For Now and Always (Liam Payne)

Chapter 10

When Eva got home, hours later, she secretly hoped Liam would be there, sitting at her door, begging her to come back to him, but he wasn't. She'd ridden different buses, all over the city, looking for a familiar place to get off. When she finally spotted a coffee shop she knew was just blocks from her flat, she got off the bus and walked the rest of the way home. She was disappointed he wasn't there, but this isn't a fairy tale, she told herself. He's not prince Charming and she wasn't Cinderella. Nobody was going to swoop in and save her from the powers of darkness. The darkness was in HER head and she had to work it out herself.

She let herself in the flat, not even acknowledging Dylan when she said hello. She went straight to her room. She wanted to throw herself on the bed and cry for hours. Eva pushed open that door, threw her purse at the chair and turned to the bed to begin her cryfest.

"It's about damn time, Love. I was just about to call the police and report you missing." Liam sat on her bed, eyebrows knit together and a pout on his perfect lips. But his eyes? They were filled with sadness and more than a bit of anger. "What in the holy fuck were you thinking? Why didn't you answer that damn crappy phone of yours? It's been hours!"

Eva was dumbstruck. He was here. Sure, he was mad, but he was here. She couldn't stop the smile from creeping up her lips. "You are here? Why are you here?"

"Because I love you, you damn pain in the ass. Why do you think? Did you think I'd let you get away that easily?"

"You l-l-ove me?" Eva stammered out.

Liam reached up, grabbed her around her waist and threw her onto the bed. He swung one leg over her, sat on her legs and said, "Yes, you ridiculous wench! I love you. I love that you act shy around people and that I am the only person who knows what a tiger you really are!" he said giving her a wink. "I love that you sing showtunes under your breath when you think nobody is listening. I love that before you say something serious, you push your hair behind your ears. I even love that fact that you have a damn teddy bear under your bed that you think nobody knows about."

She was too stunned to answer. Her wide eyes searched his to see if he was joking. He could never hide how he was feeling. His eyes expressed his every mood. He was telling her the truth. "I...I..." she started.

"You don't to say you love me back. I get it. It's too soon and you are too closed off, but mark my words, one day you will realize that you love me back. I just have to be patient. You have no idea how stubborn I can be."

Eva laughed. "I am beginning to see that!" she said. "But..."

"No buts! And here..." he said, reaching into his pocket. "This is for you. It's all set. The bill will to come me. Cancel your piece of crap." He held an iPhone out and tried to give it to Eva.

"Oh, No!" she said. "You are not allowed to buy me things or pay for things. I am trying to see if I can be independent. I can't take it!"

"I didn't buy it, you fool! It's an old one of mine. I know you well enough to know that you'd never take a new one from me. You are even more stubborn that I am! It's just a 4. Not fancy, but you can text me or call me whenever you want. I already put my number in your contacts. Now take it!" He grabbed her hand and forced the phone into it. "No mister nice guy anymore. And I'm not sleeping in my jeans anymore. I like to sleep naked, but for you, I'll keep my boxers on."

Shocked, Eva took the phone. Liam leaned down, kissed her then swung leg over and got off her. She sat up and watched as he stripped down to his boxers. He looked up and said, "Go put on those nasty sweatpants, woman. I'm tired."

She couldn't help but laugh as she went in to the bathroom. Maybe he was Prince Charming after all.