Chapter 20
TWENTY
RUBY
Stepping out of the bakery, I hold my breath as I look around the parking area, but I don’t see him there. I am disappointed at the fact that he isn’t waiting for me again. I know that I shouldn’t be. He has a life, and I’m not the center of it, but I really want to be.
Slowly and sadly, I make my way toward my car, sink down into the driver’s seat, and head toward home. I don’t know why I’m so disappointed. I shouldn’t be, but I am. After the best night and morning of my life, he hasn’t called… or texted.
I really hope it wasn’t a one-night thing. I’ve never had a one-night stand before, and I’m not sure how I would feel about it if that’s what it was. Mainly because I didn’t think that’s what it was. I thought it was the start of something.
Pulling into my parking spot, I shift the car into park, but I don’t immediately turn the car off.
Instead, I stare out the front of my windshield and allow my thoughts to consume me.
I shouldn’t. What I should be doing is avoiding overthinking at all costs, but I can’t, because it’s happening without me even trying.
I shake my head, trying to clear the negative thoughts. Turning the car off, I open the door and unfold from the seat. Closing the door behind me, I touch the lock button on the fob before heading upstairs.
One step, then another, the sadness consuming me as I get closer to my apartment door. When I walk inside, he won’t be there. I can’t believe I’m so sad about it.
One night—that’s all it was, but I wanted so much more—I wanted every single night from now until eternity, and I am fully aware of how ridiculous that is. We don’t even know one another.
“I thought you were never coming home,” a deep voice rumbles from a few feet away.
My head lifts, and my eyes fly upward to meet his. There, standing in front of me, right beside my door, is him. It’s Liam. He’s wearing a pair of athletic shorts, a tight T-shirt, slides, and holding two bags of what I assume is takeout.
He’s here.
I open my mouth to ask him why he’s here, but he doesn’t give me the chance. Instead, he takes a step toward me, dipping his chin. His lips touch mine, his tongue sweeping through my mouth, tasting me before he straightens. His gaze searches my own, a smile playing on his lips.
“Liam,” I exhale.
He gives me a wink. “Come on, let’s get some food. I didn’t know what you’d want, but I figured you didn’t want to go out again. I can’t cook for shit, but I do know how to order.”
Liam holds up the bags and shakes them slightly. My lips curve up into a smile at the sight of him standing in front of my door. I can’t believe that this is real. Whatever doubts I had, they’re gone for now.
He’s here.
Liam takes the keys from me and slides one into the lock, turning it before he pushes the door open. “Food first, Ruby.”
“First?” I ask.
“First,” he says with a hum, the corner of his lips twitching. Then he shifts his face closer to mine again. His lips brush against my own, but he doesn’t deepen the kiss. “Then dessert second.”