Page 20 of Broken Desires
I can see the hesitation in her eyes, a mix of embarrassment and the need for solitude. “I—Do you think I could have a moment alone? I just…” She trails off, shaking her head.
I get it, the craving for some personal space, but my concern for her is stronger. “You sure you’ll be okay?” I ask, not wanting to leave her feeling down.
“I’m fine, really. Just embarrassed, that’s all. I just need a little time… please?” Her voice is earnest, pleading almost.
“You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, you know. Everyone needs a break sometimes,” I reassure her.
She gives a small laugh. “Yeah, I just wish it had been with fewer people around.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Who cares about them? We’re your friends. But I get it. And you know what? We could use some drinks.”
Eva lets out a surprised chuckle, and I can’t help but feel a bit victorious. That smile is so much better than tears. “You do remember you’re not twenty-one yet, right?”
“I know, I know.” I gesture toward Liam, waiting patiently in his car. “But he is.”
Eva tilts her head, considering. “You think he’d actually do it?”
I nod, confident. “There’s more to Mr. Perfect than meets the eye. I bet he’s got a wild side.”
Decision made, I stride toward the car, tapping on the window. Liam looks up, surprised but attentive. “Hey, could you drive me to the liquor store? We need alcohol.”
He raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Alcohol? Really?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s been that kind of day.”
Liam smirks, a playful glint in his eyes. “Alright then, let’s break some rules.” He jerks his head, inviting me in, and I’m eager to spend more time with him, even if I’m trying to hide it.
“Breaking the rules, Mr. Perfect?” I tease, trying to shake off the heaviness of the day.
He chuckles as he starts the car. “Well, technically, in Europe, you can drink at sixteen or eighteen.”
The drive to the liquor store is short, and I’m grateful because I’m usually super talkative, but with him, I sometimes fear saying the wrong thing. It frustrates me. I keep thinking he’s just a guy, but is he, though? I glance at him. No, that’s the problem. I already know he’s not just a guy.
At the store, we both head in. Liam picks out a six-pack of beer while I beeline for the tequila, grabbing two bottles. “Margarita time!” I announce with a grin.
He looks at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “You sure you can handle that much?”
I flash him a confident smile. “Trust me, I’m a professional.”
He shakes his head, motioning for me to put the bottles on the counter, and he pays the clerk.
As we head back to the car, I can’t help but feel a little buzz of excitement. Maybe today won’t be so bad after all.
When we get back to the apartment, I see that Eva’s car is back, and I feel a little less hurried to go inside.
“How much do I owe you?” I ask as I grab the bag with the tequila bottles.
He waves his hand dismissively. “Consider it an apology for crashing your girls’ time. I knew it was a bad idea.”
“Why did you do it then?”
He seems taken aback by my question but recovers quickly. He sighs. “Because I didn’t like how it ended last night. I didn’t like that you ran away from me, and I can’t really explain why. I just wanted to…” He lets out a little humorless laugh. “I don’t know.”
A sense of warmth floods my chest, an unfamiliar sensation of being genuinely cared for, something I’m not used to. “I just wish you hadn’t found out that way,” I say with a shrug. “It’s not a huge deal.”
Liam faces me, his hands starting to form signs before he hesitates. “I’m sorry, I don’t know much sign language. I know BSL because my cousin is deaf, but not ASL,” he admits.
“You learned BSL for your cousin? That’s really considerate,” I comment, surprised by his effort.