Chapter 108 Lucky bastard.
I ended up staying the night. I put up a fight. Told him my mom would worry, all that stuff. But he would not listen. He basically pulled me to the bed and made me lie down.
"Can I at least change first?" I gave in eventually. He can be really hard to say no to sometimes.
He opened his closet and grabbed a random t-shirt, then tossed it to me. "You can wear this."
It was soft. Better fabric than my own pajamas. I started to take my clothes off but noticed him watching me closely.
"Can I have some privacy maybe?"
He grinned. "Kind of late for that, do not you think?" But he turned around anyway.
I pulled off my ruined dress and slipped into his shirt while asking, "So how come you do not have any girl stuff here?"
"Because I am a man and I do not need those? Apparently?" Even with his back to me, I could tell he was rolling his eyes.
My temper flared. Was he really that clueless, or was he just pretending?
"I mean for your girlfriend. Or partners. Whatever you call the girls you date." My voice came out sharp. "How do you not have anything for them in this apartment?"
"Because I do not bring them here. And I do not do dates. Are you done?"
He turned back around. Something flickered in his eyes. That cocky smile of his softened into something else as he reached for my hand.
"Hey. You look hot in that."
"Then I will wear it to school tomorrow." I lay down on my back.
"Then every guy at school will be drooling over you. And I would never let that happen."
He took the space next to me, lying on his side facing me. He closed his eyes. He looked so relaxed right now. All the usual arrogance was gone. His face almost looked young.
I studied him and wondered how we got here. From childhood playdates to... I do not even know what we are now.
But he made it clear he does not do dates. So maybe we are sex partners? Friends with benefits?
He could have any girl he wanted. So why me? Out of everyone?
This is so messed up.
"If you keep staring, I can not promise what will happen." His eyes were still closed, but he spoke suddenly.
My heart fluttered, and I shut my eyes fast. I heard him chuckle low and felt his hand on my waist.
"Sleep tight, little sis."
I had the worst sleep that night.
Nightmares kept coming. First, my mom was screaming at me, telling me to be nice to Liam because he is the Thorne heir and we need him to like us. Then she locked me and Liam in a room together. When I looked back at him, he turned into a monster and shoved me out the window. I screamed and fell into a sea of fire.
My eyes flew open. My heart was slamming against my chest. My whole body ached, like something heavy had been pressing on me all night. I moved a little and realized that heavy thing was Liam.
He definitely broke his promise about keeping his hands to himself. He was practically lying on top of me.
His heavy head was tucked against my neck. His arms were wrapped around my stomach, holding me tight like I was a body pillow.
He was dead asleep. And I was pissed.
I swore to myself I would never share a bed with him again. Then I carefully tried to escape his grip. He groaned a little in protest. I held my breath. But luckily, he just rolled over and went back to sleep.
Lucky bastard.
I tiptoed to the living room and checked my phone. Great. Only five in the morning. Enough time to run home, shower, and change before school.
I crept out like I was walking on eggshells. Once the door clicked shut, I ran like I was escaping a crime scene.
Liam's effect on me is insane. I needed time alone. To think. And I could not do that with him around.
I got to the townhouse at exactly 5:30. Everyone should be asleep, so I was safe. I cracked the front door open and slipped inside.
I headed straight for the stairs. Then someone spoke behind me.
"Soph... babe, is that you?"
Scared the hell out of me. I whipped around. Mom was standing up from the living room couch, staring at me with her mouth open.
"Mom!" I blurted out, terrified. "What are you doing here? Why are you not sleeping?"
"I woke up early and could not fall back asleep. So I came downstairs to wait for you." She walked around the couch toward me. "Alexander told me you left with Liam last night. Why did not you come home? Where have you been?"
She looked me up and down. Her expression slowly shifted to suspicion.
I was so screwed.
I knew how I looked. Hair a mess. Dress ruined. Dark circles under my eyes screaming exhaustion.
I looked like I just got fucked.
How was I going to explain this?
Sure enough, she asked carefully, "Soph, were you with... maybe a boy?"
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
She knew I left with Liam. She saw how I looked. She would put it together.
"Yes. A boy." I managed to get the words out, breathing hard. "You... you do not know him."
Not a great excuse. But it was the only one I had right then.
"What? Really?" Her eyes lit up a little, but she still looked wary. "I thought you were new at school and did not know anyone yet. Who is the lucky guy?"
My mind was spinning. But damn, I could not think of a single name.
"Oh!" She suddenly clapped her hands together. "I know. Was it that boy you went to the ball with? What was his name again?"
"Alex."
"Yes! Was it him?"
"Yes. Him." I said it and immediately wanted to slap myself.
What the hell was I thinking?
But it was too late to take it back. Mom was already glowing with happiness. "Oh, I like that boy. He is so polite. Such a gentleman. When I heard you went home with Liam, I thought you two did not get along. But I guess everything went great, right?"
I mumbled something vague and hurried upstairs.
Once I closed my bedroom door, I groaned in frustration and rubbed my face.
Okay. I lied to my mom. Bad, but not the end of the world. She would probably never meet Alex again. So I was safe.
She would never find out who I really spent the night with.
And she never could.
I took a quick shower, got dressed, and rushed downstairs. I escaped before Mom could catch me again.
The whole school was still obsessing over the ball last night. The excitement would probably take another week to die down. Lots of people were absent today, and the room was full of happy chatter, so no one noticed me spacing out.
I checked my phone under the desk. Several messages from Liam.
Where are you???
Did you seriously just leave?
Sophie, you better answer me.
I snorted internally. Great. Prince Liam could not handle being alone for one second. I would have to talk to him. But only when I was ready.
Not now. I texted back.
His reply came instantly.
Where are you
History with Robinson?
B503?
My eyes went wide. My heart started pounding. What the hell was he doing? He would not actually track me down to my classroom, right? He could not be that mad—
The classroom door flew open, cutting off the teacher mid-sentence. The whole room went dead silent.
Liam stood in the doorway. His eyes swept over the stunned crowd and landed on me.
"Mr. Thorne!" The history teacher, Mr. Robinson, sputtered in panic. "What are you doing? This is the middle of class! You can not just barge in here and.."
"My apologies, sir." He nodded casually at the teacher and stepped inside. "Family emergency. Can not wait."
He walked across the room, past all those curious stares, and stopped right in front of my desk.
He looked down at me, taking in my horrified expression. A smug smile spread across his face.
"Soph. A word?"