Didnt see it coming || Liam O'donovan

Chapter forty-four

•Riley's POV

It's been 6 days,and it's now the 23rd of December. Christmas Eve Eve. I'm with Tracy,Liam,and Frank sent by Mike to get some stuff for Christmas Day since tomorrow would be too busy and most places would have nothing left in stock. When you don't live at the Dumping Ground anymore but stay over,you still wanna do your part. Tracy isn't even gonna be there on Christmas Day she just wanted to tag along.

"Okay so" Tracy pulled out the list Mike gave her

"We need Sprouts,tomatoes,cucumbers,beans,tea,Milk,toilet paper,tissues,flour,oats,cranberries for cranberry sauce,5 slabs of chocolate,extra wrapping paper,mince,butter,and about 15 pairs of Christmas stockings"

"I'll get the vegetables from that vegetable stand Gina loves" Tracy said
"I'll get the rest of the food" Liam added
"I'll get the Stockings and paper and tissues" I said
"Why do I have to be the one to get the mince at the butcher's" Frank groaned "why don't you go"
"Because I already have to go that way to get some last minute gifts for my friends" I said
"Do we even need mince pies?" he asked Tracy
She just rolled her eyes and walked off to go buy the vegetables
"I hate you lot" Frank mumbled before shuffling away to do his duty
"Where are you gonna get the stockings and stuff?" Liam asked me
"Fenwick if they have em. You getting the food at Waitrose?" I asked and he nodded
We were going the same way so we walked together
This past week we'd gotten closer and the awkwardness was thankfully gone. It felt like the friendship we had years ago,before there was anything romantic,which was highly nostalgic.

Suddenly Liam stopped and said "can we not go this way?"
"Why?" I asked confused,we were going the most direct way.
"I just" he shuffled his foot uncomfortably and looked back up at the way we were going
"You remember back when we shut down a couple years ago and everyone got sent off to burnywood?"
"How could I forget" I muttered. Not a period of life I wanted to look back on
He paused for a bit,then said "You also remember how I ran away and was homeless until we re opened?"
"Yeah"
"This was the alley I spent that period in. I tend to avoid going through here whenever I can" he muttered.
"Oh,Liam..I'm sorry" sympathy washed over me.
I didn't have that period easy,but at least I had a roof over my head
I gently grabbed his hand and pulled him away changing our direction,while giving it a slight squeeze. I tend to do this as a silent way of comforting someone,giving the message "I'm here" when the person doesn't want to talk about it but I can tell a little reassurance and comfort is needed. Liam knows this and he's always appreciated it. He rubbed his thumb against my hand while our hands were entwined,and I felt immediate alarm at the way my heart skipped a beat and when butterflies invaded my chest. I do this with everyone so what in the name of Mary Shelley's desk secret was that feeling. My phone rang and I was glad of an excuse to pull my hand away from his warm one. I looked down and saw it was my roommate James
"Hey Jimbo"
"Sup airhead,hangout at the club at 9,you down?"
"Sure"
"How's break?"
"It's great" I looked up and saw we were getting closer to Fenwick "I have to go I'll see you tonight"
"Adios"
I put my phone back in my pocket and asked Liam
"Any idea how long you'll be?"
"Dunno-it's the day before Christmas Eve so there's a high chance Waitrose won't have everything on the list so I might go to Asda after. You?"
"I'm not sure either,I dunno why we always leave the shopping this late. I'll see you back home"

We said bye and went on to do our own assigned tasks. Thankfully Fenwick had everything and even reasonable gifts for my friends,so I was done in about half an hour. I went home and dumped everything apart from the gifts I bought in Mike's office,then went to the living room to bump into a surprise
"Saph!"
I ran and hugged her and she laughed "Harry said on the phone there were three oldies hanging around,thought I ought to fill in my spot"
"Well well,look who the cat dragged in" we pulled apart to see Liam smirking and Saph rolling her eyes as they gave each other a hug.
"You staying for Christmas Saph?" I asked when they pulled away
"Nah,just popping in for a visit" she said "I promised Harry I'd help him paint a picture of Jeff I'll see you two late-" Harry excitedly dragged her away before she could even finish her sentence
I checked the time on my phone-it was only 2pm.
I glanced at Liam and looked back down. There was something I'd been meaning to ask him for a few days now,I just didn't know how to. It's now or never I guess
I cleared my throat "Er Liam"
He turned to look at me while running a hand through his hair. The minimum sunshine coming in through the window illuminated his eyes and I automatically felt that jolt in my stomach again.
"Yeah?" I tried to tear my focus away from the way the tip of his nose had turned pink from the outside cold
"Something I've been meaning to ask you"
"Go ahead" he smiled
Oh God, all of a sudden I realised what those jolts in my stomach were
"Er,well my agent's badgering me about these lyrics a reader sent in,a song they wrote based off of my book,and she's been pestering me to pick someone to sing it for some intro on an official audiobook reading. I read the lyrics and well,your voice would be perfect" I finally let out "if you don't want to forget I said anything" I added quickly "I'll just tell her to-"
"Hey" he cut me off "I'd love to"
I stared at him "wait,really?"
"Yeah for sure" he smiled "as long as it's not some Disney channel sounding vibe" he teased
"I'd rather burn the book than let it come to that" I rolled my eyes with a smile
I texted him the lyrics and music sheet
"I'll play the guitar you can just worry about the lyrics" I said
"Hey I can do both its no problem"
"I want to do it,thanks though" I smiled
"Just one thing,where are we gonna record it? Cause with all the noise going on around here it's not possible"
"There's a music studio next to the publishing building,she told me to go there whenever I decide to do it."
"Okay we can go no-"
"Hey,Liam" Mike walked in with a bag in his hand
"My aunt sent me an old jacket of mine that doesn't fit anymore,("hasn't fit in years"he chuckled under his breath), and I'd like you to have it"
"Oh thanks Mike-" he pulled the jacket out and we were greeted by a colourful pastel piece of material that I could not for the life of me,picture Liam in
"I know it's not your usual style" Mike chuckled as I had to look away so I wouldn't laugh at the look on Liam's face. Thing is the jacket was actually nice looking,it just had far too many colours to be worn by Liam O'Donovan.
"Wear it just for today,I'd really like to see you in this" Mike pleaded
"I'd really REALLY like to see you in this" I smirked,barely able to contain my laughter at Liam's "save me" face
He rolled his eyes and took his own jacket off,before unfolding Mike's
"Wait Mike,Liam's taller than you,and more muscular now. I would have understood if you gave it to him back when he was 15 or 16 but now?" I frowned,nodding towards Liam's visible biceps in his tight jumper