Chapter 57
LIAM
Iwoke up the next morning with London’s blonde hair sprawled all over my chest and one arm, her breathing deep. Her ear was pressed to my heart and I couldn’t help my smile.
Half-asleep and after another awesome night with her, I turned my head to hers and pressed a kiss on her sweet-scented hair. I closed my eyes once more. As I did though, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again.
Unfortunately, I’d suddenly realized that this awesome, peaceful, post-coital bubble I was in was going to pop as soon as she woke up. As conscious thought came pouring in, I became painfully aware that this was London Walker in my arms.
There was a huge chance that she would open her eyes and immediately start trying to slow things down again. She was probably going to insist that we put a stop to the benefits—again—and then she was going to spend the rest of the day roasting me no matter what I said or did.
My heart clenched in my chest, every thud somehow sore as it landed against my ribs. Every day with her until we sorted this out was going to be a battle and I was willing to fight it, but I certainly wasn’t looking forward to picking up arms again.
The only consolation was that I’d started putting my feelings out there. Last night around the fire and later in the creek, I’d shared just enough to let her know that I didn’t see her as just a friend anymore, but I’d stopped short of freaking her out by laying it all on the line.
And it had worked.
To a certain extent, anyway.
In the past, if I’d said stuff like that, London would’ve run like a bat out of hell—which also happened to be exactly where she would’ve sent me.
She hadn’t done that last night, though.
Quite the contrary, she’d followed me to the creek and then she’d let me lead her home.
She’d willingly brought me into her bedroom and she’d brought me closer, letting me in instead of shoving me out.
That was progress.
Not much but I’d take it. With a girl like her, that had been a leap even though some would see it as a baby step.
For a short moment, I wondered if I should get up, sneak to my room, get showered, dressed, and meet her downstairs with everyone else. I knew it would be better. Especially if it meant she wouldn’t get to open her eyes and immediately start telling me off.
Problem was, I couldn’t bring myself to move. So I just lay there, holding her and watching birds swoop through the bright blue sky outside. It was only when she started stirring that I finally let go of her, hunted down all my clothes, and hastily pulled them on before I left the room.
Abigail and Liv’s voice drifted up from the kitchen, but there was no sign of any masculine voices, which meant Charlie and his brothers were still out doing chores.
That was good. I’d been wondering if they’d be back yet, because if they had been, they were sure to give me shit about not having been in my own bed when they’d come to wake me up to join them.
Quietly padding down the hall, I opened my door and slipped into the bedroom I always stayed in when I slept over here, heading straight toward the attached restroom.
I stripped out of my wrinkled, slightly damp clothes and turned on the shower, stepping into it as soon as the water started warming up.
Charlie wouldn’t ask any questions in front of London, but I knew that he knew where I would’ve been if I wasn’t in here, which I obviously hadn’t been. Which meant that now, another person knew our secret.
I didn’t mind. Plus, I was pretty sure London would’ve told her sisters by now anyhow, and Liv would’ve told Charlie at some point if she hadn’t already. All of which simply meant that we would now have more people to answer to if this ended.
I blew out a heavy breath and squeezed way too much shower gel into my hands, running them over my head to wash my hair with it as well. Today, I couldn’t be bothered too much. As long as I got cleaned up, I was happy. I was just way too distracted by all things London to care about the rest.
We were heading back to Miami later on this morning.
It was time for us to get back to work and to get working with our team on those client projects we had coming up.
I couldn’t afford to get hung up on anything personal, but I already knew I wouldn’t be able to think straight until I knew where her head was at this morning.
Will she regret last night? Will she ignore that it even happened? Would that have been the real last time?
I groaned and shook my head, sending suds of shower gel flying against the cubicle before I stepped back under the spray and rinsed off.
How the hell has humanity survived this long if this is what it’s like to fall in love?
How does that part of the population who are in love ever get anything done? This is going to kill me.
Feeling a little bit like a lamb going to the slaughter, I climbed out and dried off, drifting back into my bedroom and grabbing a pair of clean jeans out of my bag.
Thankfully, I hadn’t gotten around to unpacking a lot of stuff yesterday.
All it took to be ready to leave was to grab my toiletries and stuff my dirty clothes back in.
With that done, I finally headed downstairs, surprised to see London already there.
Her hair was loose and messy, coral pajamas covering all the important bits where she sat at the kitchen table.
Knees drawn up her chest, she was sipping coffee and chatting to Liv and Abi, but she looked grumpy as hell.
“Good morning, creature,” I said as I strode in, doing my best not to let my voice betray the rock of apprehension in my gut. “What crawled up your behind to put a look like that on your face? The day just started.”
“We’re leaving today.” She pouted at me. “Why did we only come for the weekend? We should’ve made it a week.”
“Plus, she got too little sleep the last couple days.” Olivia’s eyes slid to mine, a knowing shimmer in them that told me she had a few ideas about who had kept London up last night. “You might have to go easy on her today.”
“I never take the first shot.” I winked at her just as London started grumbling, a deep frown on her forehead as her head shook.
“That’s so not true,” she said, gaze following me as I walked to the coffee pot and poured myself a cup. “You literally just walked in and called me creature. I didn’t say a word to deserve that, which means that you’ve already taken the first shot, asshole.”
“Wow. Did your horoscope say ‘sass with a side of violence’ today?” I asked.
She scoffed. “Nope. It said, ‘beware of cocky men who think they’re charming.’”
“Well, that’s too bad. Who else is going to carry your eighty-three pound suitcase, Princess Chaos? Speaking of which, have you even started packing?” I turned my wrist and took a good, unnecessarily long look at my watch before I smirked at her. “We need to leave in approximately two hours.”
London’s lips curved into a smirk of her own, her voice syrupy sweet but laced with venom. “I would rather drag that suitcase behind me all the way back to Miami before I owe you anything.”
“Noted. I’ll add that to the growing list of things you say but don’t mean.” I smiled. “Anything else?”
She rolled her eyes before she brought her coffee to her lips, but didn’t take another sip just yet. “God, you’re exhausting.”
“In more ways than one, sweetheart.” I tossed her a wink as I left the room with my coffee in hand, knowing I’d just given us away to Abi and Liv if she hadn’t told them yet, but with her mood already being as bad as it was, it had been a risk worth taking.
As I left the house and headed for the egg chair on the front porch, I made sure to shut the door a little louder than I had to behind me.
I wanted them to know without any doubt that I was gone.
I would have given my left nut to be a fly on the wall but I was going to have to trust the elder two Walker girls.
If London was on a ledge this morning in addition to being tired and sad about her time with them coming to an end, they would talk her off it.
Or at least, that was the gamble I was taking.
London not only adored her sisters, but she respected them.
She took to heart what they said and thought and she trusted them infinitely.
Now I just had to hope they would go to bat for me. Come on, ladies. You know how I feel about her. I know you do. Just be honest and let her know it’s okay if she feels the same way.
I sipped my coffee on the porch, taking the few shots from the boys I’d known would be coming when they got back from chores.
While London showered and got ready, I helped the Andersons make breakfast, and by the time we had to leave, I’d already said goodbye.
It felt like saying goodbye to my own family—if I actually cared about everyone in it.
On our flight back, we silently engaged in all our rituals, and while London didn’t say much, at least that also meant she didn’t say anything about breaking off our arrangement.
“Straight to the office?” I asked as we climbed into my truck at the airport. “Or would you like to go home first?”
“Straight to the office.” She slid her sunglasses over her eyes and leaned back against the seat, her head turned toward the window. “We have a full afternoon ahead of us. I want to get things in order for the week and check on all the client profiles. Texas was fun, but it’s back to reality now.”
“Yeah, it really was a blast,” I agreed. “I’m happy to be back to our new home too, though. It’s cool being here, carving out our own path and getting to do our own thing.”
What my sister had said about my dad was still hovering at the back of my mind, though. I hadn’t spoken to him while I’d been there after all, but for now, I was at peace with that decision.