Chapter 6 Rid Off

  ~•Liam•~

  She plopped onto the couch, dropped her head in her hands, while I carried her bag in and shut the door behind me.

  And yeah, she was back—in my space. Again.

  I stood by the door for a second. Because why not? A lot had gone down in the last thirty minutes.

  First, Maya told her “sweet” sister that I was her boyfriend. The nerdy guy standing next to her looked pissed. Then Maya stormed out, and I had to follow—because, well, apparently I was her boyfriend now.

  I had no idea how I was supposed to feel about that.

  Sure, I’ve been in the acting industry for a while, but that doesn’t mean I have to put on an act in my free time, either.

  “Still waiting,” I said dryly, and a sigh escaped her lips.

  “Sorry about that. I just needed to get away from them,” she muttered. I pursed my lips, then walked around the couch and stood in front of her.

  I crossed my arms over my chest as her hazel eyes latched onto mine.

  “Is there a reason for that?” I asked quietly. Her expression closed off, and she straightened up a bit.

  “I just gave you one,” she said, and I could hear the defensiveness in her voice. I raised a brow.

  Touchy topic, then.

  “Cool,” I muttered, glancing around the living room before looking back at her.

  “You’re in my space again, sweetheart,” I smirked. She looked like she’d rather dive off a cliff than admit what was really going on.

  “Maybe, if you could let me crash on your sofa a couple more nights—”

  I huffed. Of course, it’s the couch. I’d seen how curled up she’d been on it last night, and it couldn’t have been comfortable.

  And no, I’m not going to be a gentleman—never really been in my nature.

  “There’s a bedroom,” I said flatly. She stared at me like I’d lost my damn mind. She always did that, ever since we met—and she’s changed a lot since then.

  “We cannot share a bedroom,” she blurted, pointing between us like I’d suggested a crime.

  I smirked and sat at the far end of the couch.

  “I never said we were sharing a bed,” I pointed out. She pressed her lips together and stared down at her hands, shifting uncomfortably.

  “If you’d let me stay for a while, the couch is fine,” she said, eyes distant, voice soft.

  “Couples share a room,” I teased, hoping for at least a smile, maybe a laugh. But nothing. Just the crease between her brows deepening and her lips flattening into a line.

  “Can we pretend I never said that? Or that it never happened?” she asked.

  I raised a brow. “That won’t erase it from my head, trust me,” I shot back. Her frown deepened.

  We sat in silence for a while. I glanced her way.

  “She still bullies you?” I asked quietly. Her brow lifted, confusion and something close to annoyance crossing her face.

  “Like you did?” she snapped, and I shrugged.

  “We’ve been together almost twenty-four hours. I think I can say I don’t,” I said, lips pulling into a small smile. She didn’t think it was funny.

  “Mind your business, Carter,” she said dryly, then stood up and looked down at me.

  “Well, I’d like to go to bed now, and you’re on it,” she said. I chuckled.

  “Not sharing a bedroom then. I can work with that,” I said as I stood and gave her a look-over.

  She was trying to hide it, but I could see how exhausted she really was. And no, I didn’t know what her deal was with Jenny or the guy she was with—or what they might’ve done to her—but I knew Maya was using me to get back at them somehow.

  Which wasn’t okay. Especially when I had no clue what I’d been dragged into. But still… I’d like to think she was a friend.

  Not that she’d agree.

  “You know you can tell me if something’s going on,” I said, keeping my voice low. She scoffed, shook her head, and wrapped her arms around herself.

  Yeah. Time to mind my own fucking business.

  My phone rang. I hesitated, pulled it out, and when I saw the caller ID, my mood sank.

  I hit reject, shoved it back into my pocket, and gave her a stiff nod before heading upstairs to my room.

  Just when I thought I could finally live my life without her interference, she calls again. Tries to drag me back in.

  She’s already been a shitty mum. And now?

  Now she’s becoming a pest I need out of my life.