Chapter 90 Remember where we are

Chapter 90 Remember where we are
Sophie

I grab the bed sheet and pull it around me. The man looks just as stunned as I am. His hand is still on the doorknob. He just stares.

"Who are you?" I snap. "Do you not know how to knock?"

He is very tall and unfairly handsome. He has brown hair that falls in soft curls, which looks good on him. His eyes, wide at first, now narrow a little. His mouth turns up at the corner into a lazy smile. He leans his shoulder against the doorframe and crosses his arms.

I can not believe he is still looking. "Are you going to turn around?"

That smile of his gets wider, almost mocking. "Are you going to get out of my room?"

His room? I stare at him, confused, for a full two seconds. Then I understand.

"Oh my god. Liam?"

He looks so different. Taller and more like a grown man. I even see a tattoo peeking out from the collar of his shirt. We had one summer together, three years ago, right after my parents split. It was a good time. I was heartbroken when I had to leave for Miami to live with my dad. I asked him to call me. To visit. He never did. I tried calling him, but he hardly ever picked up. We just stopped talking. This is the first time we have spoken in almost three years.

"Um..." I do not know what to do. Part of me wants to hug him hello, but I remember I am naked under this sheet. "Liam. It is really good to see you. But could you close the door? I am in the middle of something here."

He gives a small nod and closes the door. He closes it behind himself. My eyes go wide as he walks straight toward me. I back up until my bare shoulders press against the wall. Now I am stuck between him and the wallpaper.

He is so close. His chest is almost touching the sheet wrapped around me. He looks down, his eyes slowly moving over my face. I must be losing my mind. But he feels like a completely different person. Not like the Liam I knew. He smells amazing, like mint and clean wood. This stranger makes my heart beat too fast.

"Liam…," I say, my voice catching.

I remember his eyes were a bright green. Now his pupils are so dark they look black, like a deep hole trying to pull me in. I know I should look away, but I can not. He lets out a low laugh and takes one step back.

"So," he says. "I see you helped yourself to my closet."

My mind is still stuck on his eyes. "What? No. It was a mistake. My bag was in there. I was just trying to get my clothes."

"Then why are you in my room?" he cuts in. His voice is kind. "Why did you even come back?"

I feel confused and a little wounded. "I am sorry. Mom said you do not live here anymore. I am only staying one night. I thought it would be okay."

For some reason, this seems to make him angrier.

"One night?" he says, his tone rough. "So you just love to show up, ruin everyone's plans, and disappear again. Is that it? Like you are the princess and the world turns around for you."

My mouth falls open. Before I can say a single word, he turns and walks out of the room, shutting the door hard behind him. What the fuck was that? Where is the sweet, funny Liam who used to smile whenever he saw me? Has he lost his mind?

I get dressed as fast as I can. Before I leave, I pick up the box I knocked off the shelf. My face gets hot when I realize what it is. I shove it back into the closet. I hurry downstairs and find my mom coming out of the kitchen.

"Good morning, Sophie. Want some breakfast?"

"Where is Liam?" I ask. I need to talk to him about what just happened.

But my mom looks shocked. "He is here?"

Then I hear an engine roar from the garage. I run to the window just in time to see a low, silver car speed away down the street. Mom comes to stand beside me. "Did you see him? Oh dear... I hope he is not upset about you using his room."

He can be upset. But he did not have to be such a jerk, I think.

"Okay, forget him," Mom says, taking my hand. "What do you say we go out for brunch? We can shop, get our nails done. When was the last time we did that?"

Shopping with my mom is a nightmare. The last time we went out, she bought half the mall without even thinking. The people at the luxury store had to close the doors just for us. I was worried my stepfather would be angry about the money, but when he got home, he only said she had excellent taste.

That is when I started to understand. Words like "lavish" do not mean anything to this family. The amount of money they have is something I can not even picture.

Now my mom looks thrilled. I hate to ruin it. "Mom, I am leaving today."

I have no reason to stay. My boyfriend is a cheating pig. And the guy who really owns this house clearly does not want me here.

"No! Do not go, not so soon, please?" she begs. I am surprised to see tears in her eyes. "Stay a few more days. Your classes do not start for a month. What is the rush? Let us have brunch and you can tell me why you came back."

I stay quiet. I have to stop myself from asking the question that always burns in my chest: if you wanted me here so badly, why did you leave me and Dad in the first place? But I do not want to be that cruel.

"Mom..." I start.

My phone buzzes in my hand. I look at the screen. It is Jordan.

The message read: “Sophie. Can we meet? Just let me explain.”

That arrogant bastard actually has the nerve to text me. I almost laugh at the message. What could he possibly have to say? Maybe he deserves another slap.

“Fine. But not your apartment.” I quickly replied. Then he sends me an address.

"Mom, I have to go... meet someone," I tell her. "Maybe we can have dinner later?"

"Of course!" she says, her face brightening. "Do you need a car? I can drive you."

I do not want her spending my stepfather's money on me, so I take the bus. An hour later, I am standing in front of the fanciest mall in Northwood, and I finally get what Jordan is doing.

Whenever we had a fight, he would take me to a posh restaurant with waiters in black suits who pull out your chair. I yelled at him in a place like that once and had the most embarrassing talk with the manager afterward. In places like this, I always try to keep my anger locked down.

Jordan knows that. He uses it against me when he wants me to forgive him. If I had not caught him, it might have taken me years to see what a calculating piece of shit he really is. I lift my chin, straighten my back, and walk into the restaurant.

The waiter leads me to the table. Jordan is already there. He looks completely normal, like he did nothing wrong.

He stands up to say hello, but I ignore him. He pushes a menu toward me. "You must be hungry. Let us order first."

"No," I say, my voice hard. "If you have nothing to say, I am walking out right now."

He pauses for a moment and sighs heavily. He laces his fingers together on the table, trying to look serious.

"Sophie, last night was a mistake," he says. "It was a one-time thing. I swear it never happened before. I am so sorry. I just... I really miss you. When you are not here, it is hard for me."

"You miss me so much you had to fuck someone else?" I ask.

He scowls at my language. "No! Look, I was drunk, alright? I would never do that if I was thinking straight."

Now he is blaming the alcohol. I can feel my anger building. "Just say what you want."

"I want you," he says. He reaches across the table to grab my hand. "I do not want to break up over one stupid mistake. But could you please move to Northwood? Your mom is here. Long distance is too hard. Everything will be fine if we are together."

I laugh. It is probably too loud. People at other tables look over at us.

"Do not blame the distance or the wine," I say. "You cheated because you wanted to. If I moved here, you would do it again. Nothing would change."

I know this is true. It is exactly how my parents ended.

Jordan looks insulted. "Oh, so you are perfect now? Maybe I was with someone else because my girlfriend does not satisfy me. Did you ever think of that?"

What did he just say? I shoot up from my chair. The legs scrape against the floor with a horrible sound. Now everyone in the restaurant is staring. I glare at Jordan, my breathing fast. I am about to yell something back when he stands up, too.

"Sophie," he warns in a low voice. "Be civil. Remember where we are."

I can feel every single eye on me. I can hear the quiet whispers. I am making a huge scene.

Then I hear footsteps coming up behind me. I brace myself, thinking it is the manager. But instead, I am pulled back against a solid chest, surrounded by that familiar, amazing smell of mint and wood.

I look up. Liam is standing beside me. He is just wearing a plain white t-shirt and jeans, but he looks like he owns the entire city. I can see women at other tables watching him.

"Hey there," he says, flashing a friendly smile. He holds out his hand. "You must be Sophie's boyfriend. I do not think we have met. I am Liam Thorne. Sophie's brother."

Jordan looks confused, but he leans forward to shake his hand. A second later, Liam lets go. He casually picks up the glass of water from our table and pours the whole thing over Jordan's head.