GREG POV
“Why would I be?” I asked. It felt as though she was about to say something extremely serious.
“You asked me something personal the other day and I waved it off. I want to know if you're mad at me,” she explained. I could sense her distress. She bit her lower lip and avoided my eyes. She must have been through a lot in the hands of the Richardsons. She was scared to lose me because I was almost like the only person that showed her care. She had no friends and her family was weird. I had to get to the bottom of the situation but she wouldn't open up to me. I could just agree that I was mad at her for keeping things from me. However, she was precious to me and I didn't want to see her get hurt.
“I'm not. It's your choice. I believe that you’ll tell me all about it at the right time,” I replied.
“So you believe we'll still see each other for a longer time?” she asked with eyes begging me to say yes - as if I had a choice. I'd agree a thousand times if I'd get to see her face everyday.
“Of course. Unless you don't want to see me again,” I replied with a wide grin. My eyes moved swiftly, watching her every move. Her lips parted but she seemed not to be able to place her words properly. “What's it?” I asked, caressing the back of her palm.
“We've known each other for weeks now but I don't even know who you are or what you do? I agree that I'm also a bit mysterious but at least, you know me and what I do,” she explained.
“Well —” I said then went off. I didn't know what to say. Why do I get the urge to be truthful and straightforward with her? Lying was my thing. It wouldn't take me time to come up with a well-cooked up like but this is not the case with Lia. It was as though she held me spellbound. Her eyes gestured to me to speak up but I still felt weird.
No matter how hard I had fallen for her, I would never disclose my identity. No one must be aware of who I was till I'm done with the case. I'd be out of New York to another city or continent for my next mission. I had thought hard and long about what I'd do when everything was over. Would I have to take Lia along or would I have to force myself to fall out of love? I had to take such thoughts off my mind. I could only think of those if we eventually become a couple.
“I've not been comfortable after seeing that lady here. She had a bike just like yours. Just look at her outfit? She had an all-black dress like one of those— ” she explained but stopped midway with her eyes on her fingers as if it would provide the answers to her questions.
“Like one of what? You've got to calm yourself, Lia. That's just her style of fashion. And the power bike is kind of our thing. Stop worrying so much,” I said, holding her by the shoulders. She moved her eyes from her hands to look at me.
“Is it so hard to disclose? Are you criminal, an escaped convict or a spy? I want to be sure, Greg. I want to know what this is and what I'm feeling. I can't afford to like a man who might later dump me. I'm scared to be left all alone. That's why I never opened up to anyone except you,” she confessed. What she said about dumping her would have made me imagine lots of things.
More so, how she mentioned that I could be a spy but the other thing she said got in the way and in my head. She felt something for me. She can tell from how she said she wanted to know what she was feeling. I'm not the only person who thinks she's actually fallen in love with me, right?
“I swear that I'd never dump you. You're very precious to me and I hold you in high regards,” I said, touching her hair and placing those that fell out back in place.
“I also have feelings for you, Lia. I’ve loved you since the first day I saw you but I could not mister the courage to say a thing so you wouldn't hate me or refuse to speak to me,” I confessed.
“I would not hate you for loving me. I — I also feel — the same way as well. I like you a lot, Greg. Almost like I always want to be where you are. I don't want to stay separated from you. It hurts when you compliment my coworker for dressing so nicely and seeing your friend here without knowing who she was,” she explained.
“You saw me speak to your coworker?” I questioned, surprised that she did. I had truly spoken to her coworker and complimented her, all for Lia. I wanted the other lady to be friends with her so she wouldn't feel lonely at work. I knew her social skills were down. Only a traumatized person would have social skills deficit. That was it! She was traumatized at the Richardson house. That's a clue.
“Of course. I felt so jealous and angry. She's also pretty and that was why you saw me. If others started getting prettier, you wouldn't even notice me anymore,” she blurted out. I guess she had said those words before thinking them through. “I — I meant that —” she said but I broke in.
“I fell in love with you not only because you're extremely beautiful with your red hair and enticing smile. When I look at you, I see a strong woman trying to shape a future for herself. I see how much you struggle and I admire your resilience. I know that from way back, it had not been easy,” I said. She moved her head slowly in approval then avoided my gaze. I grinned then held her cheeks so that our eyes met. “No matter how pretty they are, you're the only one I see,” I said, drawing close to her on the couch.
I could feel her tensed body. Something was weird. Even if she was excited for what would happen, I could sense her nervousness for something more than that. “I love you so much, Lia - more than I can imagine. I've never felt this way about any woman before.
I know that I can be annoyingly mysterious but trust me, it's all for your sake. I want you to know one thing, I'll always be here for you and will never hurt you,” I promised. She smiled shyly, placing her hand on mine which held her cheeks. I held her by her waist and drew her a bit close to fill the small distance left between us. My face grew close to her and in that swift moment, our lips locked. I was in heaven.
It was my dream come true - to finally have Lia in my embrace.