Growing Up and Other Tall Tales

Chapter 49

"Did he look weird to you? I think he did. Then again, he always looks weird."

"How do you know Aiden Romanov?" Liam asks pulling me gently to his side to avoid a stray drunkard singing and stumbling on the street, "Tone deaf and hammered. Not good."

"He's a friend of my roommate's." I shrug, "And he teaches me math."

"That explains why you solved that sum. Shane was coming up with all sorts of conspiracies."

"Why is it so hard to believe that I could've done it on my own?"

Liam placates me, "That's not what we mean. You have this weirdly passionate hatred for the subject."

I laugh as we approach the apartment building. I climb up a few steps and turn to Liam. Pulling my hair out of his jacket, I remove it and hand it over to him. He holds onto my hand after he takes the jacket and I smile a little.

"Lyra." he breathes out and then looks from our interlocked fingers to my face. He falters and smiles. "Lyra."

"That's good. You remember my name."

"This was never going to work out, was it?" he asks, not a hint of bitterness or anger creeping up on his gaze. I frown.

"What do you mean?"

He shrugs stepping closer, "It felt like I was at the movies with a friend. Rather than a date. The only part that is remotely romantic is now. You know." He helplessly shrugged

I want to argue that that it is not true and that I am having a great time but he's right. There's nothing in this that Nick goes on and on about with Amy. Something I've searched for because this could've been great because Liam is genuinely a great guy. But I realize that I've drawn too many parallels between him and Nick.

I purse my lips and look at him guiltily.

"Aw don't do that," he squeezes my hand and chuckles, "If it isn't meant to be, it isn't meant to be."

"That's awfully mature of you," I tell him

"I know," he frowns and shudders dramatically, "For what it's worth Lyra Donovan, this past month was worth getting my heart broken over. You are worth it."

I step back horrified and Liam holds my gaze sincerely for a good, heartstopping minute before laughing,

"Oh my god," he collapses, "I'm kidding. There was no heartbreaking, don't worry. Calm down. Your face, oh my god."

"You know what?" I dig my nails into his wrist, "It's a good thing this is ending. You are an asshole."

"Now, you are breaking my heart," he tells me waggling a finger at my face. "But seriously, this past month was fun."

"It was alright," I shrug but smile at him, "Thank you."

"Friends?" he asks scratching the back of his head and awkward as the day he asked me out

"You are not asking for my hand in marriage," I let him know and he holds out his hands for a hug. I lean in and we stay like that saying goodbye to something that could've been, some other lifetime, somewhere far away.

He tilts his head back not pulling away and looks down at me bundled into him. I let him lean in and press one last kiss on my mouth.

"Friends don't kiss each other," I tell him and he shrugs and smirks

"Couldn't help myself. Forgive me."

I tiptoe and kiss him once more before stepping back, "I might."

He steps back too and brings two fingers to his temple biding adieu and he holds my hands before I slap him making him laugh.

"He's a lucky guy," Liam's eyes twinkle as he walks backwards into the empty street

"Who is?" I have to raise my voice a little so that he can hear me

He makes a confused face and tilts his head before shaking it exasperatedly. "Whoever can stand your face for a long time."