Page 31 of Broken Desires
“It would be my utter pleasure to stay,” he replies. The charming smile he offers sends my mother into a mild flutter as she hurriedly excuses herself to the kitchen.
Compelled by a mix of emotions, I rush toward him, barely stopping myself from embracing him right there.
“What are you doing here?” I ask quickly. The relief of seeing a friendly face in this setting is immense, yet a part of me fears how he might perceive me after an evening under my family’s critical eye.
He responds not with words but with a tender gesture, his hand reaching up to gently caress my cheek.
“I realized you needed someone to fight for you at least once,” his gaze never wavers from mine, conveying a sincerity that pierces right through me.
In that moment, with his simple, profound declaration, the thought crosses my mind, unbidden yet undeniable, How can I not fall for you, Liam Ashford?
Our bubble of solitude abruptly bursts when Liam’s attention shifts, looking past me. I turn, following his gaze, to find my sister standing there, her eyes sharp and assessing, casting a shadow over our brief respite of connection.
Here goes nothing.
Bracing myself, I step to the side, positioning myself so I can keep an eye on both Lily and Liam. “Lily, this is my friend Liam. Liam, meet my older sister, Lily.”
Lily scrutinizes him for a moment before nodding. “Should I bother remembering the name of this week’s favorite?” she quips, followed by a laugh. “Oh, I’m just kidding.”
But I know she isn’t.
Liam’s laughter doesn’t reach his eyes, which lack their usual spark of genuine amusement. “No worries about my name, Milly. As long as Nessa remembers, that’s all that matters,” he says. His attempt at a smile doesn’t quite reach those eyes, betraying the façade.
I press my fingers to my lips, stifling the urge to laugh at his quick comeback.
Lily’s eyes narrow, her lips pursing in disapproval. “Seems you’ve met your match, Vanessa,” she remarks dryly. “Dinner’s in five. Mother sent me to give you a tour.”
As if I needed someone else to show Liam around my own house.
“There’s no need. We won’t be staying long,” Liam interjects, his voice carrying a finality that leaves no room for argument as he moves toward the dining room.
We? I mouth silently, but he doesn’t see it; his attention is already captured by the so-called wall of pride.
Lily, beaming, gestures toward the wall. “This showcases our family’s milestones,” she declares with a hint of pride.
I observe silently, the usual sting of being overshadowed by Lily’s achievements absent this time as Liam examines the wall. It’s a catalog of Lily’s life. Her academic and personal milestones dominate, punctuated by rare family moments, including my graduation, which is almost an afterthought at the bottom.
Liam’s frown deepens the longer he looks, a silent acknowledgment of the imbalance before him.
And then, his expression shifts, lighting up as he spots my graduation photo, smaller and less conspicuous than the others. “Ah, saving the best for last, I see,” he comments after turning to wink at me. In that moment, any barriers I had left begin to crumble under the weight of his genuine warmth.
My sister parts her lips, undoubtedly ready to spit some more venom, but our father’s entrance with Ian interrupts her.
“Oh, and who’s this?” Dad inquires, curiosity piqued.
Lily’s smile contorts into something unpleasantly smug as she glances at me, ensuring I don’t miss her next words. “Oh, this is Vanessa’s latest fling, Liam.”
That’s about as much as I can stomach. Without engaging further, I head to the kitchen. Liam’s already had a taste of my family’s dynamics; he can manage without me for a bit.
Returning with Mom, arms laden with side dishes, we find everyone settling around the table. Lily’s scowl tells me everything I need to know—Liam won another round.
I want to remind her that she’s a twenty-nine-year-old married woman who’s trying for a child, not a schoolgirl competing for attention. But, considering she’s usually the center of our family universe, her current displeasure is almost… refreshing.
Suppressing a snort, I slide into the chair next to Liam, wondering how Lily’s coping with not being the main character for once.
Liam shoots me a puzzled look, but I just shake my head. That’s a story for another day.
“Do I know you from somewhere?” Ian suddenly asks, breaking into the thick silence as we begin our meal.