Katya was caught off guard by the desperation in Vieve's voice. It was just under the surface of her words, barely noticeable, but there all the same. It suddenly dawned on Katya that Wulf's sister didn't really have any friends.
“I would like that. I go back to work this week, but call me sometime and we'll get together. I'll bring my roommate Tori, you'll love her,” Katya said.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” a voice said from behind her. She looked around to find Gaten Shepherd approaching them. “Don't tell lies about Tori, now. Love is a strong word.”
Vieve looked startled, but her smile was carefully plastered onto her face. Katya chuckled and held up her hand.
“Vieve, this is Gaten, he lives in the building next door. Gate, this is Genevieve Stone – her brother owns the company that manages the buildings,” Katya introduced them. Gate grinned and reached out, enthusiastically shaking Vieve's hand.
“Good to meet you. Are you moving in?” he asked. She seemed flustered and worked to pull her hand away.
“Oh, no. No, I live … somewhere else,” she stuttered.
“Vieve and I used to be neighbors,” Katya took over the conversation. “We grew up next door to each other. She's just moving to San Francisco now.”
“Fun! You'll love it here. Nice meeting you. Katya, always good to see you. We'll have to do dinner again sometime soon,” he said, pulling her into a hug. She laughed and patted him on the back.
“Soon,” she agreed.
“It was nice meeting you, too,” Vieve said, holding out her hand again. Gate waved her away.
“C'mon, you know you want a hug, too,” he teased, leaning close and hugging her as well.
Katya almost burst out laughing as Vieve's entire face turned red. She was so fair, a blush was impossible to hide. It wasn't nice to snicker, but Katya couldn't help it. She was glad she wasn't the only one who had trouble hiding it when she felt awkward or embarrassed.
He finally pulled back and walked away, waving goodbye to both women. When he'd jogged across the street to his car, Vieve finally cleared her throat.
“Is he your new boyfriend?” she asked nonchalantly. Katya laughed again.
“No. No, I think me having a boyfriend is a dangerous idea. Gate's just a friend, I've house-sat for him when he's gone out of town, he's fixed some stuff around my apartment. Super nice guy. Too nice – since I've lived here, he's had one girlfriend after another who's treated him like garbage. This is the first time since I've met him that he's been single,” she explained.
“Oh, that's too bad. I hope he finds a nice girl,” Vieve sighed, still watching after the man.
Hmmm, pity I'm so shitty at relationships, or I'd seriously consider playing Cupid for those two.
But Katya didn't want to screw up anyone else's life. She'd done a thorough enough job screwing up her own. So she said another goodbye to Vieve, promising to call at some point, then she stood back and waved as the big car pulled away from the curb.
After the Stone sisters had disappeared around the block, Katya sighed and turned back towards her building. She stared up for a moment, bracing herself for all the questions Tori would ask, then she took a step towards the door.
“Katya.”
She froze and looked over. Liam was stepping around the corner of the building, offering a grim smile. He stopped a couple feet away from her, his hands shoved deep into his pants pockets. He looked upset and nervous and like he was going to be sick at any moment. She took a deep breath and set her bag down on the sidewalk.
“Katya, I'm so sor -”
She cut him off by leaning in and wrapping her arms around his torso. She let out a sigh as she hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his chest.
“Me, too,” she whispered, trying not to cry. He was stunned for a moment, then his arms came around her shoulders.
“You don't have anything to be sorry for,” he said in a low voice. “I completely lost it. I … I didn't mean any of it. I was just so angry and … stupid. I'm a stupid, stupid guy.”
“No,” she shook her head. During her drive home, she'd thought a lot about the things he'd said. “You were right – I'm not some perfect angel. What you did was horrible, and you're still kind of an awful person, and if you ever talk to me like that again, I will punch you in the throat,” she started to threaten. He chuckled.
“You'd have to jump to reach.”
“But I guess I kind of forgot about your feelings, too. I knew … when it was all happening, I felt bad about the way I treated you. And then I was so angry at you, I convinced myself it didn't matter if I'd done something bad. But that's not right, I'm not that kind of person. And I'm really sorry,” she finished.
“Not as sorry as I am.”
“Good.”
He barked out a laugh, then she felt his lips against the top of her head.
“I don't deserve someone like you in my life,” he whispered. She nodded and felt a tear slip down her cheek.
“Probably not. Pity you're impossible to get rid of,” she whispered back. He laughed again, then rubbed her back.
“You really could've worked this moment, angel cake. I was literally ready to get down on my knees,” he told her. She snorted and pulled away.
“Who says I'm done? The day is still young.”
He smiled, then reached out and wiped at her face.
“You are a good person, Katya Tocci.”
She sniffled.
“You're an okay person sometimes, Liam Edenhoofernanny.”
He burst out laughing, and it broke the tense moment between them.
“I give up. I'm going to legally change my last name to Eden, just so you can pronounce it,” he told her. She nodded and picked up her bag.
“Good, it will make life easier.”
“Are we really okay?” he checked. She shook her head.
“No. But how about if I promise to treat you better, you promise to be better,” she offered. He nodded.
“I can do that. That's all I want – to be a better man for you.”
“Why?” she asked, and it seemed to surprise him. “I mean, there's lots of women out there, Liam. Women who quite literally throw themselves at you. What you and I had was special, but … is it really worth all this to you?”
He stepped up close to her again.
“Yes. You're so worth it, Katya. I never … you see, before, you were so into Wulf. From the beginning. And that was my fault, it was all a game to me, so I never really tried for you. Not until it was too late and we were in the lie too deep and I was so scared of losing you. But even before it all ended, it was only you, angel cake. The only girl I've ever wanted to spend every moment with,” he told her. “The only girl for me.”
Wow. She'd never heard him talk that way before – not in so many words, at least. It was still hard to fathom how deep his feelings ran for her. She really hadn't been paying attention. Only her? The only girl?
“Liam,” she shook her head. “That's very sweet, but I'm sorry, I just find it hard to believe. The only girl for you? You once told me it felt like if you didn't orgasm twice a day, you were going to explode. And you and I certainly weren't having sex twice a day.”