Pieces Of You & Me

by Pamela Ann

  I smiled, sliding my hand over the leather handle. “It’s fine.” Super fine. I could get spoiled from all of this, but I wouldn’t let that happen.

  “That’s great.” He looked over the street, checking the stop light that was still red. “One more thing, try not to flirt with guys around me. I might not be able to hold back.”

  Was he for real? I didn’t flirt. “I’ll try.”

  He scowled.

  “Very hard,” I added on, smiling some more. Who knew that Greyson Edwards was a bit of a territorial man? I liked this side of him. It made me feel… something.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Liv.”

  Who said anything about fucking? “In case you forgot, Greyson, we haven’t done any fucking yet.” I winked at him, glancing at the now green light. “See you in a little bit.” I gave him a quick wave before I sped off ahead of him.

  Bantering with him was fun. The only un-fun part was that we had to tiptoe around our parents. He would only be able to come to me at night, waking me up, or perhaps sometimes I’d wait up for him. Our nightly kisses were something I looked forward to.

  Jet was throwing a party on Saturday and I couldn’t wait to have some alone time with him. Even though we had spent the night kissing in my room, I hated the feeling of sneaking around.

  I was hoping he’d take me back to that plateau, up in the mountains again.

  Yes, Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter 19

  Liv

  I wasn’t an aspiring photographer or anything, but over the years, I enjoyed taking peculiar pictures. I then developed them and stuffed them in a box. At times, I looked over them and imagined what their life story might be.

  Smiling, I thought about all the candid photos I had taken half an hour earlier. I’d just come back from a walk, taking pictures of the farmer’s market, when my mom called me. I was only a few steps away from the driveway when I picked up the phone.

  “Hey, Mom! Are we still up for lunch at the Corner Bakery?” I greeted her as I held my camera that was wrapped around my neck before I inserted my hand in my pocket to fish out my keys to the house.

  “Uh, sure, but honey, are you on your way home?” She sounded strained, breathless even.

  Mighty weird.

  “I’m outside. I just need to wash my face and freshen up then we can go for lunch,” I rushed out, knowing how my mother hated it when I lagged at getting ready.

  She cleared her throat. “No, I need to see you right away. We’re in the living room. See you in a bit.” She then hung up on me before I had a chance to say anything else.

  Besides, who was “we”? Mom and I did lunch dates, but did that mean Brett was going to join us now, too, since they were together? God, I hoped not. I barely got to see her anymore and sharing my time with her was difficult enough. I didn’t want to deal with Brett and pretend that I wasn’t kissing his son when they weren’t watching.

  What we were doing was sneaky, however I had never had such fun in my life.

  Grey’s kisses were… well, I looked forward to them, each and every day. His usual aggressiveness had toned down more than a notch, and I appreciated that greatly. My toes tingled at the thought of kissing him again later tonight.

  “Liv?” Mom called out the moment I shut the door.

  Why was she in a hurry? I groaned. I was all sticky from my two-mile walk.

  “Coming,” I called out, rushing towards the living room. I was pushing my damp hair behind my ear when I entered the area and stopped in my tracks, shocked.

  Fuck.

  Shit. On. Me.

  “Liam!” I whispered. What the fuck was he doing here? Didn’t he have classes? Fuck my life.

  His gorgeous face lit up and his ice blue eyes snapped back at me before he rushed towards me, hugging me hard as he picked me up from the floor, stealing the breath out of my body.

  Once he placed me back on earth, I stared shockingly at him, speechless.

  “You still look beautiful surprised.” He grinned, looking hot and sexy with a short-sleeved polo, shorts and navy boat shoes on. “Your mom and I were just talking about you.”

  I gulped. Was Grey home? God, I hoped not.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were visiting?” I breathed out as sweat broke out through my pores. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” Yeah, panic didn’t look good on me.

  “If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?” He gave me his dashing smile, but this time, it didn’t reach his eyes. He was studying me and I knew he was aware of what was going through my head.

  Mom stood up, making me glance at her. “Liv, I asked Liam if he wanted to join us for lunch, but he asked me as a favor if he could take you out instead. I guess we’ll join you two for dinner. I’ll let Brett and Greyson know so they can come and join as well.” She strolled over to us, kissing me on the cheek before she gave Liam a big, welcoming hug. “It was great to have finally met you. I sort of lost my daughter to you all summer long, but I can see why she was so consumed with you.” She winked at me. “I’ll see you two kiddos later.” With that, Mom walked straight to her bedroom that she shared with Brett, leaving Liam and I alone.

  Why did Mom leave in such a hurry? I needed a few minutes to think this through. I just hoped that Liam wasn’t going to grill me for questions. Not yet. I needed to strategize.

  Though, seeing him in the flesh after a month apart… all of our memories in Sydney and the reasons why I had fallen for him in the first place came rushing back. This man was the guy I had vowed to keep… and hopefully to marry someday.

  “Hi,” I croaked out, shifting on my feet.

  “Hello,” he mused. “Hungry?”

  No, I wasn’t; not anymore. My stomach was filled with dread and those damn butterflies. What a damn combination. It made me want to vomit.

  I nodded. “Sure.” Why wasn’t I jumping all over him, kissing him like I usually did back in Australia? I was sure he noticed that, too. After all, it had been only a month.

  We walked towards the main door after he told me he’d rented out a car. I remembered not seeing any new vehicles on the driveway.

  “I parked across the street.” Liam pointed out as we got out of the house. His hand lightly guided me towards the rented, white SUV. Apart from the light touch, he didn’t touch me again after the huge hug he gave me earlier. This thought made me nervous.

  What did this unexpected surprise mean? Was he going to cut all ties with me? What if he planned to continue going steady and really push for a long distance relationship? Would I be ready for that? All these questions kept swirling through my head to the point that I was dizzy with them when we reached The Corner Bakery.

  Navigation was an amazing thing; I didn’t have to tell him anything. He figured it all out all on his own. I was sure Mom had told him the address. She was helpful like that.

  Not once did Mom make my life hell when it came to dating guys. She was the kind of parent where I could call at three in the morning, crying my eyes out because a guy dumped me for not wanting to have sex with them. She’d go wherever I was, give me a loving hug, a warm cocoa and let me vent until I was all out of tears.

  She was the best and for her to give me her thumbs up with Liam, it made it all the more official that I could move in with him once I got back to Sydney. She and Dad had discussed it. As long as I was being responsible and always promised to be happy, they would both support me all the way.

  Yes, I had the best parents in the world and I loved them to the moon and back.

  It wasn’t until we were seated and finished ordering before Liam looked me straight in the eye with both hands on the table. Clearing his throat, he asked me what I had been dreading this whole time. “Should I be worried about that text message you sent me, Olivia?”

  Pressing my lips together, I thought about his question for a quick flash before I nodded my response. “I didn’t mean for you to worry. I’m sure it’ll go away…” Wil
l it? Grey had been in my thoughts… even now, when I was facing the guy I planned to spend the rest of my life with. He simply littered my brain and it was the most confusing thing; to be here with Liam and still think about the guy who had my body thrumming like a slut. I hated that word, but fuck, I sure was becoming like one when it came to Greyson.

  Liam pondered my answer before he leaned back against his chair and stared at me like he was trying to read my mind. For a full minute he stared before saying, “Worried…” He murmured the word. “Your eyes don’t look excited to see me… you think I’m not worried? Fuck, yeah, I’m more than worried now.”

  He saw too much in me, I didn’t like that. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. It’s nothing serious.” The hurtful look on his face struck me deep in my core. “God—” I gulped. “I’m so sorry.”

  This had been his idea, to see other people. Saying sorry wasn’t part of the deal, but I found myself saying it anyways, which in turn made him scowl. I wasn’t dampening any suspicions he had on me.

  The attraction with Greyson was all physical. It didn’t mean that I wanted to throw away the life I had pictured and thought out for myself. I still aimed to follow that path. He was just the guy that was too hot to resist in school, nothing more. It didn’t mean anything, I was sure of that.

  Yeah, Grey didn’t mean anything to me, I repeated in my head. Nothing. He was just a sexy guy I made out with whenever I got a chance, that was all.

  Hesitantly looking over at Liam, I licked my lips before I tried to reach out for his hand, grazing it with a shaky finger, staring at them with an ache in my heart. “I love you, nothing will ever change that.” I did. I really did.

  “Who is he?” he asked, sounding wretched.

  How did I answer this without giving too much away? I didn’t want to get in trouble with my mom. I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet anyway. “He’s a guy from school…” Amongst other things.

  “You’re not falling for him, are you?”

  My eyes bulged out, shocked at his assumption. “What!” I shrieked. “Of course not!” I said, gripping his hands with my own. “You’re the only one. Don’t even go there, Liam. It’s not like that. He means nothing to me. This is just a phase, so please, don’t over-think everything.” He was definitely overthinking too much. His questions were giving me into an immediate panic attack. In love? With Greyson? Was he fucking crazy? Hell no I wasn’t.

  His cool blue eyes studied me again, holding me entranced. “How sure are you?”

  Liam was all I had ever wanted in a man, and I had him here with me… “One hundred percent. That woman you were dating—”

  He cut me off. “Bled my ears dry from her stories.” He gave my hands a squeeze. Hard. Powerful. “I came here to ask and hope that things haven’t progressed as far as I feared… if I lose you…”

  God, I had been thinking the worst with that date he’d had before. Knowing that nothing happened made me somehow happy. As for Grey… “I’m still planning to move in with you in Sydney. My mind is set. I’m going to be with you soon.” I wanted a time warp, one where I could fast forward this phase and be with him already.

  “And the guy in the picture?” He frowned.

  I had to make a choice, and I was going to choose the right man for me, not the man for right now. “If it makes you happy, I’m going to stop things with him…” I could do it. There was nothing going on. Apart from kissing, nothing substantial had really happened.

  “It would do me the world,” he murmured, “but will it make you happy?” he emphasized. It was as if he was asking me if Greyson was important in my life.

  Cutting Grey off… “I’m going to talk to him about it…” I trailed off, knowing how pissed Grey would be, but then again, that was expected. Besides, didn’t he miss his girlfriends?

  What makes you think that he isn’t with them now? My thoughts provoked, making me scowl.

  He nodded, his lips breaking into a big smile. “Thank you. You don’t know how often I was pissed at myself for suggesting that we try seeing other people while we were away from each other.”

  Dumbest idea of the century, I wanted to blurt out, however I gave him a tight smile instead.

  Seeing how he was now, I felt bad for sending him that text message, yet at the same time, I knew I had to tell him that I was getting infatuated with someone.

  After we finished our meal, I checked my messages. I had one from Josie, asking what time we’d meet for Jet’s party. Shit, that was tonight! “You’re staying for how long?” I lightly asked, sipping my scalding brewed coffee with caution.

  “I leave tomorrow. Sorry I couldn’t stay long, but I have school and I just needed to see you and make sure everything was okay.”

  Seeing him now, everything came into perspective. “I could ask Brett and Mom if you could stay with us,” I offered, knowing that this wouldn’t be a problem. Mom trusted me greatly and I was sure Brett wouldn’t mind letting him stay for one night.

  Liam shook his head, smiling. “Nah, I checked into a hotel nearby. I wanted some alone time with you, if you’d allow it.”

  Man, was he quick. Then again, this was Liam. He never did give up on me. “I’d love that.” First, though, I had to text Grey. Warn him. Something.

  ***

  We had just gotten inside his hotel room when I excused myself to the bathroom. I needed a moment to breathe as well as to send Josie and Grey messages.

  I stared at myself in the mirror, noting how flushed I looked. The bathroom was big, designed with romance in mind. Liam had thought of everything. He was going to woo me back into his arms. He felt threatened and I couldn’t blame him. Days had passed when I’d barely thought of him. It was the polar opposite to how I had been before; when I’d thought of him every second of the day. However, when Grey entered the picture, the guy consumed me, hijacked my mind and body to the point that they only responded to him.

  Pulling my phone out, I pressed my lips together, hoping that this wouldn’t cause any problems in the future. We did live in the same household and I still hoped that this would be kept between the two of us.

  Me: Liam’s here and we had a talk. I have to end this thing with you. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you face to face. I hope you understand.

  Sent.

  My message was straightforward and on point. Sighing, I typed another one for Josie.

  Me: Hey Jo, Liam is here. I’ll meet you there. Sorry we can’t go shopping today. I’ll make it up to you soon. Love ya!

  With Liam here, the last thing I needed to see were the people from school, but I promised Josie that I would be there with her, amongst our peers. She wanted to meet a new guy tonight and if I backed out now, I wouldn’t forgive myself. She had always been there for me and she needed me tonight. With or without Liam, I was going to be her friend first.

  My phone beeped. Glancing at it, I saw that Greyson had sent his reply.

  Grey: On my way home. I need to see you.

  Shit. No. I groaned. I had been hoping that he’d be easy to put down. Not a chance by the looks of it.

  Me: I’m not home. I’m with him in his hotel room.

  Was that rude? Then again, I needed to be upfront about things. Besides, we didn’t have anything to talk about. It wasn’t like we were really serious about each other. Right?

  Grey: Which hotel? I’m coming to get you.

  OMG. Was he crazy? Liam would cause an uproar.

  Me: It’s over. I’m sorry.

  One minute passed and there was still no reply. After it hit the three-minute mark, I resigned myself to thinking that he’d accepted my apology.

  Chapter 20

  Liv

  “Olivia?” Liam lightly tapped on the door. “Is everything okay in there?”

  “Yes, I’ll be out in a minute,” I called out, almost out of breath.

  I was still in the bathroom, seeking solace and some much needed space. Grey hadn’t responded and I was relieved that he hadn’t pursued
it any further, but at the same time, I felt bereft. It was as though I had lost something significant.

  One week—seven days—and I felt attached to him. Some way, some how, he’d got into me.

  Last night… I remembered how sweet and accommodating he was. How hungered his kisses had been. Even in school, the way he looked at me showed his evident hunger. I hadn’t seen any of the usual women who hung onto him, Edith and Tiffany most especially.

  Every single day, he kept to his promise, not pushing me. Even though at times he looked like he could combust from the sexual tension, he still managed to stop at the last minute. He never pushed. He never pestered me about going all the way with him. So far, heavy petting and kissing had satisfied his hunger, and boy was he hungry last night.

  Touching my bruised lips from last night’s Grey onslaught, I closed my eyes and tried to part from his memories.

  No more Greyson Edwards, I silently lipped over and over again.

  Once I knew I was ready to face Liam, I took a deep breath and practiced an easy smile in the mirror. “Be happy,” I whispered to myself.

  Exiting the bathroom door, I casually strode into the bedroom, peeking at the man who was lounging in bed with his shoes on, deep in thought.

  “Hi,” I blurted out.

  He looked straight at me with an unreadable expression. What was he thinking? He looked too serious.

  “Can I join you?” I squeaked, wanting to move forward. Memories of me jumping in bed, cuddling and spending our afternoons daydreaming about our future assailed me.

  This was Liam. My Liam.

  He lightly tapped the other side of the bed in invitation. Slowly, I moved towards him, feeling the heavy weight of his stare. I felt prickly, and in a limbo. Taking my shoes off, I tried to avoid his gaze as I placed my things on the black lacquered side table before cautiously getting on the king sized bed.

  Before my head managed to hit the pillow, his strong arms scooped me up, making me curl against his body. For a moment, we were lost in thought. If I closed my eyes, I knew I would be back with him in Sydney. Just like old times.