“Okay, well, no, we weren't,” he started stumbling over his words.
“That's part of why I always thought we were casual,” she continued. “I was dating Wulf, and I assumed you were still seeing other women.”
“Well, I mean, of course I was,” he agreed. “Jesus, you've slept with me, I couldn't just let all those women go cold turkey.”
Katya laughed.
“See? And that was always in my mind. Even if I was sleeping with you and dating someone else, I knew if it ever got serious with Wulf, something would have to give. Despite everything I've done, I'm still an old fashioned, one-guy-one-girl kinda chick,” she told him.
It was kind of eye opening to realize they'd never talked so honestly and openly about their relationship. She'd always been obsessing over Wulf, and Liam had always been laying low, biding his time, playing his game. It should have felt awkward, but it didn't. She felt … relieved.
“I can be that way for you,” he said quickly. She smiled sadly.
“I don't think I believe that, Liam.”
“No. No, I can, and I have – when I say you're it, I mean it. You don't have to make any promises, and if you don't return my feelings at all, fine. I can handle that. But if the only thing holding you back from me is me sleeping with other girls, then you don't have anything to worry about,” he assured her, speaking fast.
“So you're saying you haven't slept with anyone since me?” she cocked up an eyebrow. He swallowed thickly.
“Well, uh ...” he glanced around the sidewalk, as if the answer was written in the concrete.
“If you're going to start this new-you off with lying, then this is pointless,” she stated. He nodded.
“Okay. I did sleep with other women when you and I were sleeping together,” he was honest. She nodded.
“See? I get that you think you feel a certain type of way, but you can't just say things like 'you're the only one',” she told him. “You say things, and I believe them, and then I catch you in a lie, and it's the same thing we've been doing, over and over.”
“I'm not lying. Since that date we had, right before shit hit the fan,” he took a deep, deep breath, “I knew you were it for me. And you've been it ever since.”
Katya watched him carefully for a moment. He had lied so convincingly to her for such a long time, trust was tentative at best between them. He was looking at her, his eyes wide and pleading. His lips pressed into a hard line. He was begging her, pleading with her, through his gaze.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I'm trusting you – but I'm warning you, this is a big thing you're saying to me. Something you don't even have to lie about, Liam. I won't hate you, I won't be mad at you. But I will feel both those things if I find out you lied to me again.”
“You won't,” he said quickly. “I mean it, angel cake. I want … I am the man for you, I know it.”
“And don't get ahead of yourself,” she held up her hand. “I'm still confused and angry and hurt. You may think you're my one and only – that doesn't mean I do.”
“Yet,” he corrected her, finally smiling big. She couldn't help it, she laughed. He was impossible to resist when he was in one of his silly modes.
“Maybe,” she agreed. “Possibly. God, what the fuck am I saying? And I'm still not having sex with you!”
“Yet,” he said again. She snorted and lightly punched him in the chest.
“I'm all full up on meaningful talks today, I'm going to take a bath and a nap,” she told him, heading towards the door to her building. She stopped for moment, then turned back to him. “I haven't talked to you at all today – have you just been lurking out here, all morning, waiting for me to show up?”
“Uh … no,” he said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I got a guy on the inside, you could say.”
“Tori,” she groaned.
“Yeah. I asked if she knew when you'd be back.”
“Did you happen to mention why you came home before me?”
“No. I value my balls, thank you very much.”
“Better hold onto them,” she warned him as she pulled open the door. “She's going to find out what went down, and she won't be happy.”
“I'll prepare myself. Can I call you tomorrow?” he asked, standing at her side. She shrugged.
“Sure, why not, who knows what's going on, anyway.”
“And hey, if you change your mind about that no sex thing, I'll be next door all day.”
“Okay. You go and hold your breath and wait for me.”
Before she could slip through the door, he grabbed her arm and yanked on it. She let out a squeak, then gasped when he kissed her hard. Before she could wrap her brain around what was happening, he let her go, smiled at her, then strode off towards his own building.
Her head was still spinning when she hustled into the building, so it took her a second to realize she'd walked into yet another awkward scenario.
I need to start making some girl friends, jesus. All these men, no wonder I'm always getting into trouble. Maybe I should go move in with Vieve and Brie.
Wulf was standing in the lobby, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was back in one of his suits, obviously on his way to or from work. He was looking very stern and nodding along as some woman talked to him. Talked to him and laughed at him and kept touching him. His arm, his chest, his shoulder.
While trying to swallow any sort of jealous feelings she might have, Katya looked over the other girl. She lived on the second floor, had long blonde hair, pretty blue eyes, and really big boobs. She also drove some sort of expensive looking car and only wore designer clothing. That was all Katya knew about her.
… that, and now I know she's apparently attracted to rich looking handsome men. Slut.
She took deep breath and shook her head. She was the one playing silly games, she was the one who had said no sex, and she was the one who kept making it plain that she had no intention of getting back together with him. So she had absolutely zero right to get jealous. Less than zero. The way she'd been acting, she should be congratulating him.
Yuuuuup, I'll get right on that.
She tried hugging the left side of the lobby, hoping to get by unnoticed. But of course, life wasn't that kind to her. He saw her before she could sneak behind him and turned in her direction.
“Tocci,” he barked out. “You never answered my message.”
“Uh ...” she responded articulately.
“Vieve messaged me from the road – I've been waiting down here for fifteen minutes,” he informed her, as if they'd had plans to meet or something. She stared at him, not sure how to respond, when his new friend joined the conversation.
“Oh, you're the baker! You live upstairs!” the woman gushed. Katya glanced between them and Wulf slowly smiled.
“Yup, I do. Katya Tocci,” she said, walking over to join the pair.
“Lana Tisdale,” blondie introduced herself. “So nice to meet you! You know our fearless leader here? Mr. Stone manages the building.”
Katya looked back at him. His smile had gotten a lot bigger.