I blushed, feeling like there was a glowing sign above my head that read I LET LIAM FUCK ME IN THE BACK OF MY BAKERY JUST HOURS AGO!
Or maybe it was the smile that refused to leave my face.
Or maybe it was the fact that when Carla texted me that Ernie wanted us to sing tonight, I said yes without a second of hesitation. Because Liam was right next to me when it happened.
He then grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the bakery so we could catch a ride to my apartment.
There he waited as I got changed and got my guitar.
Standing at the front door with a grin on his face, forever telling me I was beautiful.
We rushed from the apartment, holding hands, to another ride waiting outside for us.
Liam took care of it all.
He told me just to focus on being excited to sing and play guitar.
The man who supported me. Who acted like he… loved me.
I knew he cared about me. That was for sure.
Somewhere in the depths of my heart, that burn of mistake or guilt faded by the minute with him.
I was getting something I wanted.
And I wanted him.
I wanted Liam.
I wanted it all.
I looked back at him as I walked across the stage.
There were people already clapping and cheering. Because they knew Carla and Faye’s names.
They put me at the center mic, right in the middle of the stage.
I took a deep breath and strummed one chord on the guitar.
My eyes moved to find Liam.
He stood, staring at me with big eyes and a big smile.
I opened my mouth to say hey to the audience.
And a thought hit me hard.
I was fucking in love with Liam.
“One more for our lead singer!” Carla yelled.
Everyone at the bar erupted into cheers.
Liam let out a loud whistle and clapped his hands like cracks of thunder.
Faye put her arm around me and handed me a shot glass.
I took a deep breath, laughing so hard my stomach was hurting.
I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so much with friends.
And Liam.
I looked back at him and he nodded to me.
“Drink up,” Carla said. “Help her… Drink! Drink! Drink!”
In a second, the entire bar was cheering me on.
I pointed to Carla and Faye then nodded.
They each had a shot glass too.
We lifted the glasses and gently clanked them together.
I shut my eyes and threw the drink back.
The second it hit my throat, I put the shot glass down - upside down - and waved my hands.
I was done.
Anything after that drink and I’d be hugging my toilet instead of Liam.
Speaking of which, he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me and kissing my neck.
I swallowed the whiskey, coughed and laughed.
“Are you trying to kill me?” I asked him.
“Sorry,” he said. “I just need to make sure everyone here knows you’re taken. There’s a lot of eyes on you tonight, Em.”
“No way,” I said.
“Trust me,” Liam said. “I’ve already mentally beat the shit out of ten guys. And there’s one at the end of the bar that keeps looking… I might have to kick his ass for real.”
“Oh, yes,” I teased. “I’d love to see you in a bar fight.”
“Well, he’s right there,” Liam said as he pointed.
I looked and gasped, grabbing his hand.
Liam then pointed with his other hand.
I laughed as the guy stood up and walked away from the bar.
“Want me to pick a fight with someone, babe?” Liam asked.
As tempting as that was…
“Why not just get me out of here and have your way with me?” I asked.
“I like that better,” Liam said.
He moved me out of the way and reached into his pocket and put cash on the bar.
“You don’t have to pay,” Carla said to him. “Ernie will pay.”
“You’ll have to blow him for that,” Faye said.
“Worth it,” Carla said.
I saw the look on Liam’s face and I clapped my hands as I laughed.
“Let me cover the drinks,” Liam said. “Just so nobody is shelling out blowjobs that have no meaning.”
“I’m sure Emily won’t have that issue later,” Carla said.
She then made a gesture with her hand and mouth that made Faye laugh…
I shook my head. “Liam is much bigger than that.”
That made Carla freeze in mid fake air blowjob.
She looked at Liam.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t help it. It’s just how I’m built.”
“Carla, I’ve never seen you so quiet before,” Faye said.
“I’m just filling my spank bank,” she said. “Hope you don’t mind, Emily…”
“As long as Liam comes home with me,” I said.
I put my hand out for him to take.
I never felt so confident in my life.
Before Liam could touch me, someone else touched my hand.
It was the guy from across the bar.
His hand touching mine, a million-dollar smile on his face.
I didn’t have a second to process what was happening before Liam threw a punch and hit the guy.
Carla and Faye cheered as the guy fell to the floor.
Liam moved in on me and pulled me against him.
I gasped.
Ernie appeared a second later. “What happened?”
“This asshole touched Emily,” Carla said as she pointed to the guy on the floor.
“Liam hit him,” I said.
“I’ll get Dozer to throw his ass out,” Ernie said. “Piece of shit.”
I looked at Liam.
“There’s your bar fight, babe,” Liam said. “Now can we get home?”
Home…
I smiled.
I loved the idea of home with Liam.
That last shot?
It didn’t make me hug the toilet, but it made me fall asleep in the car.
I was basically cuddled up on Liam’s lap the entire ride back to my place.
When we arrived, I felt him trying to wake me, but it didn’t work all that great.
I managed to get on my feet, but my eyes were only half open.
Liam laughed and helped me get to my apartment.
I gave him my key and he unlocked the door.
Inside, he locked the door and we made a line right for the bedroom.
“I want to fuck you, Liam,” I said.
Even I could hear my words slurring.
“It’s okay, babe,” he said. “We did a lot together today.”
“I never had sex in my bakery before,” I said. “I fantasized a lot about it.”
“Oh yeah? Who was the lucky guy?”
I snorted. “You.”
“Not all the time,” Liam said.
“Well… sometimes it was John Stamos.”
“Uncle Jesse?” Liam asked.
“Hell yeah,” I said. “That man doesn’t age one bit.”
“Are you saying I’ve aged?”
We were in my bedroom and I sat down on the edge of my bed and looked up at Liam.
“You got hotter with age, Liam. That made me hate you.”
Liam crouched down in front of me. “And you got more beautiful.”