Liam's POV
The morning sun slipped through the curtains as I buttoned up my shirt, the faint hangover of last night's chaos still lingering in my chest not from the drinks, but from her. The image of Aria walking away replayed in my head like a broken reel. Every time I closed my eyes, I could still feel the press of her lips soft, fleeting, gone too soon.
I exhaled slowly, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs. The lobby was already busy with people checking out, the sound of rolling suitcases echoing faintly across the tiled floor.
That's when I saw her.
Aria was by the entrance, hair falling gently over her shoulders, dressed in a cream top and jeans simple, but somehow she still looked like she'd stepped out of a dream. Our eyes met for a second, and just as quickly, she looked away, pretending to adjust her bag. The air between us tightened.
Caleb's voice broke the silence. "Hey, man! You're ready?"
"Yeah," I said, clearing my throat.
He grinned, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. "Good. I'll be heading somewhere first gotta meet someone before we hit the road." He winked, clearly proud of himself.
Ethan walked up just then, hand brushing against Aubrey's as they approached. They exchanged a look quiet, comfortable and I caught the faintest smile tugging at Ethan's lips.
Aubrey turned to Aria. "You should go with Liam," she said casually, like she hadn't just thrown a match into gasoline.
Aria froze. "What?"
"Well, Ethan and I are going together, and Caleb's got his own plans," Aubrey said, her tone light. "So it makes sense."
Aria's eyes flickered toward me. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, with a small sigh, she nodded. "Fine."
I stepped forward before she could say more. "I'll take your luggage."
She hesitated, but let me take it. The silence that followed was thick heavy enough to choke on. I loaded her suitcase into the trunk, closed it with a dull thud, and gestured for her to get in.
The drive started quiet. Too quiet. The hum of the engine and the faint music from the radio filled the space that our words couldn't. She stared out the window, fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve.
Finally, I broke the silence. "Why are you avoiding me?"
Her head turned sharply. "I'm not avoiding you."
I gave a humorless laugh. "Right."
She said nothing. Her gaze returned to the window, and for a while, the only sound was the wind rushing past.
A few minutes later, I spoke again, softer this time. "Do you mind if I stop by my place for a bit? I need to grab something."
She nodded without looking at me. "Sure."
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye her posture stiff, her face calm, but I could see it in her expression: the same confusion that had been eating at me since last night.
And as the road stretched ahead of us, I couldn't help but wonder if that kiss had changed everything.
—-
The drive home was silent. The kind of silence that wasn't peaceful just thick with everything neither of us wanted to say. Aria sat beside me, her gaze fixed outside the window, fingers tracing idle patterns on her lap. Every few minutes, I caught myself glancing her way, wondering if she was thinking about the kiss too… the way she pulled back as if she'd realized she'd crossed a line she shouldn't have.
When I finally pulled up in front of the house, the familiar gates swung open, revealing the white-stoned mansion surrounded by rose hedges and a tall oak at the center of the yard.
"I just need to grab something," I said, turning off the engine.
She nodded, quiet as ever, eyes following the winding path up to the door. For some reason, I didn't want to leave her sitting in the car alone. "You can come in, if you want," I added casually.
She hesitated but finally unbuckled her seat belt. "Okay. Just for a minute."
The moment we stepped inside, my mother's voice carried from the hallway. "Liam, darling! You're back already?"
Then her eyes landed on Aria. Her smile widened immediately. "And who is this gorgeous lady?"
Aria froze, looking unsure whether to speak, but my mother crossed the space before she could even respond, taking her hands warmly. "Oh, my dear—you're stunning. Are you a friend of Liam's?"
"She's…" I began, but my mother cut in with a grin. "Never mind that, you must come in. You can't just stand in the hallway looking this lovely."
I caught Aria's small, nervous smile as she let my mother guide her toward the living room. It was the first time I'd seen her look so shy.
The room smelled faintly of lavender and tea. My sister, layla , appeared from the staircase, hair tied up messily, a book tucked under her arm.
"Liam," she said before spotting Aria. "Oh. Hi!" Her smile turned playful. "And who's this? The mystery girl Mom's already fawning over?"
Aria blushed. "I'm Aria," she said softly.
Layla gave a small approving nod. "Pretty name. Pretty girl too. You must be special if Liam brought you home."
I groaned. "Layla—"
"What?" she teased, clearly enjoying this. "I'm just saying."
My mother returned then, holding a tray of tea and pastries. "You'll stay for a bit, won't you, dear? It's rude to leave before having tea."
Aria smiled politely. "I don't want to intrude—"
"Nonsense!" Mom interrupted. "Any friend of Liam's is welcome here."
So she stayed.
A few minutes later, my father entered, his footsteps slow but steady.
"Dad!" Layla called. "Come see Liam's new friend!"
I groaned quietly. "Layla…"
She just grinned at me, clearly enjoying herself.
My father appeared in the doorway, still in his neatly pressed shirt, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. His gaze shifted from me to Aria, calm and assessing as always.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Knight," Aria greeted softly, offering a polite smile.
He nodded approvingly. "Good afternoon, dear. It's nice to meet you."
"You too, sir," she said, her voice gentle but sure.
He studied her for a moment longer, then smiled faintly. "You remind me of someone," he said thoughtfully.
Aria blinked, surprised. "Really?"
He nodded. "An old friend. She had that same calm presence. It's… rare these days."
Then he turned to me, a knowing glint in his eyes. "It's good to see you bringing company home, son."
Layla snickered under her breath, earning a glare from me, while Mom beamed as if she'd already decided Aria was her favorite person in the world.
Aria smiled shyly and sat back down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
For a while, everything felt easy again. Mom talked endlessly about how lovely the garden looked this time of year, Layla made jokes, and even my father joined in with rare humor. And Aria she fit in effortlessly, her polite words and soft laughter blending with theirs like she'd always belonged there.