"So, what do you want to talk about?" Rory asked, gathering her courage. The security guard who watched her getting dragged was standing closer to them now, and that gave her some courage to be calm.
"Get me a first-class air ticket to GRR," Liam said, calmly taking out a candy bar from his pocket.
GRR—That's where she is going. It is the biggest airport closest to their town and she will have to book a cab from there to reach her town which is thirty miles northwest of the airport.
But why would she get another ticket?
"Ticket?" Rory raised her eyebrows.
He is not here to talk about me punching Allison? Then why? Whoa… that's my favorite candy!
She used to have those candies with her all the time, especially during air travels. This big boy right here has flying anxiety and she would distract him with those candies.
At those times, he would cling to her like a little boy and… wow, his fingers…
"Yes. First-class and not business-class or coach. The same flight as~"
"Why?" Rory asked, clearing her throat.
She cannot be distracted by… Ehem... candies. And the way his Adam's apple bobs… Was he always this mind-blowingly handsome?
Liam looked at her, intently. His sleeves grazed on her sleeves as he struggled to tear open the wrapper. Realizing she is sitting very close to him made her annoyed.
Her headache got worse.
It must be the pitiful squealing of the wrapper, she thought, rubbing her forehead. Looks like he still hasn't mastered the art of unwrapping candy yet.
This guy is better at undressing a woman than opening a wrapper. He'd act confused as if tearing open a candy wrapper requires Einstein-level intelligence.
Oh, the chips packets and cereal packets he had ruined trying to open!
She tried to grab the candy to help him unwrap it. But he pulled the candy away from her and glared at her as if she was about to steal his candy bar.
"I have tickets," Rory said, rubbing her forehead.
Keep your candy, cheapskate! It's not like I wanted it!
He let out a loud sigh and her eyes ended up on that angelic face out of reflex. Fine stress lines that were painted on his forehead revealed his confused state and she for a moment felt like a fool for not understanding him.
He raised his brows cocking his head, as if that would give her the answer she needed, magically.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, finally freeing the candy from its wrapper. He broke the candy bar. "Here," he offered her the better half of the bar.
"What do you want?" Rory knitted her brows.
She didn't understand why he is sitting beside her and annoying her nonstop. But she accepted the candy nonetheless and glared at him for his annoying smile.
Did he win a race or something?
"Eat," he pointed at the candy. "And see if you can get your remaining brain cell to work," he mumbled under his breath.
Rory heard it. She glared at him and showed her anger at him by chewing on the candy vigorously.
"Careful, don't bite your tongue," he teased. He was smiling, but his fingers holding the armrest were trembling and his knuckles were white.
"I know how to eat," she grumbled.
She didn't understand why he is here now. He won't be punching her in a public place. But he will get back at her for punching Allison somehow.
So… A ticket, he asks..?
Liam crossed his legs and watched her eating the candy in deep thoughts. The corners of his lips raised to a smile and his face softened.
As Rory was chomping on the candy, she suddenly reached enlightenment. She realized that Liam asked her to buy a ticket for him and not her.
And that means that he was telling her that he is going with her.
"You'll go with me?" she asked, her pretty eyes fluttering. Out of excitement, she leaned closer to him, grinning ear to ear. In her excitement, she forgot about her fear of him.
Liam gulped and leaned back. "Are you that happy?" he asked with a smirk. "You're giving me ideas…" he wriggled his brows.
Rory shrugged and wiped the smile off her face. She forgot that she is no longer his…anything. She cannot show her excitement to him. He will change his mind.
"I am that scared…"
She was about to say that she was that scared "of her grandmother" but stopped herself. She didn't want to give him any ideas for getting back at her.
"Scared?" he asked furrowing his brows.
Rory thought she saw the familiar concern on his face, but she didn't want to keep on misunderstanding him. It would be better for her to believe that he is not caring for her anymore. That is the truth.
But she should try to get him to care a little for their baby.
"You want me to buy you a ticket?" She asked to get to the point. "You do know there won't be seats available at the~"
"First class ticket, on the same flight as yours. Get it," he said checking his watch. "Time is money and I cannot wait. I'll go with you if you could get a first-class ticket on the same flight as yours."
"What about~" Rory tried to ask him if the next flight available would do, but she was cut off.
"Come on! Don't just stare at me. I know you could stare at my handsome face forever. But we don't have time…" he said wearing his Cartier sunglasses and smirked. "Go on! Chop chop! Get your skimpy little a** moving!"
Rory gritted her teeth and her first instinct was to make him eat her fist so he would shut his cakehole forever. But she took in a deep breath reminding herself that she needs him to go with her.
But what if he is planning something?
One deep breath was not enough and she took a couple more.
Calm down, Rory… Calm down…Once back in the town, he will be dead if he hurts me… Ah… but that smirk…
She couldn't calm down. She wanted to punch. But she didn't want to punch him because she needed him.
But that smirk… Argh!
She held out her hand. She thought he should at least pay for his ticket.
"What?" he asked looking at her hand. "Gluttony is a sin, Cherry," he put his hand inside his pockets and swirled. "See, I don't have any more candies."
Rory had a lot of words that came to her mind. But she kept them locked in her throat.
I am not going to beg him for money. So a first-class ticket may cost a couple of thousand grand. I might as well get on with it. It's not like I don't have money.
"I'll get the ticket, Your Majesty," she said sarcastically and stood up.
She picked up the baby bag as she kept everything in it. As she was about to get the carrycot, Liam placed his hand on the handle stopping her. She let out a sigh.
"Now what?" she asked, her tone filled with exasperation.
He looked at her, his eyes still screened behind his sunglasses. She didn't want to waste time here. She tried to get the carrycot when she noticed a man wearing a tan suit walking in their direction. Her eyes naturally got drawn to him. The coffee brown tie he was wearing matched his eyes and hair. At one glance, he looked well-off.
His persona screamed class and elegance.