Page 14 of Worth the Risk

“No need, I remember from last time.” He smiles at me. That damn dimpled smile. The drive from the burger place to my apartment is only about ten minutes but it’s been a silent ride minus the radio playing in the background. I’ve been staring out the window, getting lost in my thoughts, like why do I care so much that Liam basically friend-zoned me? When we pull up to my apartment, he pulls into a visitor parking spot and puts the car in park.

“Is something wrong?” With that I look at Liam who has turned to me, concern written on his face.

“Nope.” I say, popping the p. “Nothings wrong.” I try my best to give him a genuine smile.

“Can I walk you in?” His eyes are still full of questions like he didn’t believe that answer but he’s letting it slide anyways.

“Yeah, sure.” Damn him for being a gentleman. It would be so much easier to friend-zone him as well if he was just like any other college guy, content with a text that I’m safe or not caring at all. Not that that’s been my experience as the only guy I hang out with on campus is Garrett and he always makes sure we’re safe but based off the guys Rosie has dated in the past it seems like most of them don’t care much at all.

We walk to the main door of the building which I unlock with a key fob and when Liam follows me in I realize he meant all the way to my door because, well, of course he did. We quickly arrive at my front door. After I unlock the door I turn to look at Liam with all intentions of saying good night.

“Do you want to come in?”

“Yes.”

When I turned around and my eyes caught onto Liam’s I just wasn’t ready to say good night yet. If he only wants to be friends then so what? We can be friends. It’s better for me anyways to just have friends with my schedule, my goals in life and after our past two interactions he seems like he might just be the greatest friend out there.

I lead Liam into our home, the door opens into a small hallway which opens up into the kitchen and our living room immediately after that. Our living room is what is best described as cozy. Colorful throws piled in the basket and thrown on the couch. Fairy lights strung behind the tv to make the space feel more inviting.

He follows me in taking in the space, looking at the photos of me and Rosie we have on the bookshelf. He picks up one from our freshmen year, we’re sitting on one of the small twin beds in our dorm with a blanket wrapped around us, he smiles and carefully places it back down, his big hands looking like they could snap the frame in half easily. I gulp, I should not be thinking about my friend's big hands that connect to his veiny forearms, nope definitely not thinking about that.

“Um.” I clear my throat, “my room is right here.” I walk to the left side of the apartment through the door that leads into my room. Against the farthest wall is my full-size bed, decorated with white sheets and a pastel purple comforter. There’s one night stand on the right side of the bed. In the corner by the windows on the back wall is my small desk that doubles as a vanity.

I sit on the edge of my bed as Liam looks around, when my eyes go wide as I notice the paper I left on my desk. The college bucket list. The one I’ve never let anyone, not even Rosie see. Liam is looking at the few photos I framed around my desk and without thinking I bolt over trying to get that stupid bucket list before he can see it but his hand lands right on it before my own slams down on his.

“What is this?” He smirks, my hand feels warm from the touch of his below mine, but I don’t move it in fear of him seeing what’s beneath.

“It’s nothing.” I try to sound like it’s not a big deal, shaking my head.

“Emilia.”

“Emi.” I interject.

“Huh?”

“You keep calling me Emilia but if we’re friends then you should call me Emi or Em. That’s what my friends call me.” My attempt to stall him and get his focus anywhere but this stupid piece of paper.

“Okay.” He smiles. “Emi.” I almost melt at the sound of his voice saying that, maybe telling him my nickname was a bad idea.

“If we’re friends why can’t I see this list?” My eyes widen as he says that and he notices. “I didn’t see what was on it but I saw the words ‘bucket list’. If you really don’t want me to see it’s fine.”

“No, I… you can look.” I remove my hand from his, those damn green eyes feel like they can see right through me and have me letting my guard down once again. “No one’s ever seen it. It’s just some silly list I made in high school.” Liam removes his hand from the paper so we can both look at my desk, the soft glow of the lamp in my room making the words on the paper just legible enough and hopefully hiding the deep color I know is staining my cheeks.

COLLEGE BUCKET LIST

1.) Decorate your room the way I like

2.) Go to a party

3.) Go to homecoming

4.) Go to a bar

5.) Go on a date

6.) Kiss someone

7.) Fall in love.

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