it next to the bed, but Liam has other plans.
He lifts me easily as if I weigh no more than a feather and sets me on his lap.
He takes off his shirt and kisses the tip of my nose.
“Color away, Freckles.” I giggle again and start on the ones on his neck while he presses play on his movie.
He doesn’t move a single inch while I shift around trying to find which ones to continue with.
His skin ripples under my touch, a couple of goose bumps arise, and I give him a raised eyebrow.
“It’s cold,” he mumbles shyly, and I laugh as he shakes his head. I swipe the light purple over one of the tulips, and his hand comes to rest around my waist as his thumb rubs comforting circles. I eventually get down to his arms, and my eyes home in on one I didn’t even notice he had.
Senora Bearington in all her blank ink-traced glory.
A smile starts on his face, but he continues to watch the movie, pretending he doesn’t know what I found.
I start to color her, the red bow on her ear, her pink little nose, and her dark brown fur.
Satisfied with my handiwork, I get off him slowly and run over to my closet to grab her.
Her fur and precious stitching are my favorite things. I walk to find Liam, looking right at me, and his eyes soften that much more when he sees the teddy bear. I smile as I sit back in my spot in his lap, and he pauses the movie as he glances down.
“You kept her all this time?” he asks.
“I needed something to remember you by,” I respond.
A hint of sadness creeps through before he shakes his head, looking back down.
“I remember that day, ten years ago. I came home, angry at myself when we played hospital and I accidentally cut a hole in her. I needed to do something to fix her for you.” I listen intently to the story.
“Mom asked why I was frustrated and crying, and I explained the situation, and that’s how I learned stitch lettering.
” A small smile graces his face. “You know I still have mine too. Senor Bearington has been missing the love of his life for a while now.”
I giggle. “We have to get them together again.”
He smiles, and I look at my guy with color bursting from his skin. I then look down at Senora Bearington. Even as my best friend, he was always the sweetest boy ever. I trace over the stitching, the wobbly letters of a trying ten-year-old showing.
“Besides the star plush from Dad, it’s the most important thing I own,” I continue. There’s a somber smile from him as he rubs his thumb over my cheekbone. A delicate hue is already starting on my skin under his attention.
“I never knew your dad, but I’ve always known that he would be so, so proud of you.” He drops his hand, interlaces our fingers, and brings my hand up to kiss it. “I know I am.” Tears well in my eyes, but I blink them away as he gives me a sweet smile.
“Honey.”
I groan at someone shaking me, and I push another pillow over my head, though that gets ripped away.
Huffing, a headache starts forming at how fast I get up, and blink to see Mom.
She’s giving me a confused look, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
I tilt my head slightly, scrunching my eyebrows at the warm arm slung across my waist, and I shut my eyes in panic.
She asks, “Something you wanna tell me?” I look down at Liam, who’s sleeping peacefully, as I try to find a way to explain this away.
“Well . . .” I trail off.
She chuckles. The front door slams and her head snaps toward the hallway.
A look of unease comes over her face. “I’m okay with it.
Let’s not tell Josh yet, though.” I sigh, Liam snuggling into me more, a sound of adoration coming from him.
Mom smiles down at us as she heads to leave.
I lie back down, hugging him, feeling safe in his arms.
I wake up at the feeling of little shapes being drawn on my skin, warmth enveloping me.
“Freckles. Wake up, love.” Peeking with one eye open, Liam’s looking at me adoringly, a small smile making its way onto his face, and slowly, one comes on mine.
He runs his fingers through damp hair to get it out of his face.
“Good morning, Cinderella,” he whispers teasingly, and my goodness, it’s true what they say about guys in the morning.
Their voice is truly that deep.
“Hi, Prince Charming.” He groans, rolling his eyes, wrapping his arms around me. Sighing contentedly, I play with the little bits of hair at the nape of his neck, puffs of his breath causing my skin to litter with goose bumps. “I wish I could stay here every day.”
I pull back, and he’s wearing his signature pout. “My mom knows, meaning it won’t be long before she lets it slip to Ana, so you need to get going.”
He nods as he gets up, stretches, and I stay down, looking at him.
His back muscles flex, the tattoos moving back and forth, and my mouth waters at the sight.
I gawk shamelessly as I trace over each one with my eyes.
He then leans back on one elbow, turning around to look at me, a smirk tugging on his lips.
“What are you looking at, you little perv?” he jokes, and I giggle at that. He leans in, and we’re close to touching lips when his phone rings. Ana’s picture appears on the screen.
Pulling back, he reaches and mutes the ringtone and I make my way to stand.
“What do you say about coming over tonight? I can pick you up at nine,” he suggests, sitting to make himself be somewhat at eye level with me. I smile as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Aren’t you sick of me?” He looks at me as if I’ve offended him. He circles his arms around my waist, molding me to his body.
“I’ll never be sick of you, sweetheart,” he says. I rub my nose against his. “So, is that a yes to coming over?”
“That’s a yes.” A chuckle escapes him as he gives me a chaste kiss in return. We stay there for a bit, and I run my hands over his neck and shoulders, my fingers skimming little red dots. “These weren’t here yesterday.” I observe them more intently.
He winces, stopping my hands, and a sheepish smile forms on his face.
“I, uh, this is gonna sound dumb.” I raise an eyebrow as a blush of embarrassment starts on his face.
“My skin’s very sensitive, which is why only certain ink can go on it.
” He doesn’t say the rest, merely alluding to it, and I gasp.
“Liam! Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shakes his head, shrugging. “They don’t hurt, they’re a little itchy, but that’s it.
They’ll go away after I put something on them.
” A frown comes on my face and he sighs.
“You were so excited, so that’s why I didn’t say anything.
” He cups my face. “I would put up with anything to see you smile.”
My heart stutters at this stupid, adorable man who is all mine. I move to kiss him, his phone ringing once again, and I know Ana must be worried out of her mind.
“You need to go.” Grabbing his stuff, he holds it in one hand, his fingers lacing with mine in the other.
We walk to his car without a word, and he unlocks it before placing his bag in the trunk.
I turn around to face him and he seems lost in thought.
The ground suddenly seems a lot more interesting. “Liam?”
He raises his head and sighs again, making me more confused. “Is it stupid to say I’ll miss you even though I’m seeing you later?” he asks, the red reaching all the way to the tips of his ears. A choked laugh escapes me as I shake my head.
“Not at all. I’ll miss you too.” He pulls me into his embrace as my arms loop around his neck. After a bit, we pull back only a few inches, our faces still incredibly close together.
“Since the night at the shelter, multiple scenarios have gone through my head of how I was gonna do this. I know I’ve said this before, but I can’t help myself.
Never in my entire life have I ever only wanted to be your best friend.
” My eyes widen, and he grabs both of my hands, interlacing our fingers.
He smiles at me. “The day when I learned what a girlfriend is, you’ve been that in every single one of my thoughts.
” He blows out a breath. “Now, I know it’s gonna be interesting to explain this to my parents and yours.
And Josh not liking me is definitely a setback, but I have faith in us.
This”—he signals between us—“is real. We’re not only best friends, we’re so much more.
There’s no one else for me, like I hope there’s no one else for you,” he finishes, and then kisses me, sealing his words, my heart soaring.
We kiss desperately, and he pulls back, laughing breathlessly as he plants his forehead against mine.
“As much as I want this to keep going, my mother is gonna kill me if I don’t get home soon.
” I nod at that, and he pushes a strand of hair behind my ear, whispering, “Perfect,” and my heart explodes in fireworks.
“Wear something a little fancy because I have a surprise later tonight.” If he keeps this up, I’m going to pass out.
He smiles, kissing me once more. He then places a finger under my chin, his pearly whites making their grand entrance.
“I love you,” he whispers, giving me a final kiss.
He walks away as I gasp at the confession.
He gets in his car as I basically stand there, shaking my head, unsure if this is all real.
He drives off, not before sending me a kiss with a flirty wink, and I walk back as I think about tonight, delicious nerves tickling me.
Once at the front door, I hear hushed voices, so I hurriedly push my way inside.
“Are you serious, Kate? That family . . . that boy . . . You accept that?” My heart stutters at the icy chill in Josh’s voice, and a sniffle rings out.
“Josh, they’re close friends.”
He scoffs. “Because I allow it. Besides, you don’t know that.
I mean, because of him, she already added another piece of filth to her body.
Another damned tattoo.” I stop at that as I listen behind the wall.
“Oh, and William stopped by the office to apologize for the other night. That family is a bunch of hypocrites. You can tell they aren’t as refined as us.
I’m telling you, darling, we need to cut them out. ”
My heart drops at the venom spouting from Josh’s mouth, and I peek to see Mom visibly stressed. “Josh . . .” She reaches out to grab his arm.
“If you’re gonna defend them”—she whimpers as his hand wraps around her wrist—“don’t.” He lets go harshly as she looks at him, bewildered, and he stomps off. She breathes, gasping every once in a while, when I creep up to her, hugging her from behind.
“Oh—hi, honey.” A smile is plastered on her face as she wipes her eyes, her hands subtly rubbing the skin around her wrist. I look down, barely seeing the imprints of Josh’s fingers, but she pulls it back before I can get a better look.
“I’m fine. Look, Ana called asking if Liam was here, but I couldn’t confirm. ”
I close my eyes at that. “Yeah, he left to go back home.” She nods, and I can’t help but look at her, worried. “Mom, are you—”
She steps back. “Will Liam be coming over later today too?” Her posture is closed off; she’s backing away.
“Um—I’m actually going to his place later today.”
She smooths down her dress, nodding over and over. “Good, good. That’s better, given that Josh is . . . you know.” I dip my head in agreement as she smiles. She then puts her hands on my shoulders. “I love you, Bianca.”
She walks off before I can say a word, but I still mumble a soft, “I love you, Mom.” Though, she’s too far away to hear it.