Two things happen at once. Liam frowns at me, seeming upset with my tidbit revelation. Abigail, relator lady, however, seems more than pleased with the new development. Feels like I just put her on the Pass/Go Liam Brody monopoly square. Because from this point onward she’s in a get Liam race. She mainly talks to him, flashing him with smiles which, if you ask me, aren’t of the professional realm. And there are the assortment of eye flutters as if they were on a very promising date.
“This one,” she says, looking at Liam as she opens the door with a key. “Has two master bedrooms with attached private bathrooms, two additional bedrooms on the second floor, two large flex rooms in a finished basement.” She smiles at him, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Air conditioning, vinyl windows, and a fenced yard.” She unbuttons her jacket to reveal a sheer silk tank top. “Oh, and it has a beautiful outdoor living space and landscaping with covered patio, pergola, fire pit, large yard, and a storage shed.” Then she adds, “Great for entertaining. Do you like to entertain, Liam?”
So here is this Abigail person, doing her job while being friendly and all I can think of is punching her in the middle of her face. It troubles me beyond any measure. I’m not that kind of woman. I love women, I mean, to me we’re all sisters. I generally think we’re the better gender. I’ll be the first in line to fight our fight, to support each other, and maximize our potential. But Abigail here is healthily appreciating Liam a little too much, and though I can’t really blame her, and in any other circumstance I’d be communicating, “quite a catch, huh, sister?” the stunt she is pulling is killing me. It’s something I’ve known, but never really made myself admit to. When it comes to Liam, I’m possessive. He’s not even mine to be possessive of. This is beyond ridiculous! I feel ashamed and glad that all these revelations are internal with no one to witness the vileness.
Abigail went out to the front yard to answer a call from a potential client, but says before she goes “I’m right outside if you need me, Liam. I’ll make it quick.”
“Hold my phone for a sec,” I ask Liam as we walk around the kitchen area. “I like this space,” I say, rummaging through my bag, looking for my lip balm.
“Yeah. The backyard has potential,” Liam says, his eyes wandering around the space.
I finally find the lip balm. We end up on two sides of the kitchen’s pass-through window. Bracing himself on the counter on the side connected with the dining room, Liam watches me as I apply the balm on my lips. “It’s cozy and functional. I like it better than the first one,” I say through the process.
He nods, his stare not leaving the finger hovering over my lips.
“Hey, so why didn’t you tell me you were accepted to Doctors Without Borders?” Not sure why I bring this thing from a couple of weeks ago up right now, but it popped into my mind earlier and I’m feeling a bit anxious. Plus, I feel more comfortable asking this question with a wall separating us.
Liam scratches his cheek with his thumb. His brows draw in. “Didn’t I?”
I shake my head. “No, you didn’t. Casey mentioned it on Isabella’s birthday and you just sort of confirmed it.”
His tongue plays with his front teeth as he contemplates for a couple of beats. “I don’t know.” His eyes hold mine. “Maybe telling you would make the saying good-bye part real.”
Trying to lighten the sudden tense moment, I say, “It’s not going to be a real good-bye, though, is it?”
Liam’s hardening features scares the lightness away.
“When did you say you were leaving?”
His demeanor makes me brace for the answer. He drops his eyes. “In a week.” Slowly his eyes come back to mine.
My mouth drops a little. “A—” I frown. “Week?”
We hold a taut stare for a stretch till an incoming message alert comes from my phone and breaks the silence. I look for it in my jeans back pocket, remembering handing it to Liam while I was busy looking for the lip balm. I watch Liam as he drops his eyes to the device in his hand. So many expressions pass over his features as he looks at the screen. There are the narrowing eyes, then the frown, then the little mouth drop followed by slight red tint on his cheekbones, and last, the scorching stare when his eyes glance at mine.
He clears his throat. “It’s your sister.” He passes me the device through the window. His stare follows my every move while he is doing a lousy job of trying to hide a smile with a sinister flair.
I swallow thickly in tandem to the heat blazing my face now as I read the message frozen on the screen.
Victoria to Anna: Hey, so about your hornyness situation, since you and Liam are such good buddies and all, why not ask the good doctor to lend you a hand . . . Pun intended.
Sliding the phone into my back pocket, I plot how I can become an only child. Glancing at Liam somewhere near his shoulder, not daring to meet his eyes, I dismiss the thing with, “My sister, just your usual set the world to rights sort of thing.”
“Mmhmm,” Liam nods, looking like he’s about to either crack up or pin me to the nearest wall. His mouth is set in a sexy smile while his eyes but devour me.
“Sorry about that.” Abigail’s high heels announce her return. “Are we ready for the next one?” Again, her attention zoomed in on Liam. “It’s a bit of a walk or we can drive there, together.”
“We’ll meet you there,” Liam says and tips his head, gesturing for me to follow.
“This one is even closer to the hospital,” Liam says as we get out of the car, ready for the last viewing.
“I love the exterior, and look, it has a porch with a swing,” I say enthusiastically. Liam’s eyes shine with joy as they follow me.
“So, this one is a 4-star Built Green,” Abigail says . . . to Liam. “It has airy open floor plans and upgraded details which include custom kitchen islands with designer colors, stainless steel appliances.” Her heels click on the hardwood floor as she makes her way to draw the curtains. “As you can see, natural light is abundant.”
Liam and I exchange a look, our eyes having a quick conversation about how much we like the place. Liam asks Abigail to see the brochure with the floor plan and the price again. Too eagerly, Abigail plants herself at his side, offering information he didn’t ask for while inching closer and closer. I swear her boob is about to graze his bicep.
My brazen-flirtation allergies play up. I twist my mouth and go outside to the patio in favor of some fresh air.
“Thank you, Abigail, we’ll be in touch,” Liam says moments later where we stand on the front lawn.
Abigail produces a business card from her purse. “Here’s my card if you need anything. Questions, second viewing, I’m available twenty-four-seven.” She draws out a pen and scribbles something on the back. “Here’s my private number just in case you can’t reach me.” She smiles at Liam, handing him the card. “I’m available if you need someone to discuss the properties, or just talk.”
Liam hooks me into a side embrace. “Got my Anna. She knows what’s good for me.” He winks at me, leaving his arm around me. With his other, he shakes Abigail’s hand. I give her a small wave and we make our way back to Thanos. Got my Anna, and leaving in a week, keep playing in my head all through the drive back, and long after Liam drops me off at the studio and returns to the hospital.