Chapter 112 Yes or no?
I had a feeling that Alex might like me. But I did not want to read too much into it, so I never really thought about it seriously. Especially after everything that happened, I figured whatever feelings he had for me must have faded by now. But then he surprised me all over again.
I did not know what to say. His smile slowly disappeared while I stayed quiet, and after a moment he asked carefully, "You do know what I am talking about, right?"
"Yeah. Yes, I know." I said quickly. And then the silence came back.
We stood there awkwardly facing each other in that dark hallway. His hands let go of mine and dropped to his sides. Eventually, I found my voice again.
"Sorry, Alex. But I just broke up with someone. I do not think I am ready to start another relationship yet."
Every word felt heavy coming out, but I had to say it. He had always been so good to me. He did not deserve me leading him on.
"Oh. Well, I understand." he said. There was something bitter in his voice, and it made my stomach twist.
I just turned down a really nice guy. For what? For Liam? God, I had to be insane.
He forced a smile for me. "But we can still be friends, right? I do not want things to get weird after all the stupid stuff I just said."
"Yeah, yeah, of course." I nodded quickly. "I would really like that."
"And after a while, when you are ready to move on, promise you will put me at the top of your waiting list?" he grinned.
The mood finally lightened up, and I laughed. "You know there is only one person on that waiting list, right? You."
"Nice. Sounds like my chances are pretty good."
He paused for a second, then kept going. "You probably do not care about this, but I broke up with Andria a long time ago. She has to go to college in another city, and I want to stay here. We ended things fine, no drama. So it threw me off a little when she showed up at the ball."
"Thanks for telling me. And Liam is a crazy asshole."
He laughed. "Yeah, he is. But do you have any idea why he acted like that? Is it some protective older brother thing?"
"No. It is definitely not that." I hesitated, then said vaguely, "Do not worry about him. I will talk to him."
Alex studied my face closely, like he was trying to figure something out. He asked me suddenly, "Sophie, who did you spend the night with at the ball?"
I froze under his stare. I think he was catching on to something. I did not know for sure. But Liam had been so obviously hostile toward him. Alex was smart. He could tell something was off.
Luckily, he did not dwell on it. He smiled. "Well, I should get back out there before Liam completely ruins dinner. See you."
I let out a breath I did not realize I had been holding. "Okay."
He walked away a few steps, then suddenly turned back and grinned. "And Sophie, I would be happy to play your fake boyfriend in front of your mom. You know, before I officially move up from that waiting list."
I had no idea how to respond to that. I just smiled back like an idiot.
After he left, I went into the ladies room alone. I walked to the sink and turned on the tap. The cold water helped cool down my hot face.
I really did not want to go back out there. Sitting with all those troublemakers, pretending to enjoy dinner in front of everyone. Everywhere I looked, there was drama.
I braced my hands on the counter and looked at myself in the mirror. I was a little pale, but my face looked okay otherwise. Still, I did not have that natural confidence or glow that Rossi and Andria had.
It made me wonder even more, why did guys like Liam and Alex want to be with me anyway?
With Alex, I got it. We clicked. We got along well. But Liam?
He probably just liked watching a plain girl like me lose control over him. It probably fed his ego.
A woman came out of one of the stalls and walked over to wash her hands, snapping me out of my thoughts. I quickly turned off the water and took a deep breath.
Okay. Time to go back to the battlefield.
But then the restroom door flew open and banged against the wall. Both of us spun around and saw Liam walk in.
"Excuse me!" the woman next to me gasped. "This is the ladies room."
He gave her a calm smile, the same look he always had when he was about to cause trouble. "Yes, I am sorry." he said smoothly, stepping aside to let her pass. "But this ladies room is temporarily closed. Urgent maintenance."
I glared at him. Last time it was a family emergency. Now it was urgent maintenance. Such a liar.
The woman must have noticed the tension between us because she looked back at me hesitantly and whispered, "Dear, is this young man bothering you? Should I call the police?"
"A phone call to a mental hospital would fit him better." I smiled dryly. "But no, we are fine for now. Thank you, and sorry for the trouble."
The woman nodded slowly, still looking unsure. She glanced at Liam one more time before finally leaving us alone.
Liam waited until she was gone, then locked the door behind him. I narrowed my eyes at him and said sarcastically, "There is no escaping you, is there? Do you even know what privacy means?"
He stepped forward and braced his hand on the counter behind me, trapping me between his arms. He looked down at me and let out a soft laugh. "Same question for you. Remember when you burst into my room naked, holding a condom?"
"That was a mistake. Mom told me to..."
He cut me off with a sudden kiss. One hand moved to hold the back of my head as he leaned in and deepened it. My heart skipped, and something electric shot down my spine the second his lips touched mine.
Instantly, I forgot what I was about to say. I forgot all the anger and frustration I had toward him. The only thing clear in my mind right then was him.
The effect he had on me was insane.
The kiss was quick and soft. A moment later, he pulled back just enough to speak, his voice low. "What did Alex talk to you about?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but he kissed me again. His tongue traced the shape of my lips as he murmured, "You should think carefully before you answer. He came back with that smug look, and I hate that look."
"The same look you wear every day?" I asked, and he bit down on my bottom lip hard. "Ouch."
"Think twice." he warned. I shivered when I felt his warm hand slide up my thigh, getting dangerously close to the hem of my shorts.
I whimpered and shifted under his touch. That familiar heat was already building between my legs.
"So?" he pressed, his fingers rubbing the sensitive skin on my inner thigh.
This was torture. I gasped and forced the words out. "Nothing. He was just checking on me and..."
My mind was a mess. I could feel myself getting wet. The next part slipped out before I could stop it. "And he offered to be my fake boyfriend in front of my mom."
Something dark flashed in his green eyes. His hand slid into my shorts and pressed hard against my core, rubbing slowly. A shaky moan escaped my lips.
"So what did you tell him?" he watched my face closely as his fingers kept moving. "Did you say yes?"
I panted and grabbed his arms, my nails digging into his biceps. "Yes... no. Ahh, please..."
I did not even know what I was saying anymore. His fingers circled over my soaked panties, and I wanted more. I wanted him inside me.
"Yes or no?" he demanded, like he was enjoying watching me fall apart. "Did you tell him how wet you get when you are with me? How you move your hips like this? Did you tell him to fuck off?"
He pushed one finger inside me, deep. I cried out and threw my head back, overwhelmed by the sudden pleasure.
"Liam, please." I moaned his name, begging him to keep going.
"Fuck." he cursed and pulled his finger out. I clenched my thighs together at the loss, but then he picked me up and carried me into a stall. He kicked the door open and set me down on the toilet.
He looked at me with pure heat in his eyes. He brought his wet finger up and rubbed it against my lips.
"Spread your legs." he said roughly. "Like you promised."