Chapter 42 To Date You
Mia's POV
Outside, the city carried on as usual. But inside Liam’s car, something new quietly took root. Not loud or rushed. Just steady. Like the first spark of something worth waiting for.
"I don't want to make things harder for you, Mia," Liam said softly, his eyes fixed on the road, though his voice betrayed the storm of emotions he was holding back. "I know those girls won't stop harassing you... whispering things behind your back or trying to tear you down. But I'm here now."
His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as he took a breath.
"And I'm not going anywhere," he added. "I promise, I'll protect you."
I glanced at him, the streetlights casting a warm glow across his profile. His jaw was set, his voice calm, but I could hear the quiet ache beneath his words.
He meant it.
"You don't have to do that," I said gently. "I've handled worse. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can," he replied almost instantly. "You're the strongest person I know."
I blinked at that, caught off guard.
"But I still want to take care of you," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper now. "Not because you're weak, but because I want to be the one who stands beside you when it all gets too heavy. I want to be someone you can lean on when you're tired of pretending you're fine."
My heart gave a small jolt, and warmth bloomed in my chest, slow and bright like the sunrise.
Then he added more casually, though I could hear the quiet resolve behind it, "I'm going to talk to Daniel tomorrow. I'll tell him the truth. That you and Josh were never together. That he's just your friend."
His fingers tightened ever so slightly on the steering wheel.
"I know Daniel talks," he continued, glancing at me. "And if he hears it from me, he'll tell the others. Hopefully, that'll be enough to shut down the gold digger rumors before they start spreading again, especially once they see us together."
I looked at him, stunned by the quiet weight of his words. He wasn't just trying to date me. Liam was already protecting my name, like I mattered.
"Together?" I asked, my breath catching.
He let out a soft laugh under his breath, as though he'd been waiting for me to say it. "I told you earlier, didn't I? I meant it. I want to date you, Mia. For real."
My eyes widened, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it.
"You really want to date me?" I repeated, barely trusting my voice.
"I do," he said, finally glancing my way with that quiet intensity that always made me feel like I was the only person in the world. "And not because it's convenient. Not because of a bet or pressure or pity. I want you. All of you. The real you."
My cheeks burned, but my chest ached in the best way, like something inside me had been waiting so long to be seen like this, and finally was.
Liam turned back to the road, his voice low again. "Unless you don't want me to pursue you."
My breath hitched. The silence stretched, but it wasn't awkward. It was thick with everything we both wanted to say and hadn't yet.
Finally, I whispered, "I never said that."
His lips curved just a little. It was not a yes. Not yet. But it was the closest thing to hope he had heard from my lips, and it was enough to bring out his beautiful dimples.
"Why was Josh's car here?"
Liam's voice was calm, but there was a flicker of something beneath it. His brows drew together as he shifted the car into park in front of my building, his eyes still fixed on the curb where Josh's car had been.
I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag. I had known this question might come eventually. I just hadn't expected it so soon, or so directly.
I let out a slow, heavy sigh. "I guess... I should've told you sooner."
Liam turned to me, his gaze steady, waiting.
I stared ahead for a moment, then looked down at my lap. "Josh and I live in the same apartment unit."
There was a pause.
"What?" he asked carefully. Not accusatory, but no less sharp.
"We share the place," I clarified. "Me, Josh, and another friend from the restaurant. The three of us split the rent to save money. It's nothing fancy, just a tiny two-bedroom with a leaking faucet and barely enough space to breathe, but it's what we could afford."
I risked a glance at him. Liam didn't speak. His expression didn't change.
"He moved in around the same time I lost my scholarship," I continued quietly. "I couldn't afford to live near Suncrest anymore, and he... he didn't have anywhere to go either."
I exhaled again, more tired this time. "Josh has been going through hell. He told his dad he didn't want to take over the company, that he wanted a life of his own. His father didn't take it well. Froze his accounts. Cut him off from everything. No money and support. No opportunities."
"Because he wanted something different?" Liam murmured, more to himself.
I nodded. "Yeah. He tried applying to other companies, even small ones, but his last name worked against him. His father has connections everywhere. Doors shut before he even knocks."
Liam stayed quiet, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the dashboard.
"His mom just gave him his car back a few weeks ago," I added gently. "But the rest... he's still figuring it out. On his own."
I gave a small, sad smile. "That's how we became friends. Being stuck in the same broken apartment. Struggling to survive quietly without asking anyone for help. It made us closer. We had no one else."
Finally, Liam turned to me. His expression was hard to read.
"You don't have to explain anything to me," he said softly, his voice touched by something hollow. "I understand how our world works."
I frowned. "Liam—"
"When you disobey your parents, when you step outside the mold they carved for you," he said, staring out the windshield now, "they don't just get angry. They take everything."
Silence followed.
"I envied Josh," he whispered. "Because he still chose to fight."
I looked at him, and for a moment, I saw the sadness and quiet rebellion buried beneath years of control and expectation. I didn't push.
"Thank you for driving me, Liam," I said softly as he came around to open the door for me.
The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin as I stepped out of the car, my bag slung over one shoulder. I looked up at him under the dim glow of the streetlamp. "Good night."
He held my gaze a second longer than necessary. "You're welcome," he said warmly. Then, with that lazy, half-crooked smile that always short-circuited my thoughts, he added, "See you tomorrow, Mia."
I thought how effortlessly he wore that smile. Like it wasn't a weapon. Like it didn't melt me from the inside out every time he aimed it my way.
"Yeah," I replied quietly. "Tomorrow."
For a moment, neither of us moved. The street was quiet, the city's hum softened at this hour, and the space between us felt oddly electric.
Liam gave me one last glance, then walked back to the driver's side. I stood there, watching him slide into his seat, watching his silhouette linger before he finally started the engine.
The car pulled away slowly, headlights washing over the pavement, and I stayed there until he disappeared around the corner.
Only then did I turn toward my building.
My steps felt light, but my heart was heavier than it should have been. A smile tugged at my lips, gentle, hopeful, and a little bit dreamy.