Liam's POV
The hum of the car engine was a low, steady rhythm as Alex and I drove toward the grocery store. I had my mind set on getting the items quickly so I could head back home, but Alex was being his usual talkative self. His energy was infectious, and I found myself caught between listening and zoning out.
"So, what's the deal with you and Destiny?" Alex asked suddenly, his voice light, but his question carried weight.
I stiffened, my hands gripping the steering wheel. "Destiny?" I repeated, feigning nonchalance. But the mention of her name triggered memories, long buried but never forgotten. The elevator door slid open, saving me from answering. We stepped inside, joining a few strangers, and I silently thanked whoever or whatever controlled the universe for this small reprieve. Talking about Destiny was something I hadn't done in years, not even with Alex, my closest friend. He knew I never bothered with relationships, but that didn't stop him from poking around every now and then.
As we reached the grocery store, I found my thoughts drifting back to high school. I could see her face in my mind, the way her laughter echoed in the halls, the sparkle in her eyes when she was excited about something. She had this energy that pulled you in, even when she wasn't trying. And despite my best efforts to move on and keep busy with work, Destiny was always there, lingering in the recesses of my mind like an unsolved equation.
I parked the car and we made our way inside. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a clinical glow over the rows of neatly stacked shelves. I grabbed a cart and started filling it with the essentials for the week.
"Alex, can you grab two packets of pasta?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. He nodded and wandered off down the aisle.
I took the chance to call Melissa, my cook and nanny. "Hey, don't worry about dinner tonight. I'll take care of it. You can head home early," I told her, knowing she'd appreciate the gesture. After all, she'd been with me for years, practically raising me after my parents were too busy jet-setting the world to care.
Five minutes passed, and there was no sign of Alex. I had already checked out the items, paid for everything, and yet, he was nowhere in sight. My frustration grew as I scanned the aisles. Typical Alex. Always getting distracted.
Finally, I found him, chatting up a girl. They were standing with their backs to me, and for a moment, my gaze drifted to a girl heading toward the cashier. Something about her seemed familiar. My heart gave an odd lurch, but I pushed the thought away.
"Alex, where the hell have you been? I was waiting for you," I said, my tone sharp.
Both Alex and the girl turned at the sound of my voice. "Sorry, Liamy," he teased, shooting me an exaggerated pout. "Did the baby miss his momma while she left him alone?"
The girl beside him laughed, and I caught myself glaring at him. "Alex," I warned, but he only shrugged, clearly not taking me seriously.
"Cool down, man. Change of plans—Ava and her friend invited us to a spaghetti party. Since we were planning the same thing, why not join them?" Alex's face lit up as he introduced the girl. "This is Ava. We went to high school together."
I gave her a polite nod. She seemed nice enough, but I was more interested in getting this errand over with.
"This is Liam Collins," Alex continued, introducing me.
Ava's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at me. Something in her expression shifted, like she was trying to piece together who I was. I felt a flicker of recognition, but nothing concrete came to mind. Perhaps she'd heard of me through the news or gossip. It wasn't uncommon for people to know my name before they knew me.
"So, what do you think, Liam?" Alex asked. "Should we go?"
I glanced at him, at the pleading look in his eyes. He was like a puppy, always convincing me to go along with his crazy plans. "Sure," I replied, not really caring as long as we got this over with.
As we made our way toward the entrance, I spotted another girl walking toward us. My chest tightened, a sudden realization hitting me with the force of a speeding car. It was her. Destiny. The same girl who had occupied my thoughts for years.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely concealing the shock.
Destiny's gaze locked with mine, her face a mixture of surprise and something else, something unspoken, but heavy with meaning. She turned to Ava, confusion written all over her features. "What is he doing here, Ava?"
Before Ava could answer, Alex jumped in. "Destiny, this is my friend Liam." He sounded far too cheerful for the situation. "Now, come on everyone, I'm starving. Let's get moving." He grabbed Ava's arm, pulling her toward my car, completely oblivious to the tension swirling around us.
Destiny stood there, her hands full of grocery bags, and for a moment, she struggled with them. Without thinking, I stepped forward, taking the bags from her grasp. "I can carry my bags," she said, her voice firm but laced with a faint hint of irritation.
I ignored her, walking toward my car in silence, my mind racing. Destiny here. After all these years.
I placed the bags in the trunk and opened the passenger door. When I looked over, she was already sitting there, arms crossed, her face unreadable. I couldn't help the small smirk that crept onto my lips. Destiny was still as defiant as ever.
As we drove toward her apartment, she gave directions, her voice curt and to the point. The familiarity of her tone, the sound of her voice, stirred something deep within me. Alex and Ava were chatting away in the backseat, but their words blurred into the background. All I could focus on was Destiny.
Five minutes later, we arrived at her apartment complex. The area was quiet, with a few trees lining the sidewalk. It wasn't extravagant, but it had a charm that suited her perfectly.
We got out of the car, and I immediately reached for the grocery bags, not allowing Destiny to lift a finger. She led the way up to her apartment, her footsteps light but purposeful. Inside, the place was small but cozy, every corner reflecting her taste and personality.
"So, you can all sit and enjoy yourselves in the living room," Destiny said, moving toward the kitchen. "I'll finish dinner and call you when it's ready."
Before she could disappear into the kitchen, Alex grabbed her shoulders, his grin wide. "Oh no, you don't. Liamy didn't come here for free. He was my chef today, but now he's going to help you out."
I shot Alex a warning look. "Don't call me that, Alex."
He yelped, darting behind Destiny for protection, which only made her laugh. Her laughter, it was the same as I remembered. Light, melodic, and infectious. It hit me then how much I missed it. How much I missed her.
"Fine," Destiny said, shaking her head, amused. "Liam, you can bring the groceries into the kitchen. I'll sort out the rest." She disappeared into another room with some of the bags, leaving me to take care of the food.
I removed my coat, hung it over a chair, and headed into the kitchen with the bags. It felt strange being in her space, touching things that belonged to her, knowing that just a few feet away, she was going about her life as if nothing had happened between us.
The kitchen was neat, the counters spotless, everything in its place. I started pulling out the groceries, lining them up on the counter. I could hear the faint murmur of Alex and Ava talking from the living room, but my attention was elsewhere. Destiny re-entered the kitchen, tying her hair into a bun as she washed her hands at the sink.
"So, how do you want to do this?" I asked, breaking the silence. "Should we split the work?"
She looked over at me, a slight smile on her lips. "You cook, and I'll chop the vegetables. Deal?"
I nodded and got to work. Every few minutes, I found myself glancing at her, watching as she moved effortlessly around the kitchen. She hadn't changed much. There was still a grace to her movements, a quiet confidence that made her seem untouchable.
The silence between us was thick with unspoken words. I wanted to ask her so many things—where she'd been, what she'd been doing, if she had thought of me as much as I thought of her. But I stayed silent, afraid of what the answers might be.
After a few minutes, she handed me the chopped vegetables, and I started preparing the spaghetti. As I stirred the pot, I could feel her eyes on me.
"How are you, princess?" I asked quietly, the nickname slipping out before I could stop myself.
She paused, the sound of her knife clattering against the cutting board stopping for just a moment. "I've been good," she replied softly.
I nodded, but the tension between us only grew. Good. What did that even mean? Was she happy? Was she thinking about me, about us? My mind raced with questions, but I kept my gaze on the stove, afraid to turn around.
A few moments later, I heard her rummaging through the cabinets. I turned slightly, watching as she pulled out wine glasses, setting them carefully on the counter.