What Are We? (Dreams You’ve Never Dreamed Before)
It Isn’t Meant to Be You Make My Dreams - Tim Halprin
The limo was warm, the windows were starting to fog slightly. The icy chill of the East Coast weather was something Sophia wasn’t accustomed to. Her nose and ears stung, a faint red, from being exposed while dashing past paparazzi in a hurry to leave the theatre. There was a faint hum of a country tune floating through air as if settling the bright flashing lights of New York City. She shivered, the cold wasn’t shaking off.
“Hey,” Liam’s voice echoed through the well insulated car. “Come here,” he gestured for her to move towards him. His suit still crisp, his shirt still blinding white and as she scooted toward him the sequins of her dress scratched her bare skin. Red carpet events were far from comfortable, and far from the pajamas she yearned to be tucked in bed with.
Liam pulled his coat off and wrapped her narrow shoulders with the thin fabric before putting his arm around her and pulling her close. The music was more distinguishable from this spot. The intonation of the singer's voice flowing easily unlike the jerking movements of the limo. She let her eyes wander up to Liam’s eyes.
“When do we get to go to bed?” His question held sarcasm and disdain, but his eyes exuded sympathy. She knew as well as he they were off to a required appearance at a network party.
“You haven’t been up for over 24 hours,” Sophia teased harmlessly. Her flight from home had taken off at midnight the night before, she’d spent the plane ride doing homework. When she’d landed there had been a shuttle waiting to deposit her right into the chair of the make-up and hair department. After wrapping for the day there had been yet another shuttle, that ride had ended at the base of a private jet waiting to take the cast to New York City. After landing there had been another hour ride, during which there had been yet another session of hair and makeup. Finally they had ended up at the Theatre. The rest of the cast had jetted out as soon as the awards had wrapped, but Sophia and Liam had caught the eye of the most talkative director around leaving them to get caught in the mess of paparazzi that had found the back door. It had been a long 24 hours.
She expected him to banter back, but instead he looked down and met her gaze. With a sigh he admitted, “I could never do what you do.”
The statement hung in the air as they both let the night sink in. There wasn’t a response, she couldn’t do what she did. Yet here they were.
“Do you ever think about,” he broke the sentence, before carefully gathering his thoughts. He gazed out the window as he found his words, “This time last year you weren’t even acting, were you?”
They both knew the answer, once again. She didn’t want to think about that. It was something that hung over her like a cloud, it wasn’t bad. But it made her feel undeserving, she shifted as her thoughts made her uncomfortable.
Liam seemed to sense the wave of unease he’d invited into the small space. He tightened his right arm around her and rested his head on hers. It was a small gesture, but their relationship was a grey area that he had no concept of. It had started so flirty, but had become a strong friendship. The air humid with tension, they could feel each other’s hearts beat.
His head was angled over hers just so, he followed the strands of her hair with his eyes. The soft golden waves that cascaded effortlessly. It was natural, he knew because he’d sat there on the bus and watched it dry after the shower she’d taken before they left set. There had been no brushing or curling or applying whatever mess of products the other girls had polluted the bus with. With his left hand he brushed the hair back behind her ear, he moved one of the small hoops she had on.
“Your earrings are so worn,” he mused as he rubbed the tarnished silver. It was such a contrast to the bright sparkle of her dress and the pure spotless white of her shoes, he was surprised.
Sophia’s low chuckle in reaction to his revelation carried in a break between the songs of the limo’s stereo system, “I forgot to put on the earrings my stylist packed.” She inadvertently brought her right hand up to her earlobe where he was still fondling the cheap metal aimlessly. Their hands met, he grasped her fingers with his.
The car was stopped in traffic. Sophia held her breath and closed her eyes. She knew they walked a fine line, or really she knew she walked a fine line. They were friends, very good friends, close friends. Friends. But that first moment he’d offered to kiss her. The times he’d grabbed her hand and dragged her along the red carpet. All the times he would wrap his arms around her and kiss the top of her head before she’d fly back home. It was a tightrope.
Liam tangled their fingers, letting his hand find a way into hers. He felt like he was playing with fire, the electricity escalating where their skin touched. Every movement was slow, steady, unwavering. Their hands rested on her torso, intertwined. Her skin was so soft, her breathing so gentle, her perfume so subtly sweet.
The limo coasted forward again, the lights from the store fronts flickering warmly in whimsical patterns around the black interior. His heartbeat was steady in her ear, she let it guide her breathing. The scent of aftershave seemed to envelope her. The lining of his coat was silky against the goosebumps emerging on her arms. Suddenly she was so warm; his arms secure around her, the weight of his head on hers. Her exhaustion, apprehension, anxiety, it had all faded. She was so safe right here.
Time seemed impossible, the start and stop of the limo so repetitive it was a rhythm. The music still drifting through the speakers softly.
A sudden swerve jerked both of their bodies, Liam tightened his hold on her not willing to let the moment pass just yet. When the vehicle steadied he relaxed, letting his head fall back against the headrest.
Sophia took this opportunity to turn, wanting to see the strong line of his jaw and the soft flush of his cheeks. As soon as she lifted her chin their eyes locked. She could feel the caress of his gaze, hanging onto every second he could have her in his arms.
Liam could watch city lights dancing in her bright eyes endlessly. He wanted this feeling, of complete and utter serenity, to be forever. His eyes betrayed him though, they followed the delicate lines of her face to her pursed lips. It wasn’t a conscious decision, there was something far beyond his will, that brought his lips to hers.
It was so gentle, just a brush. Sophia felt every inch of her body light up. Tilting her head, she relinquished any reason, meeting his lips again.
This time it was a real kiss. The world fading away, as every touch and caress easily shattered the fine line they’d tried so hard to hold steady.
They broke away slowly, gently. Sophia let her head fall back to his chest. Liam brought his free hand up to stroke her hair.
Sophia’s mind wanted so badly to race so fast, but she focused on everywhere her body was connected to his. She didn’t want to think about it.
Liam knew this wasn’t as easy as a kiss and a ride in a limo, but right now it was. Right now it was enough.
The limo cruised along gently, the music had turned off at some point and the sounds of the city filtered through. Only moments had passed when the vehicle made a quick sweep right and firm stop. Flashing lights blared through the fogged windows, and with a start Sophia shoved herself up from her position against Liam. As if timed the door was flung open, the driver holding the door. Their security team hovered around the opening, bracing themselves for the twenty foot walk from the limo to the door.
Sophia took one last glance over her shoulder, her eyes met Liam’s. There was a dart of disappointment and then, with a blink his eyes lowered in surrender. She felt her face fall, her bottom lip quivered as she resisted every desire to sink back in next to him. With a deep breath she took the outstretched hand of the driver and plastered a smile on her face.
Liam watched as she moved through the spotlights of the camera flashes. He knew he was to wait until the security returned to the car before he got out, but he couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to. It was only moments ago he had held her, he had kissed her, she had been his. His eyes never left her, even as figures moved in to surround her when she moved farther and farther away from the car. When she reached the door she turned around.
Sophia felt the clamour of bodies and lights around her, but she didn’t see it. She was still in the limo in his arms, she could barely make out the vehicle through the hoard of people. As she yearned to push past everyone and return to safety, a thought whipped through her. She blinked back tears. The security guards were trying to push her into the building, but she held her ground.
“It isn’t meant to be,” she whispered inaudibly. She knew the people around her couldn’t hear, but she hoped the boy in the limo wasn’t listening to her or to reason.
What Do You Want Me to Say?
“Soph?” Liam’s breathless voice filtered through the speaker of her phone sitting on her bed in front of her. The soft light of her candles fluttering over the folds in the dusty rose bedspread. Sophia could hear people chatting in the background of his call, she’d figured as much. It was supposed to be his last day in the states before heading back to Australia for filming.
Sophia felt herself relax for the first time all week, her shoulders sinking into the pillow behind her, “a week next time?” She could almost hear his smile.
“It’s tomorrow night Liam,” her voice trembled as she fiddled with the edge of her sheets. She didn’t really know what she’d called him for. Her head seemed to be constantly careening with thoughts, none really coming full circle.
“I know,” she could hear a smile through his words. He seemed to stop shuffling before he answered, “just remember you don’t really need to win.”
Sophia rolled her eyes, but her heart calmed a bit. Listening to his voice, the gentle hum of her fan and the distant street noise that filled her room, it was easy to believe it from Liam. Everyone had been saying something along those lines all week. She didn’t really need to win, but in everyone’s minds she was supposed to. She was slated to. If she were to win, she would be making history by a long shot. Moreover, the people behind her - her label, the network, the production office, and all the investors - they would be part of that history. And no matter how many times they told her it didn’t matter if she won, they were at home crossing their fingers and toes.
“I wish you could come,” the words caught in the back of her throat as they registered, she had not meant to say that. “I-I, I…”
“Oh Soph,” Liam caught her before she could take it back. As the thought hung in both her minds, she knew why she’d called, it was for this. So she clenched the sheets in her fist, bracing herself for the let down. His voice didn’t tremble, but she could hear the strain even over the hustle and bustle behind him that hadn’t stopped when he had, “We talked about this, I told you if you wanted me there I would be there, but...”
Sophia thought about taking it back. It crossed her mind to tell him never mind, but the truth was she needed him and she didn’t have the capacity to lie right now. She let the pensive silence settle between them, hoping he would cave first.
“My flight leaves next week,” she could hear him grasping.
“Please,” her voice cracked beyond her control. The brave face that had been plastered so delicately for weeks on end was crumbling. She felt the tears pushing at the seams and she shut her eyes tight trying to keep them put. She inhaled deeply, the woody notes of her candles filling her nose.
Liam was getting wrung out to dry. Sitting outside a meeting for his press contracts, the sound of heated arguments or the receptionist’s permanently ringing phone couldn’t distract him from the desperation he could hear braided through her pleas. He’d seen Sophia in her crowning glory, winning a lot of the awards that were about to cumulate tomorrow. But he’d also seen her in those moments before winning, when it was so painfully obvious she would rather go home than have that failure documented for life. It wasn’t ever that she was ever desperate to win, quite the opposite. She’d told him many times she’d much prefer it if she weren’t even nominated. It was the pressure. The people around her would give her false assurances that they didn’t care about the result, only to come out minutes after a win on how they would have been devastated had she lost. He knew first hand how strong Sophia was, she’d stood up to many a scandal, but the people she surrounded herself with mattered to her. For them to be holding her up that high, that was when she would crack. And tomorrow, that would be the epitome of it all and all she was asking was for him to come stand by her side.
“Let me make a few calls,” Liam held a firm tone, he didn’t want to give her leeway. But if he was being honest with himself, there was no way he was going to deny her.
He heard a muffled sob through the phone, his heart clenching instantly. “I’ll call you back, Soph?” he looked back at the meeting. It was late, and to make this work he needed to figure out how to convince his entire team it would be alright to flip his very detailed schedule on its head as well as reschedule a 16 hour flight. It wasn’t going to be simple.
Sophia cradled the phone in both her hands as if she might break it and the chance of Liam’s attendance tomorrow. She took a deep breath before answering, “Liam.”
“Yeah Soph?”
She paused again before answering with a whimper caught in her throat, “I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” his voice held a sincerity that traveled through both their phones. With a lighter tone he kidded her, “Next time give me a little more notice though.”
Sophia felt herself relax for the first time all week, her shoulders sinking into the pillow behind her, “a week next time?” She could almost hear his smile.
“I’ll call you when I figure it out,” the phone line went dead with his simple promise that was actually quite complicated. A grin was spread across Sophia’s face though, as if all the pieces were finally falling into place. Maybe they were.
--
“Sit, Sophia!'' The demand came harsh, but Sophia brushed it off. Her restlessness was coming at a speed that was winding the entire room into a frenzy. A very unnecessary frenzy, as the hours were ticking very quickly by. She wasn’t trying to be a diva making the make artist and hairdresser jobs’ hell by fliting around the room like a hummingbird, but it was all getting a little too real. And Liam was due to arrive any minute.
Liam closed his eyes as the car pulled away from the airport. To change a flight to Australia the day before, while simultaneously notifying an entire franchise, had proven to be a task he had needed to climb mountains in order to achieve. But sitting here, deep in the soft worn leather of the seat, he was less than an hour from Sophia. It was a strange sense of relief that he always felt when she was within reach, as if his world was a circle that could only be closed when she was around. He let himself drift off as the car speeded towards her.
Sophia had finally managed to settle enough to sit, much to the whole team’s appreciation. She knew the looks she was getting from each of them, some daggers and others just genuine curiosity. It was so unlike her to be unprofessional in any way, but today was getting so far away from her she felt like she was chasing her tail to stay breathing. A knock on the door sent Sophia shooting up, her makeup artist only barely managing to pull the foundation brush away in time with a grimace.
Someone else had already pulled open the door by the time Sophia made it past the shoes and cases scattered across the large hotel room. Liam stood there in dark jeans and bright white hoodie, his hair lightly styled with that one strand that was always falling on his forehead. As she neared he smiled at her, a pleased look covering his face. That was all it took for Sophia to let herself collapse into his arms, letting him temporarily sedate the anxiety.
Liam pulled her deeply to him, feeling the electricity running through her. She was shaking and he just wanted to give her every reassurance he could manage. He buried his nose in her hair, the vanilla scents of her shampoo ever so familiar.
Only moments passed before Sophia’s manager snapped, “Ok, he’s here you can sit down now.” It only took a quick glance for Liam to see her impatient tone was met by the stressed gazes of the rest of the team. He pulled away from Sophia, glancing at his watch and then at her essentially bare face and half done hair.
“Soph, don’t you have only a few hours before the red carpet?” he gently pressed, hoping he could push this situation in the right direction.
The rest of the room stayed painfully quiet as Sophia smiled bashfully, making direct eye contact with him. She made her way dutifully back to her seat, the team of people crowding back around her.
Sophia could feel her energy change the minute Liam had pulled away. The nerves were still there, but she was settled. She allowed the butterflies to flutter in her stomach rather than fight them. His presence was enough.
Liam settled into the end of the couch, next to Sophia. Sophia chatted with her styling team as her manager spoke on the phone in the corner. Liam just watched as the transformation took place, the artists going to work on her already lovely face.
“Sorry, I’m late,” the door crashed open with a loud thud. In came a breathless Kaitlyn, carrying a tray of drinks. She placed them on the coffee table allowing everyone to grab there’s before glancing around the room.
“Hey Kaitlyn,” Liam stood up as her eyes panned to him.
“Liam,” Kaitlyn exclaimed and rushed over to hug him. “You made it,” her voice hit a high note that eluded to the relief the whole room was feeling at his arrival.
“I did,” Liam met Sophia’s side eye with a smirk as she stayed still for the make up artist.
Liam and Kaitlyn settled on the plush sofa next to each other. Kaitlyn picked up a speaker off the coffee table, connecting it to her phone to put on some music. Liam noticed her makeup and hair were already done, he glanced at his watch again as Kaitlyn entered him into conversation.
“So when did she ask you to come?” Kaitlyn’s teasing voice made it clear that although the question was directed at Liam she was calling Sophia out.
Sophia rolled her eyes as Liam answered simply, “Yesterday.”
“Sophia!” Kaitlyn practically shrieked in reply. The styling team also giving her strange looks.
Sophia just shrugged guiltily as she moved her eyes without moving her head, looking for assurance from Liam.
Before they could delve too deeply into the details of Sophia’s last minute plea her stylist, Ben, walked in. The whole room quieted besides the gentle twinkle of a guitar filtering through Kaitlyn’s speaker. A proud man, whom Sophia had built a strong friendship with, he was serious in his work. The whole team let him quietly scan the room. She watched in the mirror as he checked her outfit, hung in the corner of the room.
“Liam, I didn’t know you were attending tonight” Ben’s deep voice held a note of concern. “Should I have something for you to wear?”
Liam looked desperately at Sophia, Ben was traditionally his stylist as well. In the haste of moving flights and still trying to nail down contracts he hadn’t really spoken to Sophia about the details of tonight. She had wanted him here, but he was unsure what exactly that entailed. Did she expect him to sit with her, stay in the back, go to the parties? And in not really fully determining that he hadn’t really thought through needing an outfit.
Sophia smiled to herself at the two men’s confusion. She may have called Liam last minute, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t thought through how exactly it would work once he was here. “I brought the suit that he was supposed to wear at the gala last month,” she gestured toward a garment bag laid out on the bed. “We didn’t go and it was in my closet,” she continued nonchalantly as if the details of that story were unimportant when in fact almost everyone in the room gave her a curious look.
Liam audibly sighed in relief. Ben moved over to the bag and unzipped it.
“I figured it was alright since he won’t be walking the carpet,” Sophia reassured.
“Yes, this will do,” Ben nodded in satisfaction. Taking one last look around the room he moved toward Sophia. “You’re going to be gorgeous tonight, and that’s all that matters,” he leant in to hug her shoulders as both the make up artist and hair stylist moved away for a second. He smiled at her in the mirror, “congratulations my dear, you deserve it all.”
Sophia’s heart swelled with love as she squeezed his hand and smiled back into the mirror. With that he headed out. Ben had been with her from nearly the very beginning, he’d dressed her for every event you could name. She trusted him, and she was so grateful for his words.
—
“Are you ready to go?” Liam’s head whipped around at the sound of Sophia’s voice through the crowd. She was only steps away, but with the pod of people that seemed to be subtly trailing her it was hard to tell. The satin of her dress shone with the warm flickering lighting of the room.
Liam gave her definitive nod with a hand motion of five minutes, before turning back to his original conversation in order to bid farewells. It was Sophia’s night and he was only a passenger on whatever flight they were embarking on. While he wasn’t quite clear on all the details, he knew there were at least a handful of parties she needed to appear at. This was only the first.
Sophia watched him, his presence holding more value in the room than the money that was seemingly oozing out of the CEO’s and big wigs. She was used to all the fancy parties, but tonight she felt vulnerable. She felt undeserving in a way. There had been so much and so little at stake, yet she’d won it all. While not an unfamiliar feeling, it never became something she could grasp. Liam, with that strong unwavering stance was something palpable that she knew she could hold on to. She wanted to grab his hand and never let go.
She could feel the trail of people attempting to enter her into conversation. It wasn’t something she was willing to play into at the moment, she’d made her appearance and with at least two more parties queued up for the night she was saving her energy.
She folded herself into a corner of the room near the door, she was able to see if Liam was making his way towards her. Pulling out her phone she let the atmosphere around her fade away, allowing herself to enter the world of the screen. It was only when the weight of a hand on her shoulder caused her to look up did she even remember where she was.
“Congratulations are in order?” The sudden compliment ended in a polite question, Sophia cautiously moved her eyes across to the man beside her. He was dressed cleanly, in an expensive black suit that blended right into the rest of the crowd. His dark hair slicked back, not a stray wisp out of place. He was curiously comfortable, leaning himself against the wall as if they were deep in conversation and not just entering one.
Intrigued, Sophia slightly angled her body and met his gaze, reaching out her hand. She recognized him once she was actually facing him, Adam Holmes. He was quite a big name country artist, having won a handful of Grammys and enough CMAs. In fact she was surprised they hadn’t met prior, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, “Sophia, and you are?”
“Adam,” instead of shaking her hand he took it gently and kissed the back, “and you are the guest of honor.”
While she would have preferred a firm handshake, the lightness of his tone when addressing her was comforting. She just nodded, a bit bashfully, in response.
“Tell me,” Adam gestured subtly around the room as he spoke playfully, “is this really a celebration?”
Sophia found herself smirking and let her eyes slightly roll before answering, “it’s less about celebration, and more about how many people I can shake hands with in one night.” She let her eyes flit around the room before returning to make eye contact with his dark brooding gaze, “I’m their trophy, and they are the reason I get to do what I love.” Despite any discomfort or trepidation, she was eternally grateful and she wasn’t going to dismiss it.
“Only a true star knows her worth, but can state it humbly,” he smiled knowingly and responded with a tilt of his head.
Sophia couldn’t help but let her mouth rest in a gentle smile. He was charming her in a way that she didn’t mind, it was so easy and lighthearted. So different from Liam and their years of history, or the dozens of people who kept side eyeing her in attempts to rope her into their latest business venture. For some reason the light conversation put her at ease, he didn’t seem to want anything and that was perhaps the most comforting.
“So, your reason for attendance,” she questioned him, continuing their original line of thought, “we’ve obviously established this isn’t a party of pleasure.”
His whole chest moved when he chuffed approvingly in response to her, his deep voice carrying over the faint tones of pop music, “When you are releasing an album, you gotta do what you gotta do.” He motioned towards her, “You must know that.”
“Oh, do I,” giggling under her breath she could feel herself loosening up by the second. The painless interaction was so different from the forced congratulations and disconcerting comments about her peaking at such a young age. It was a breath of fresh air to have so little invested in a conversation, or even just an acquaintance.
They continued talking, in many ways the words they exchanged held meaningless chatter, but at the same time they were able to connect on the little things. The industry, the media, the music. Sophia forgot about the doubt careening around her head, or what the night was supposed to mean. She was so oblivious to the room that it was only when Liam was standing right in front of the two of them did she remember that she had been trying to escape this party.
“I’m so sorry Soph” Liam wasn’t breathless, but a bit frazzled. He hadn’t been able to extract himself from the conversation as easily as he’d hoped. Talks of his franchise contract ending apparently held much value to this label, but he was ready to get out of here. He stood right in front of her, not even seeing Adam.
“Liam this is Adam, Adam this is Liam” Sophia gestured back and forth with the hand not holding her phone.
Liam turned to look at the other man, Adam was a bit taller and broader than him. The presence of another male around Sophia always made him a bit jumpy, the confines of their relationship so undefined put him at a disadvantage and he could always feel it. This was no different, especially noting the confidence with which Adam was just easily leaned against the wall in a way that made it nearly impossible for anyone else to enter the conversation. It made Liam want to reach out and grab Sophia, leaving Adam behind alone with his drink. But he knew better, Sophia wasn’t his to drag around nor was she the sort of woman who would enjoy getting dragged around.
“You still ready to head out,” Liam played it off, allowing himself to relax. This was not a battle, he wasn’t desperate for her heart.
Sophia knew there was tension without even needing to glance between the two men. She knew Liam always held a certain possessiveness for her, in the most gentle and subtle way one could be possessive. It was in the way his accent would thicken and his breaths would deepen. She often wondered if he even realized it, as it had taken her a while to see it. Once she did she embraced it, in a world where everyone seemed out to get her at some point there was always Liam. At the moment she wasn’t interested in a boy brawl though, and while Adam’s company had been well enjoyed it didn’t tempt her enough to stay.
“Yes,” she gave Liam a gentle eye, pushing herself out of her corner. She turned to face Adam and extended the hand with her phone out to him, “why don’t you give me your number, perhaps next time I’m the trophy on the wall I can call on you to speak to me as a human.”
Adam laughed gruffly, while nodding and taking her phone. Liam watched the two, more curious than jealous now. It wasn’t often Sophia allowed anyone to touch her phone, let alone have access to it in any way. He wasn’t so much threatened as pleased that she had found some sort of relief in a night he knew was fraying her edges.
Sophia took the phone back from Adam when he finished entering his contact. She smiled at the two men, and in a moment of confidence reached her arms out to give Adam a gentle hug. He was taller than she expected and she lifted on her tiptoes to reach him. As they pulled apart he whispered, “We’ll talk soon.” She liked that easy promise.
Stepping back she looked over at Liam, “Shall we?”
Liam nodded at her, and in turn reached out to shake Adam’s hand, “nice to meet you.” The two met each other’s eyes for a split second, but almost as if she knew Sophia had already started to move off. Liam followed behind trying to furiously sort out what he’d just witnessed, and more over the emotions boiling. It wasn’t that he was upset or jealous, it was something deeper. A gratitude that Adam had obviously put her at ease, and a nagging feeling that he had lost some sort of control that he hadn’t even known he had.
He wanted so bad to grab her hand, to grasp at what was right in front of him. But as they were pushed past people, surrounded by security guards, and then greeted with the harsh flashes of cameras as soon as the first breeze of fresh air hit their faces; he knew better.
Sophia was lost in thought as they left, she didn’t even realize she’d made it past the paparazzi and into the limo. There was a flutter in her heart that she hadn’t felt in so long. She grasped her phone in her freezing hand, Adam’s number, a key she held to a new escape she didn’t know she was searching for. But whatever spark Adam had given her was overwhelmed with a strong sense of solace when the door closed behind Liam. She welcomed the personal space the limo gave her in contrast to the party. She was also eternally grateful for Liam’s company, knowing he was sitting only inches from her, ready to walk her through every party gave her the strength she needed to get through the night.
The two sat without a word as the limo pulled away from the flickering of flashes that filtered through the blacked out windows. There was a faint drift of music coming from the driver's cab. Deep in their own thoughts, they were both startled out of the revere when the driver pushed the divider aside.
“I just want to warn you two, we’ve got a long way across town” the driver didn’t even look back as he spoke, just gruffly watched the road.
“Thanks for letting us know,” Sophia tried to express her gratitude, but barely got the words out before the divider was firmly shut again. She didn’t know the driver, and he obviously was deep in his job so Sophia shivered and shifted into the seat. She very suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion hit her, realizing how tired she truly was. It had been a long week, with lots of nerves and little sleep. She let her head roll back onto the head rest and her eyes met Liam’s. Her lips curved upward teasingly. “I don’t think I’ve thanked you yet.”
“For what?” Liam was holding his distance, sitting only a few inches from her.
“For coming tonight,” she let her voice float through the still air of the limo.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Liam felt himself relax. It was the sigh in her voice. The way it trembled with gratefulness, it was the way he knew he was needed. He moved towards her, going to put his arm around her when he was taken aback by the contact with her chilly skin. “You’re freezing,” he exclaimed.
Rolling her eyes with a smirk Sophia replied, “apparently a coat was not part of this fashion statement.”
Liam pulled off his jacket and helped her as she pushed off the seat, wrapping it around her shoulders. When she settled back down he pulled her close to him.
Sophia shifted so she leaned against him, letting the weight of the night go. Her head was gently resting on his chest and she could feel his heart beat through his crisp shirt. It was all too familiar.
“Do you remember that night,” she almost instantly regretted her words as they escaped her mouth. Their history, especially those grey line moments were something they never spoke of. It was in the same realm of speaking of their relationship, a topic too fragile to touch.
Liam felt her entire body tense, and tightened his hold. He knew the unspoken rule as well as she did, but it didn’t scare him as much as it did her. “How could I not,” his voice held a smile as he gazed out the window across from them, aimlessly letting his hand move from her shoulder to stroke her hair.
Sophia’s tension eased when his heartbeat stayed steady, if speaking of it didn’t phase him why should it phase her? She evened her breath, letting his warmth seep through her.
Just as the driver had warned, the limo jerked from stop to stop with barely seconds of forward motion. Their two bodies relaxed into each other, their breaths synching into an easy rhythm. Sophia found herself pulling her head off his chest just to look into his eyes, searching for the gentle gaze that had so often made her feel at home. Impulsively she leaned in and met his lips with hers, reaching her arms up to tangle around his neck.
Liam didn’t hesitate, he’d seen the look in her eyes and met her with as much as she gave. He lifted her legs and moved her onto his lap, pulling her body to him before tangling his fingers in her hair. His jacket fell wayside, unneeded, as she sat across his lap.
Sophia pulled away first, not letting go of her loose grip around his neck. She let her forehead rest against his, their eyes locked. The gentle swaying of the limo, and the hum of the driver's music are the only pieces of the outside world invading their space. They didn’t move to lock lips again, instead just taking in each other with each matched breath. Her lipstick staining his lips, his loosely styled hair falling against her forehead.
“Do you know how badly I wanted to just ditch that party that night,” Sophia’s breath was warm against his face as she nearly whispered. “To just stay with you in that limo forever,” the nostalgia laced her trembling voice.
Liam felt goosebumps crawl up his arm, but it wasn’t because his jacket was on the seat next to them. He took a deep breath before answering.
“If it was as badly as I wanted,” the unfinished sentence led his heartbeat on it’s own journey, fluttering through the emotions he was trying to keep in wraps. “If it was as badly as I wanted,” he tried again, holding her patient gaze. It took a few more moments of their breaths mingling to get out his scrambled thoughts. “If it was as badly as I wanted, we never would have made it to the party.”
Sophia searched his eyes, feeling his hastened heartbeat. With his warmth surrounding her, only the satin of her dress and the folds of his trousers between them, she tightened her arms around his neck. She moved her mouth to his ear, gathering all her strength and whispered without a single doubt in her mind, “let’s not make it to any more parties tonight.”
Startled by her words, Liam pulled back a bit. Biting his lip he held her head so he could meet her eyes again. It wasn’t that he wasn’t fully invested in that idea, it was just, “Sophia, you can’t.”
Sophia gained confidence just seeing the fire building in his eyes. She grinned and raised her left eyebrow, “I just won everything, I think I can do what I want.”
Liam couldn’t help but chuckle, still a little doubtful, but fully embracing her determination. “I know, but I think there are a couple hundred people at a few more parties that are expecting you,” he wasn’t going to let this go easily. It wasn’t a simple want.
Sophia took a deep breath and touched her forehead back to his. She wasn’t going to flounder this time, she had everything she needed in this limo. She’d won the awards, she’d done her duty. They could spend one night without her presence. There would be plenty of other opportunities that they could parade her off. Tonight was hers. She met his eyes straight on, “I’m not going to any more parties tonight.”
Liam didn’t need to be told a third time, he let his hands fall from her hair. His right hand rested on her legs, holding her in place as he leaned over and moved the divider of the cab with his left.
“Sir, I’m sorry, but can we head back to the apartment,” he spoke with an urgent confidence. After watching the driver nod in understanding, while muttering some sort of affirmative reply, Liam turned back to the girl in his lap. The very girl he’d held in a limo so long ago, and had let go. The very girl he’d fell in love with over and over again in so many ways. The very girl that eluded him time after time. He held her gaze one last time before pulling her into his chest and holding her to him tightly as the limo made a sharp turn.
—
It was the next morning and Liam’s first alarm had gone off, startling both of them out of a blissful sleep. Their limbs were tangled between sheets and intertwined in every way possible. Sophia wasn’t quite sure where her body ended and his started.
“What do you need me to say,” her whisper lighter than the slivers of sunlight coming through the curtained windows.
His returning silence was stronger than the crisp air that escaped through the flimsy piece of glass that was her window. The bed suddenly seemed smaller than it had felt all night. The warmth that passed from her bare skin to his was static, with a tense electricity.
It was a holding of sides, a veritable ocean between them. She watched his eyes float from hers, around the room and then drift closed. The time extended until the question was no longer what she needed to say, but if she should’ve said anything at all. The magic of the darkness was wearing off and with that his alarm went off.
He shifted her off of him, letting her head move from his chest with a soft thud on the pillow. Her eyes stayed trained on his, the iciest flecks of grey passing through.
“You’ll call me if you need me,” his voice came out softer than he expected, his accent heavy with the morning air and a warmth that his eyes were not radiating.
She took a moment to respond, grasping on to his gaze with every ounce of strength her sleepy mind was able to find. He turned before she was able to say, or perhaps it was more of a hoarse whisper, “yes”.
She Needs You
“I heard you were home for the weekend,” her voice sounded muffled over the fan whizzing away in the background. She wiggled her toes nervously, hoping his answering the phone was a good sign.
“Ya, I figured I should make an appearance tomorrow night,” he let his voice fall on each word. He wanted to be polite, but he wasn’t thrilled that she’d called. He wanted to hear her voice, touch her, know when her breathing slowed. But he wanted her to be his, and she wasn’t.
“Do you want to come over?” wavering syllables barely made it out of her mumbling mouth. She knew she was pushing her luck, it had only been a week since another man had slept by her side. But this was different, in her mind and heart she knew he was different.
He shoved the bleach white hotel sheets off his legs, and shifted himself so he was sitting in bed. He tried to figure out what to say to her, how to tell her that it was all he wanted and all he couldn’t do. Adam, the name hung in the back of his mind like a lighthouse watching over a bay. Silent, still, peaceful, but looming close and when the moment was right the search lights would circle, reinfiltratiig his mind with the thought of the man who stole his girl.
“Liam,” she questioned softly, tears brimming her eyes. She heard the shuffling on the other side of the line, she knew he hadn’t hung up. She also knew why he was reluctant to come over, but it was almost why she wanted him here all the more. She’d missed his companionship.
“Sofia,” he finally croaked out. “Why do you want me to come over?” he questioned, continuing after hearing her let out a single sigh. “We’re not together, you know that right. That’s not the way this works,” he trailed off letting her fill in the dots to his explanation with her own thoughts. He hoped she’d understand.
“I know, I know,” she repeated quietly, trying to reassure him. “I just miss seeing you,” her attempts gaining an air of desperation.
“I think it’s better if I not,” holding his breath he prepared for her to drag out a long winded line of pleas.
But he was pleasantly surprised with her short response, “I get it.” It garnered a deep breath on both ends of the phone before she broke the silence again, “I hope to see you tomorrow night, I’ve missed seeing you around.” Her voice changed as she delivered the last line. Her ’TV voice’, as it was referred to by most close friends, took over.
“You too, goodnight Sofia,” he hung up the phone before she could drag out her response, as he knew she did every phone call. He pulled the crisp sheets back up to his chin and rolled over in attempts to fall asleep.
Her room seemed empty without him. In her time with Adam they’d spent most nights together in his house, in his room. She loved her room with the white walls, that held a slight pink tint, and the soft lighting left a comforting glow. It was carefully decorated, reminding her of home and her passions. She could be here alone, but she there was an emptiness. A bed post that was devoid of it’s usual sweatshirt, Liam’s sweatshirt. A kitty corner, that had no use besides to be filled with large shoes. An extra phone charger lay depressingly forgotten, for it had ‘Liam’ scrawled across the white box. Things that had stayed even after he’d left for Australia, things that had reminded her he was coming back. But now her wasn’t really, ever again. She told herself she was ok with him not being hers, she’d decided that when she’d gotten together with Adam. But she wasn’t ok with losing his friendship, something that had held her together for so long. She lay in the dark, staring off into the blackness. Trying to accept what had come between them, and what she’d done to cause it.
For him, sleep didn’t come either. Tossing and turning in searches of comforting thoughts, ones that didn’t remind him that they were over. It was strange, only a few weeks ago he’d thought he’d finally convinced himself of that very thing. That she was no longer his. But now, with her despair filled voice and her coldness near the end, he’d had to go through the whole thought process again. And again, and again. Finally he drifted off into a light, restless sleep.
The next day dragged on for both of them. He felt like he was made of lead as he tried to run various errands. She went through her daily routines with even more lackluster than she’d put in after her recent break up.
The evening drew closer and closer and Liam found himself dreading it. He didn’t want to see her smiling face, or her rosy cheeks, or whatever beautiful gown she’d chosen. He didn’t want to have to kiss her on the cheek and pretend he was alright with this all.
Sofia however grew more and more excited as the preparations brought her closer to the event. She dreamed up possibilities of ways they would run into each other and how she would be able to show him that they could be friends. That she wasn’t looking for more, and they could manage it. She was sure just being in person would make all the difference.
Soon enough they both headed down the red carpet. Her billowing faint blue gown trailed behind her like a waterfall, her soft golden hair thrown easily over her shoulder. His suit grey, pinstriped and perfectly tailored finished off with slicked back hair and clean shaven face. They both knew their jobs well and performed as they’d done on so many carpets before; flashing lights, screaming cameramen, bustling publicists. They embraced it all.
He was focused on an interview when he first caught sight of her. She practically glided down the carpet, never really stopping to talk, but never rudely passing an outstretched microphone. He caught himself staring before the interviewer noticed and attempted to focus on the questions at hand.
She’d seen him, dapper as ever. Her heart pounded and her palms got sticky, and she ran. Well, moved quickly down the carpet, only stopping as much as she had to. She felt butterflies take flight in her stomach and fill her with fear as she anticipated their conversation. It had to be perfect. The perfect place, where they wouldn’t be interrupted, where she could make sure he understood that they could be ok.
He let his shoulders sag as he exited the carpet and entered the venue, the tension of the red carpet being lifted. However, just as he was relived of his initial pain, it was replaced with a new stress. Her shiny hair and sparkling gown seemed to light up the entire room, even from the opposite side. He turned to the closest person he knew and started talking in attempts to keep his mind of the girl who’d always seemed to consume it.
She slowly made her way, discreetly over to him, stopping often as not to seem like that was her goal. Finally, she was only a few people away. She moved carefully, as if he was a deer and might startle at her approach.
He felt her presence before he looked up and saw her sashaying over. He stood stock still, not sure what to do or where to go. He didn’t want to speak to her, to revel in her singsong voice or fall in love with every word that came out of her delicate mouth. But he despite his desires he couldn’t move away.
She reached her sooner than she expected, her heart in her throat. Greeting him with a careful kiss on each cheek, and a warm embrace she tried to keep herself from shaking.
He warmed instantly from her touch, and holding her embrace possibly too long. He greeted her formally and she the same. He bit his tongue as he wished so badly to tell her how beautiful she looked tonight, and he watched her hesitate to chose her next words. However, neither were able to get a word in before his old TV star buddy butted in.
A slap on the back and Liam was pulled off in another direction, only a warm hello and goodbye wave in her direction. She stayed frozen there for a couple seconds before decidedly joining in a nearby conversation, easily turning on her charm and off her emotions.
Little did Sofia know that Taylor was watching from afar. Taylor knew exactly how the exchange had gone, she’d heard Sofia’s reasoning all day. She’d tired of it quickly, knowing that what Sofia was doing was trying to convince herself rather than Taylor. However, she’d been patient. She knew her attempts would fall on a deaf ear if Liam was emotionally unavailable to Sofia. But in the interactions she’d seen she now knew it wouldn’t be futile.
Taylor purposefully foraged a path to Liam and pulled him away from the bar gently.
“Taylor! How are you?” Liam greeted enthusiastically. “I didn’t know you’d be here, it’s so good to see you,” he chattered on nervously, silently hoping she wasn’t here to talk about Sofia.
“Good, and yourself,” Taylor countered back quickly.
“I’m great, it’s nice to be back in the states,” he tried desperately to keep the conversation on neutral turf.
“Can we stop the small talk,” she cut him off curtly. His slight glance downward toward his shoes, and uncomfortable shifting gave him away. She knew he didn’t want to talk about this, but he had to know. “She loves you still,” Taylor cut off all bull shit and gave it to him straight.
“N-n-no, she doesn’t,” he stuttered out, panic spreading through every muscle in his body.
“She does,” Taylor didn’t step down, finding his discomfort comforting. It was what she wanted to see from him, it told her her hunch was right.
“She just got out of a half year relationship, she doesn’t love me anymore,” he gained confidence as he spoke facts. But his eyes still dodged her strong stare.
“She never loved him, not the way she loves you.” Taylor knew she was risking everything she had by putting all the cards on the table, cards she didn’t even know if she really possessed. However, she’d been an expert at BS as a kid and she wasn’t prepared to let him know where the facts ended and her assumptions started.
“Taylor,” he took a deep breath, “you know I can’t do this with her anymore.” He threw his hand down in a desperate attempt to make her understand that this wasn’t about what he or Sofia wanted anymore, but what they needed.
“Don’t then, but just know that when she calls you she needs you more than she’ll ever admit,” Taylor knew when she’d pushed just enough. It wasn’t her job to force him over the edge, that was for his own heart to hopefully do.
A moment of silence passed between the two. “I’ll see you around,” she offered the stunned man with a softened smile.
“Thank you,” he offered before rounding the conversation out. “See you around,” he reached out and gave her a warm hug, letting her know that she hadn’t crossed any lines she shouldn’t have.
As she walked away and he went to turn back to his friends she let one last fact fly, “Anytime, just know I can’t have her crying in my bed every night.”
He fiddled with his drink and got lost in himself for the rest of the night. His friends and costars tried to drag him out afterwards, but he was lost to them. He was sunk in his own thoughts.
She wore a deceitfully positive attitude while trying to last through the end of the event. Finally, nearing the end she ducked out and into a waiting car. Heading home, shooting a text to Taylor to let her know where she’d disappeared to.
She washed her make up off and pulled on a t-shirt, climbing into bed. Pulling the covers around her she tried to drown out the events of the night, damper the disappointment. She lay there for what seemed like hours, not sleeping, not moving. The gate buzzer stunned her out of her reverie.
She almost dismissed it, but figured it might be important. So, she stiffly maneuvered out of bed to got to the window and pull back the curtain. There he was, even his shadow was recognizable to her. On instinct she buzzed him in, instantly regretting her decision. What was he doing here? What was she doing? She looked rugged, unkempt. Sure he’d seen her like this thousands of times before, but now they were different. Weren’t they? Her mind was racing too fast to process the thoughts.
He was making his way across the lawn to her house. She raced down stairs to be at the door when he reached it, almost missing a stair and stubbing her toe on the way down.
They met right at the door frame as she pushed the mahogany door open wide into the warm night breeze.
“What are you doing here?” she didn’t allow herself to filter the conversation, it was late and she was tired of their charades.
“I came to see you,” he responded quietly, keeping his gaze low.
“But..” she trailed off, not sure what to ask him next.
“Do you want this?” he gestured to them, ignoring her attempts to question him. His heart beating as he tried to be brave.
“Whats this?” she tried desperately to figure out what he was trying to say without confusing it with what she wanted. She kept repeating in the back of her mind what she’d told Taylor all day, she wanted them to be friends.
“Do you love me?” he cut to the chase, deciding that he would walk away after she answered this, expecting a negative or neutral answer.
“L-love you?” her head was spinning, her stomach flipping. Did she love him? Well, she’d always loved him. But she knew what he meant, did she love him. Love him. She used to, but did she again? Had she always? What had Adam been? Had she really loved Adam? She didn’t know anymore. His question made her question everything, and she wasn’t sure why.
His copper eyes filled her head with so much hope she couldn’t sort through it all. They stood there in silence, him in anguish from waiting for a response, her trying desperately to come to a conclusion to give him.
The moments were seconds and then minutes. They were lost in their heads, a place that lacked time. However, he knew he couldn’t stand there all night. He let her bright blue eyes race for a while, a window into the tangle that her mind seemed to be.
She’d spent the whole day trying to convince herself of something, but had she been so focused that she’d lost the truth? Was there another reason she’d called him last night? Had it been more than missing his presence? Had she missed his love? Had she missed loving him? Had she stopped loving him? His things were still in her room, he still belonged there even after Adam had come and gone.
He felt a cold shiver through him and he decided that he’d had enough. If she wanted to take more time to think about it, neither needed to stand in the cold for her to do so. He went to turn around, leaving her barefoot and half-naked on her porch.
But before he could even take a step away she reached out for him, grabbing his solid arm.
Her heart pounded so fast she thought she might lift off the ground, but she closed her eyes. And she let the words that had been forcing down with various theories and contrived thoughts surface.
“I never stopped loving you.” her words were simple, and suddenly too cliche. She bit her tongue and grimaced, “Sorry that sounds so cheesy, but umm I don’t know, I really, I think.”
He cut her off, a smile just as cliche as her words, spreading across his face. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t have to. He pulled her close to his heart and held her. His chin resting on the crown of her head, their bodies as close together as possible.
She wrapped her arms around his torso, embracing the body she knew and loved so much.
“Do you mind if I stay over,” his voice was muffled in her hair, but she heard him perfectly. A small grin spreading slowly over her face as she nodded into his chest.
---
In the Aftermath Afterwards she’d picked up his hoodie from the ground, wrapping herself in his fresh smell. It was a slightly different than his old cologne, just like she felt slightly different when she wrapped it around her shoulders. She was a bit, well yes older, but also less reliant. She moved over to her antique dresser. The mirror on top glinted in the moonlight that was flickering through the curtains. She saw her face, and smiled at her expression. It wasn’t the same innocent affliction she used to wear whenever he was in range. No, it was a self-assured pleasure in knowing he was in the other room. It was a gentle affection that spread through her limbs, she didn’t need him, but he was there and it made her heart float. She reached down and with some jostling pulled the bottom drawer open. Shuffling somethings around she tugged out a pair of sweatpants, the only piece of clothing in her entire wardrobe that was folded. As she went to stand back up she felt a presence fall in behind her. Sophia turned around with a smile spreading so wide across her face she knew her teeth were glinting in low light of her bedroom. Pushing up on her tip toes she met his lips with a chaste kiss, simultaneously pressing the pair of sweatpants into his stomach. In surprise, Liam grasped the pair of pants.
As Sophia crawled back in bed she smirked, “I think those are yours.” She tucked herself back under the covers, her eyes following his as he stared down at the pants.
Liam shook the pants out, and with a perplexed frown he saw they were in fact his. A wrap present from season two of their show, there was the show’s emblem on the right hip with a light scrawl that read ‘Liam’. He quirked his head in her direction and Sophia just shrugged the blankets up and down with her shoulders. Liam pulled the sweat pants on slowly, as if marveling that they fit, almost as if he thought Sophia had pulled some sort of prank on him. No longer naked, Liam went to pick up his jeans, plucking his phone out of the pocket.
“Need a charger?” Sophia’s voice rang through the air over the noise of her fan.
Liam looked at her and sheepishly nodded. Of course Sophia knew his phone was dying. Carefully detangling one arm from the blankets Sophia points to the corner of her bed frame closest to him. Liam walks towards it, his feet softly padding through the plush carpet. When he reaches the bedpost he sees there is in fact a charger hanging off of it. He picks it up and turns it over as he walks back to the side of the bed not occupied. As he plugs it into the empty socket he notices the faded sharpie writing on it that reads ‘LIAM’S CHARGER’. He glances over at Sophia’s side of the bed and sees that she has her own charger. He looks down at the bed and finds that Sophia herself has curled up facing the other direction, so he pushes the end of the charging cord into his phone until it gives its satisfying beep.
With his phone squared away he delicately pulls the covers up and slides his sweatpants clad legs under the covers. He scoots closer to Sophia, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back to his chest. She giggles, shaking her whole body and giving him goosebumps. He leans in and whispers in her ear, “Is there a reason you still have my charger?”
With his words Sophia pushes away from him and flips herself over to face him. His arm is still dropped over her side and his other hand is tucked between them. Sophia picks up his free hand in both of her tiny hands, stroking the callouses and down the tips of his fingers so gently the goosebumps come back. “I thought you might need it,” she answers his question so simply and without meeting his eyes at all.
“Two years later?” Liam uses the hand she hasn’t claimed to tilt her chin up towards him so that she has to meet his eyes. Once their eyes are locked she flutters her eyelashes him so he continues, “and the sweatpants?”
“They’re soft?” Her eyes drop back down to his large hand in hers as whispers her response.
Liam gently tugs his hand free and with a hand on each side of her face he holds it steady so she really has no choice but to meet his eyes. He doesn’t ask again, his questions are still floating in the air around him. Unanswered, and delicately curious in nature.
“He never came here,” Sophia’s breath fans across his palms as she exhales the answer almost like it’s been burdening her for months. Perhaps it has, because once it’s out she can’t seem to keep her mouth shut and her eyes drop down once more as a stream of consciousness flows out. “Well, maybe he did once or twice, but he never slept here.Well, that’s also not true, we did-we did… well you don’t really want to know that. But we did - um - we did … once. Obviously, I’ve washed everything since then. And it was only once, only once.” Her voice trails off at the end of her sentence as she lifts her eyes back up and meets his. Liam’s grey eyes are swimming with concern and curiosity, enough that she nearly shrinks out of his grasp. But something about that new gained confidence she found in the mirror earlier makes her hold steady, this is no longer an innocent affliction, it’s an affection, a mature affection. “He didn’t seem to like it here, but I do and you did. So,” she shrugs as she goes on, “ your stuff belongs here as much as mine does.” When Liam doesn’t go to move she blabbers on a bit more, not wanting her sentences to rest in the night air too long, “I guess not as much as mine, but it felt wrong to move it. Your things never seem out of place here.” Sophia starts to get desperate for Liam to understand as he just continues staring at her, so with her last words she gestures wildly to the whole room, but Liam’s grasp on her face remains steady, “I-I think you always belonged here more than he did.”
When the last words leave her tongue his gentle expression turns into a fond smile and he presses his lips to hers with a delicate ease. But Sophia this kiss is the confirmation she needs and she wraps her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him tight into her and deepening the kiss quickly. When they come up for air he’s still got his hands on her cheeks. Now it’s his turn to glance down a bit bashfully as he gathers the confidence to ask something that’s been tugging on him since he entered the room.
“Can you tell me about it?” each word he forces out almost dies on his tongue, landing dead in the air between him. Sophia’s eyes widen with each word as well, reflecting the dread he feels as they leave his mouth.
“Why?” Her voice is a whimper of a sound as she tries to muster up some of whatever confidence she was building before.
Liam takes a beat to reply, searching her eyes for any fear. He finds none, just utter confusion and anxiety. “I need to understand why, Soph,” he’s mustering all the bravery he can as he continues, “all those random calls and months of not hearing from you. I need to know you were ok, but I also need to know why it was him that whole time.”
Sophia closes her eyes as the word ‘time’ seems to fill just that. In her mind she can almost trace the months on an invisible calendar, eighteen months, six of which she never even texted Liam once. When she opens her eyes she meets his worried gaze and nods slowly. With that his hands fall away from her face and he watches her in near awe as she rises from the blankets to push herself up against the headboard. He follows her, pulling the covers as high over them as he can. They sit like that for a moment, both facing the picture window that looks out on the night that stretches out far in front of them. After a few deep breaths she pivots, crossing her legs and facing him, blankets bunched around her. He turns his head and with their eyes locked she takes a deep, deep breath.
“That night of the Tony’s,” Sophia starts from the very beginning. She knows that whatever demons she will encounter in this story hold nothing to the warmth she feels spreading through her as Liam’s eyes capture her words in rapture. He deserves the truth, and although some of the anecdotes may be daggers to his heart, there’s something so deep and so encompassing as the air that surrounds them. More than a charger and a pair of pants, more than the ease with which they have fallen into each other’s cadences already. It’s an affection that has spanned every ounce of time Sophia and Liam have squeezed from it, and here they are to prove it. Now she just needs to explain exactly what it had actually spanned. So she tells him everything, well almost everything. He doesn’t really need to know about Adam’s satin sheets she thinks to herself with an eye roll.