Page 13 of Meant To Be

“I want that too, Liam. I want that so much,” she replies. I slide out of my chair not wanting to be away from her. Even if it’s just sitting beside her. I need her warmth and touch near me. Always.

Chapter Eighteen

Everly

I’m lost in a daze waitressing today thinking about what Liam said at dinner the night before. The fact that he wants a future with me, even with him leaving and being gone for a month at a time. I knew we could survive it. I know it’ll be hard, that the days and nights will be lonely, but the outcome, it’s going to be amazing.

“Everly, order up,” I hear the cook say and get back to work and out of my own head. I only have a month left here and then I’ll be a hair stylist full time. I’m hopeful to be a smashing success to the point that I can take night classes in business management, and maybe I can open my own salon. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a little girl, something the people who were supposed to love and support me said would never happen. I’d never succeed. Yet, here I am at the age of twenty. I have my own place, a career that’s about to kick off, and a man. A man that sees my struggle and doesn’t pull me down, but he lifts me up.

I take the cheeseburger to the patron and then turn around to take care of the next customer, and the next after that until my shift is finally over.

I head to the back of the diner, clock out, and take my apron off. I sigh out loud. I’m ready to get home and hop in the shower and wash the day off. After clocking out, I head towards my car. My car is old and the paint is faded from the years of sun, but, thanks to Liam, it runs like a charm.

I climb in the car, fasten my seatbelt, and head for my house. Liam is back at Pete’s house today and I have a bath tub calling my name.

Once I pull into my designated parking spot at my place, I head straight for the front door, quickly unlocking the door, then closing it and locking it back. I throw my bag on the couch and start walking to the bathroom as I strip out of my work clothes. I take my phone with me, fully intending to take a bath, listen to some music, and be a couch potato.

I turn the water on in the tub, finish undressing, set up my music, and light a few candles. Not being with Liam tonight will be a change. I’ll miss him holding me and waking up in his arms, but it’s only one night. And from our conversation at dinner last night, it won’t be long until he’s gone for a full month.

Just thinking about that is enough to make me feel melancholy and lonesome, even though he’s less than twenty minutes away.

I sink into the hot water, submerging myself, while listening to the soothing tones of my music playing in the background, and clearing my head.

When I’m suddenly lifted and feeling light as a feather, I slowly wake up and realize I’m in Liam’s arms. He must have come in while I was in the tub and apparently dozing off.

“You came over,” I sigh out as I cuddle deeper into his neck where my head is laying on his shoulder.

“I’ll always come for you, Ev,”

“Thank you,” I whisper and fall back asleep.

Chapter Nineteen

Liam

When I pulled up to Everly’s place, I was thrilled to see her car was already in its spot. The plan was she’d stay here tonight, I’d stay at my place, and we’d see each other tomorrow. Things changed, meaning I busted my ass to get everything finished. Everly thought I was helping at Pete’s house. Little did she know I was working on my place, well the place that will become ours as soon as I can get Ev on board. All the drywall is up, the seams mudded; tomorrow morning I’ll sand, and then be able to paint. Then I can surprise Ev and pray like fuck she’ll move in before I leave at the end of this month.

I must have banged on Everly’s door for a solid ten minutes before I used the key she stashed underneath the flower pot on her front stoop. That’s another thing I’m going to be talking to her about, she can’t leave a key underneath a damn pot. It’s inviting trouble where trouble doesn’t need to be found.

“Ev, Baby,” I holler as I walk in. When I get no response, I walk further in and see the light peek from underneath the door. I wait a second to see if I hear anything, besides the low sound of the music she has playing before I knock. When I don’t hear anything, I knock.

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