The Girl In The Dirty Shirt

Chapter 101

A month of trying to forget, of trying to force it all away; to force myself into a normal life, but it just wasn't happening. I would spend the rest of my life answering yes to questions like: Weren't you the girl who was married to Liam Gallagher? Or "You're Lyla Gallagher, right? Why did you leave Liam, was he really an asshole like all the magazines said?

He wasn't.

I'd have to face it, I couldn't escape from any of it no matter how hard I tried; I would forever be branded as Mrs Gallagher. I couldn't run away from it, not like everything else I had ever run from; it was impossible.

A month and I hadn't spoken to him; I hadn't called, not him anyway; I called Alan and found out where he was and then I called Maggie and got myself a ticket and I got on a plane with nothing but my purse and my old high school sweater; and now I was standing in the hallway of their hotel just...staring.

I stood in the middle of the hallway, room 814 in front of me and room 815 behind me. I knew which one he was in...All I had to do was knock.

I stared at the shiny brass numbers on the door...taunting me. What if he didn't want to see me?
My heart slammed in my chest as I raised my hand to knock on the door; I swallowed hard.

I jumped when the door opened and dropped my hand coming face to face with him made my heart flutter. I couldn't find my voice; he just stared at me for a second before he spoke.

"What the hell are y'doin' 'ere?"

I blinked with my mouth still agape, I just took a breath, still not finding my words.

"Lyla?" He asked, looking at me, his hand still on the doorknob, the door ajar.

My chest tightened hearing my name in his accent; I'd always loved the way it had sounded, but it was always thicker when he was drunk, more obvious.

"Your hair is different" I said quietly.

"So's yours" he nodded to my now blonde locks resting on my shoulders.

I shrugged a little "I needed a change"

"What are you doin' here?" He asked again

"How are you?" I asked biting my lip gently

He reached up pulling my lip from between my teeth before dropping his hand. "You're avoidin' my question"

"You know why I'm here"

"Tell me anyway"

"I..." I looked up at him and his eyes were watching mine. I swallowed again. "I missed you"

"What about 'im?" He asked nodding to the door across the hall.

I shook my head "I don't want to talk about him right now, I want to talk to you"

"I was just leavin'"

"To go to the bar, come on, just....talk to me" I whispered "Please?"

"Who says I was goin' to the pub?"

"I know you; you did a few lines and now you're going to go get piss drunk with the guys"

"Don't think I've ever seen y'this vulnerable before"

I sighed looking at him "Yes you have" I said quietly "Are you gonna talk to me or not?"

He stared at me for a second before he sighed and pushed the door open wider and swept his arm.

"After you"

I walked into the otherwise empty room and started to wonder if this had been a bad idea.

"Guess since y'flew all the way 'ere that's the least I can do"

I sat on the end of the bed and smiled a little "Thanks"

"Startin' t'wonder if y'really hate flyin' though; you seem t'do it a lot by yourself for hatin' it so much"

"Believe me, I hate it; I hate it very much"

He sat in the empty desk chair across from the bed and just looked at me.

"Y'came here t'talk, so let's 'ear it"