Wanting Us Page 9

  After about an hour of my thoughts overwhelming my mind, I quietly get out of bed and tiptoe to the bathroom. I spend way too much time in the shower, trying to waste time and by the time I walk out of the bathroom, Liam’s sitting up in my bed scrolling through his phone. The covers aren’t over him anymore and seeing him in just a white undershirt and black boxer briefs my whole body responses. Before he catches me staring, I say, “Morning!”

  He looks up at me and I’m fully aware of how thin my robe is and how easily he can see my nipples hardening through the fabric. But based on the smile he’s giving me, there’s really no reason to try to hide my reaction. “Morning!”

  The silence is intense and as I look at him laid out on my bed, I feel my body gravitating to him. How does he rile me up so easily? He didn’t even do anything. I break the silence and eye connect because it’s getting to be too much and head to my closet. “Did you sleep okay?”

  I’m flipping through my clothes when I hear him get out of bed and with each step he takes, my heart beats louder and louder. I can feel him walking towards me and my body comes alive from his stare. While I wish I wasn’t affected by him, I am. I’m frozen facing away from him with my hand on one of the sleeves of my dresses, waiting to see what he’s going to do. Does he feel this intense energy too? Am I just imagining it because of how I was feeling earlier?

  My questions are answered when Liam places his hands on my hips and the heat of his palms soak through my robe. “Having you curled around me last night was… right. Did you feel the same?” He fists my robe, pulling me against him and I feel his erection hardening against my butt. It takes everything in me not to rub up against him. “Liam”, barely comes out as a whisper.

  He leans in closer to me and I can feel his breath on my neck. “Just tell me you felt the same.” Oh god. All he’d have to do is pull my robe some more and it would fall open for him, exposing my naked and ready body. God I’d really like that.

  My logical self decides to step in at that moment. No. You can’t think that. This can’t happen. His mom is dying. I place my hands over top his and he release his hold on my robe and steps back. “It wasn’t something I hated.”

  “Good.” I can feel his smile even though I’m not looking at him and it’s probably his cocky one. I turn to face him and sure enough, he’s giving me his cocky smile. I shake my head slightly and try to hide my own smile. “Don’t hide it. I know I affect you.” He places a finger on either side of my mouth and pushes my lips up into a smile.

  I bust out laughing and push him away. “I need to get…”

  Liam quickly wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me back against him before I’m able to walk away. “Before you get ready, I just want to say thank you for being here for me last night.”

  My hands land on his chest and I wish he didn’t have his undershirt on right now and I could feel his skin under my hands. “Liam I’m grateful that you came to me. I meant what I said last night. I’m here for you. You can lean on me for support. Do you want me to go with you to the hospital?”

  He shakes his head as he leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. “I appreciate the offer but I think just my mom, Charlie, and I should speak with the doctor.”

  “Okay. I’ll be at the hospital anyways, so if you need me afterwards, I’m on the fourth floor.”

  “Thank you.” We stand like this for a few minutes until he lets me go and we both get some clothes on.

  I head into work after dropping Liam off at his place in hopes that I can get a lot of work done so I can visit Liam’s mom this afternoon. The first thing I did when I got into the office was make sure Mrs. Camden had the best of everything. I had to call in several favors, but I now know that she’s going to have the best doctors, nurses, and care we offer at the hospital.

  Once I felt I had done everything I could possibly do for her, I start on the pile of paperwork on my desk along with answering all the phone calls directed to the executive office. The time drags on as I try to give my work my full attention but I can’t because I’m thinking about Liam and his mom and what treatment plan they’re going with.

  At around eleven I’m about to text Liam because I’m about to lose my mind with worry when my cell rings. I quickly reach for it wanting it to be Liam, but I freeze my hand over the phone when Blocked Caller, the secret contact name for Bryan, takes over my screen. Why? Can’t he just leave me alone? Why does he have to keep harassing me? I don’t want to have to call the police on him. Deciding I have too much going on right now to deal with him, I ignore the call.

  My work phone immediately starts ringing and my heart stops. Please don’t let him bring this to my work. I take a second to get myself together before looking at the phone and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Julia, the president’s executive assistant, name on the phone. “Hi Julia! What can I do for you?”

  “Hi Liz! I was wondering if you could help me with setting up the board room for the lunch meeting today.”

  “Of course. I’m heading your way.” I quickly hang up and head towards her desk but she meets me in the hallway and we head to the board room. For the next hour we both get the presentation, paperwork, and lunch setup. When the meeting starts, I leave Julia and head back to my desk. I notice that the mail has come while I was away, so I start going through all of it. I’m halfway through it when my phone vibrates with a text.

  Liam: Hi!

  Liz: : )

  Liz: Are you okay?

  Liam: Yes and no. I might need to sleep in your bed again tonight.

  Liz: Sorry my bed isn’t available tonight.

  Liam: That’s okay. We can just sleep in my bed.

  Liz: Tempting.

  Liz: Did you get all your questions answered?

  Liam: Yeah mostly. I just wanted to thank you again for being here for me. I’m heading to mom’s house now to clean up and to meet some home nurses.

  Liz: I’ll always be here for you and good luck. Talk to you later?

  Liam: Yeah.

  Liam: BTW my bed is still open for you. *winky face*

  Liz: *kissy face*

  Liam: If only that was true.

  I wish I could kiss him too. But he doesn’t need to know that. I finish opening and sorting the mail and log the receipts for today’s lunch meeting to the expense report before letting my boss know I’m going to lunch. I take the stairs down to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich and drink before heading back up to the third floor to see Mrs. Camden.

  Her door is open when I walk up to it, so I knock before going in. “Mrs. Camden?”

  Her voice is weak and barely audible when she beckons me in. I plaster a huge smile on my face mentally preparing myself for the image of her Liam described last night. But when I round the corner, my smile completely drops and tears come to my eyes because seeing her so sick is like seeing my own mom in that bed.

  She holds up her arms for me to come to her. “Come here sweetie. Everything is okay.”

  I walk to her and fall into her arms. She rubs my hair like she trying to comfort me as I wrap my arms around her. I really should be the one comforting her, but I don’t pull away because it’s nice to be hugged by her again. Cutting out Liam six years ago also meant I cut out her and it was hard not to seek out comfort from her at that time because she could always clear my head after Liam upset me.

  Her arms around me eventually loosen and I pull away from her hug, wiping my eyes, and sitting in the chair next to the bed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be crying. I’m here to make sure you’re doing okay and that you don’t need anything.”

  “No need to apologize. I love you like you’re one of my own. Plus, I know you’ve already pulled strings for me. The nurses are treating me like I’m a celebrity because of you.”

  “Well you are very important to me. You’re like a second mom. Nothing but the best for you.”

  She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I’m glad Liam came to you about this. He needs you in his life
and I’m so happy you guys are friends again. I’ve missed having you around.”

  I nod in understanding. “I missed you too.”

  I’m quiet for a couple of minutes as I try to figure out the best way to ask her what she is going to do. A few times I open my mouth to say something but close it back deciding it was insensitive or none of my business. Finally, she breaks the silence, “Just ask it honey.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to do my best to live the best life I have left. I’m going to go home at the end of the week, have full time nurses, take a lot of pain medication, and enjoy my sons and granddaughter.”

  “So, you aren’t doing chemo or radiation?”

  She shakes her head no. “I’m going to embrace my death.” I can see the tears welding up in her eyes. “I’m going to make my granddaughter laugh and store that into memory. I’m going to spend as much time as possible with Charlie and Liam reminding them of all the memories I cherish with them. And I’m going to surround myself with all the people I love and that love me. I might not have very long to live but at least I’m going to have the best last moments ever. Some don’t get that chance.” I know she’s referring to her husband.

  I wipe away a tear that has escaped and I see her doing the same. “You are amazing. My world will be darker without you in it.”

  She looks up at the ceiling like she’s trying to stop herself from crying. “Now stop. We’re getting all sad. That mushy stuff can be saved for later. Instead, let’s talk about you and Liam. When is that going to happen?”

  I let out a laugh and shake my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re friends.”

  “Yeah okay.” She stares at me like she’s waiting for me to break and tell her all my feelings about her son. When I don’t say anything, she huffs and rolls her eyes. “Fine. At least tell me how you became friends again after not talking for six years.”

  I tell her every detail about the day Liam came back into my life and the night he saved me from Bryan at my door. By the end she’s swooning for her own son. “I knew I raised him right.”

  I nod in agreement. “He’s a good man.” He definitely is. He has always tried to make me happy and when he doesn’t, he tries even harder to fix it. A part of me wishes I would’ve let him explain forever go. Having him back in my life has me remembering how happy I was with him and grateful that he lightens up my life now.

  She must’ve said something to me when I was thinking about Liam because she’s now waving her hand in front of my face to get my attention. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “I hope whoever you were smiling about is someone special.”

  She gives me a knowing smile. “He is.”

  “Good. Now tell me about this job you have that gives you so much power.”

  I chuckle. “I don’t have power. Just friends.” I give her a wink and then explain my internship in the executive office and all the things I deal with. By the time I finish telling her everything, my lunch break is almost over so I get up from my chair and give her a big hug. “Would it be okay if I come see you tomorrow?”

  “Of course. I’d love to see you.”

  I give her a loving smile and hug her one more time. “If you need me for anything my extension is 400.” I turn to walk towards the door but stop and turn back to her. “Mrs. Camden?”

  “Oh honey, you know you can call me Michelle.”

  I smile at her and nod, accepting that. “Are you keeping this a secret? Can I tell my parents?”

  “Yes, you can tell them.”

  “Thank you. But just a heads up my mom is going to make you a ton of casseroles and check up on you constantly.”

  “That’s nothing new, honey. I’d expect nothing less from my best friend.” A smile forms on my face at the thought of their relationship. They might not have grown up together but they’re like sisters, like Mack and I. Then the realization hits me that this is going to be hard for my mom. She waves bye to me and I head to the door, thinking of the best way to tell her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Liz

  These last few weeks have flown by since we found out about Mrs. Camden’s diagnosis. Everyone dropped everything to be there for them. She’s been at home now for twelve days with full time nurses to help her around the house and to administer her meds. My mom cried for hours when I told her and she spends most of her days with Michelle keeping her entertained or taking her to lunch with the ladies. Mack, Drew, and I are doing everything we can to support Liam and Charlie. Mack and I have been watching Gracie for Karen and Charlie when they need to be with his mom or have some time together. Drew’s been keeping Liam busy on the days he doesn’t work by going to the gym and the shooting range.

  Liam has been staying strong in front of everyone but at night when I’m with him he breaks down. We haven’t slept together since the night he found out about his mom but at night I do go to his place and he always pulls me into his room after dinner and we lay together on his bed. Some nights I hold him as he cries, other nights we just lay next to each other talking. But every night around eleven I pull myself from his bed and head back to my apartment.

  While yes it would be easier to just sleep next to him, I can’t. My feelings towards him are growing from more than just sexual. And at nights as I lay in my bed trying to fall asleep, I think about what it would be like to be with Liam again. I think it would be great. We’ve always had this connection and now that we’re getting closer that connection is stronger than ever. Some nights I convince myself to talk to Liam about it but every time I see him, I chicken out. Now isn’t the right time to bring up my feelings. He needs to focus on his mom and not me.

  Mack, Drew, Liam, and I leave in the morning for our week beach trip, so the guys are staying over tonight so we can leave early in the morning. Liam tried to get out of coming because of his mom but she wasn’t having any of it. She threatened to not talk to him or see him for a month if he didn’t go. Of course, he bent to her will but bargained in that he gets to Facetime with her every day.

  Tonight we’re all going out to get out of the apartment and have a good time with our friends. All day today Mack and I have done everything we can to get ready for this trip from pampering ourselves to grocery shopping. We get dinner on our own before heading back to our apartment to get ready. Drew, Caleb and Liam are coming by around nine to hang out before we head to the Beer Garden.

  I’m putting on my makeup when I hear a knock at the door. I’m standing in my bathroom in my bra and panties about to yell to Mack to see if she can get that, when I hear her yell, “Liz can you get that? I’m nowhere close to being ready.”

  I yell back as I grab my robe and wrap it around me. “I’m not either.”

  “Please.”

  “Yeah. I’m getting it.” I open the door to three smiling facing.

  Drew steps inside first giving me a hug. “You know the whole floor can hear you guys yelling?”

  “Good. So you know we aren’t ready yet.”

  He chuckles as Caleb gives me a hug. “It’s good to see you again. I like your outfit. If I knew you were going for a bathroom chic look, I would have worn my bath towel.”

  “I’ll let you borrow one of mine.”

  He busts of laughing. “Perfect.”

  Liam is the last one in and I let the door close behind him as he pulls me into a hug. This hug is different than the other two. It’s soft, but we don’t want to let go of the other person. When I pull away a little to look at his face, I place my hand on his cheek. “How are you?”

  He smiles at me and my knees go weak. “I’m good.”

  He lets me go and I step away from him and head to my room so I can finish getting ready. “There’s beer in the fridge. Make yourself at home.”

  As I’m putting on mascara, Liam comes up behind me and places his hands on my hips. Removing the wand from my eye, I look at him in the mirror trying to gauge how he’s feeling.
He said he was good but was that just a scripted answer since Drew and Caleb were around? When I place the mascara down, he moves his hand from my hips to my front pulling me back against him. He rests his head on my shoulder and I lean into him further. “I want to stay here tonight.”

  I run my hands along his arms wrapped around me. “What do you mean? Do you not want to go to the Beer Garden?”

  “I want to go. I just want to stay like this. With you in my arms.”

  His words go straight to my heart and I want to say that I want that too. But I can’t. What if this is just his grief talking? I can’t agree without knowing if it’s what he really wants. “Well that would be awkward. How would we walk like this?”

  He chuckles as he moves my robe to the side and kisses my bare shoulder. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know.” I turn in his hold so I’m facing him, running my hands up his chest and around his neck. “Now isn’t the time.” I plead with my eyes for him to let the subject drop for now and he does.

  He gives me a short nod but before he loosens his hold on me. “But I am going to hold you tonight in your bed as we sleep.”

  Shaking my head slightly, I turn back towards the mirror to put on my lipstick as he leans on the bathroom door frame. For the first time I take him in from his light grey Henley with the sleeves bunched up to show off his forearms to his perfectly fitted jeans and Vans. He looks like sex on a stick and he’s making it very hard to resist him. “You’re very sure of yourself.”

  “Yeah. But I think you want me in your bed as much as I want to be there.”

  I slide past him while rubbing my body against his and I can see the heat flare in his eyes as I suppress a moan. “I don’t know about that.”

  “That’s okay because I do.”

  I chuckle as I grab my black leather pants off the bed and discreetly pull them on under my robe. Liam doesn’t take his eyes off me as he smirks, letting me know he’s testing me to see if I’ll remove my robe with him standing there. I shake my head no and motion for him to turn around.