After Liam gave me a quick tour of his house, he said that I should go down and wait for him in the dining room for dinner. So I did as he asked.
I am sitting on a bar chair, holding a glass filled with water.
About twenty minutes past and he still didn't come, where is he?
Along with the glass of water in my hand, I preoccupy myself with his plasma TV, looking and listening to the news. Just when I thought I was affected the most by the earthquake, I see pictures upon pictures of wrecked buildings and destroyed houses. Along with that, there was a report of some local forest fires. The screen switched to an animated map, showing areas that least to most affected by the fires, colour coded. I see that both the place where I am now and the area where James lives are under a yellow warning. All the reds are by the outskirts of LA. At least some... Decent news for today.
Moments pass before Liam's whistles echoed from the hallway. Finally...
"Sorry... Had some boss work to do...".
I just look at him, watching him walk to the fridge, grabbing a can of beer.
"I am glad you made yourself at home," he adds after taking a big gulp from the can right after opening it.
"All I need is food to REALLY make me feel at home..." I reply. I instantly hear him chuckle.
"Don't worry, I have taken that into account, I didn't forget the food.". His emphasis on 'food' made me giggle. I silence down when he shoots his eyes at me.
"So what is the takeaway for tonight going to be?," I query. But I receive a raised eyebrow.
"There won't be any takeaways, Ana.".
"Then what will we eat?".
I see a smirk form on his face as we look at each other, across the room.
"There is this... thing called cooking. Ever heard that word before?".
I roll my eyes at him, before standing up and making my way to the sink. "That I have definitely heard, it is also your sarcasm I am getting sick of...".
"Well, I hope you get used to it because it is not going anywhere..." He replies, causing my eyes to widen in surprise.
"Is that so?".
He nods, smirking at me.
"So, what are we cooking?".
He does not answer, instead, he heads past me and to the fridge, where he gathers a bunch of stuff.
"Whatever we can make with these things..." He places all the perishable food onto the cooking table.
I move closer to him, looking at all the different foods.
"If you are trying to win my truce my moving closer to me, I'll tell you now it is not going to work...".
I let out a sigh. I don't even have to look at him yo know that he has amusement patched onto his face.
"I'm trying to make us some food so that we won't starve to death, smart ass...". I try to sound mad at him, but I can't. I am tired of him... But somehow not mad.
"Wow, so mean...".
"I now probably see why Grace left you..." I reply. I meant it light-heartedly, but it came out as anything but that. My grin suddenly drops when I see his gaze on me turn slightly bitter.
"Liam I-". I try to apologise, but his entertained snickering interrupts me.
"How did you come to that conclusion, I wonder...".
I look at him, I can't reply.
"Do you know the reason why she left me?".
I gently shake my head, hitching a breath when he takes a sudden step to me.
"Then why are you assuming something like that?".
"Liam, I didn't mean it that way...".
"Then what way did you mean it? In what context did you want to place that in?".
"I meant it as a light-hearted joke... Nothing serious...".
He rolls his eyes before giving me a forced chuckle.
He turns around before walking away from me.
"It was the best relationship of my life...".
"I doubt it wasn't...".
"Then why would you joke about something so serious... plus, you were so cared free about it...".
I look at him. I did not want this to happen.
"Woah, look, I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you...".
Suddenly a smile grows on his face.
"Hurt me?...".
"Did I hurt you?" I ask.
He shakes his head, "no...".
"Then why are you acting like this?...".
"Because of how you assumed that Grace broke it with me...".
"Yes, but I meant it as a joke... Although the more I think about it...".
"What?" He growls.
"Nothing...".
"Tell me.".
"No, you are going to go all bonkers on me, again...".
"What, am I not allowed to go bonkers on you?".
I stop...
"Did you really just ask me that?".
Suddenly he breaks into laughter.
"You are going to be so fun to fuck around with..." he says before making his way over to the other side of the table.
"... Huh!?...".
"Okay, now for real, what are we making..." he asks me.
"Okay... Ummm... sandwiches?...".
"Okay, basic... basic but good...".
He knows my taste...
"Do you have a grill?".
He looks behind him. "Yeah. Up there...".
I look to where he is pointing just to find the grill on the top of the cupboard.
"Geez... that is high..." I mutter.
"Don't worry, I'll get it for you...". Liam grabs a chair before standing up on the chair, fetching down the grill.
While Liam is preparing the grill, I scavenge for the bread, but I can't find the bread loaf anywhere.
It wasn't long before I see Liam looking at me in amusement.
"You know, some help would be warmly welcomed... Liam...". I turn my attention back to trying to find where the bread is.
"You looking for this?".
I turn towards Liam just to see him holding up a bag of... bread...
"Where was that?" I ask him, I guess he could tell that I am slowly getting pissed, the smile on his face says it all.
"This?... Yeah, this was right behind me...".
I give him a sharp look. "You are evil...".
He snickers before dancing his eyebrows at me. "I just like to fuck around with people... I promise that is all...".
"You know, saying 'I promise' always makes me doubt a person even more..." I reply. A smile grows on my face when I see his amused face come back.
"Are you doubting me, Ana?". I see him slowly coming closer to me. "Because if you are, I better change that...".
I feel my stomach go all weird when he begins closing up on me.
"Wha-".
"Shhh... Let me change your mind, I don't want you doubting me...".
I hitch for breath when I feel a touch on my arm. He has a grip of my hand.
"What are you trying to do Liam?".
"I am not trying to do anything. As I said, I like to fuck with people...".
Before another thought could even enter my brain, I feel his big hands wrap around my waist before lifting me onto the counter. I subconsciously wrap my legs around him so that I won't fall.
"Liam!..." I shriek.
"What? Why are you so scared?" He laughs at me.
"I am going to fall! Possibly break myself!".
He just laughs.
"Please let me down..." I plead, but I can't help but chuckle slightly while doing so.
"No..." He says through his smile.
I roll my eyes at him. "What do I have to do for you to let me down?".
I see him think, but by his smile continuously growing I can tell that he is teasing me, making me wait.
Just then do I realise that I still have my legs wrapped around him. I begin retracting them when I suddenly feel his hands grip my thighs.
"Keep them there, where they are..." he growls into my ear.
I gulp whatever is in my mouth, as a wave of numbness hits my body.
"What do I have to do for you to let me down?".
"Kiss me...".
My eyes open wide. "What!?".
"Don't pretend like you don't want it as bad as me...".
"That is because I don't!".
"One kiss?".
"Not gonna happen...".
"It is your call, I can let you down now and we can continue making some food. Or we can say up here for longer, much longer.".
"Fine... I guess I'll then be sitting here... Waiting for you to let me down...". I reply.
He smiles at me before letting me go.
"Come on, get down...".
I happily jump down before standing beside him.
"I'm not going to lie..." I begin. "That was kind of weird.".
He turns his head towards me before, once again, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought you liked weird...".
I return him a look before answering;
"Not particularly, Liam. Not particularly.".