To the Ends of the Earth

Chapter Nine: Is It Okay?

Who falls asleep while watching one of the best movies of all time?

Liam, that's who! He dozed off while watching my favorite movie, and right when the priest was about to start his speech about 'mawwiage.' He totally missed Westley rescuing Buttercup. That's inconceivable!

I smiled at him as he continued sleeping on my sofa, looking pretty uncomfortable. Yesterday, he had spent all day with me, claiming he didn't want to leave me alone after such a heavy conversation. So, we ate junk food and watched movies for the rest of the afternoon. By dinnertime, Liam was already looking worn out and drowsy, but he refused to acknowledge it. And so, I had left him alone and when he was officially out for the night, I'd slipped a pillow under his head and covered him with a blanket.

Shaking my head, I walked toward my espresso machine, still wearing my pajamas and slippers. I made my morning butterscotch latte, using a house-made syrup by a local coffee shop in Indio. Every time I visited my parents house in Palm Springs, I drove to Indio just to have their butterscotch latte. After my constant nagging, the owner —eventually— agreed to letting me purchase some of their syrup.

As I took the first few sips of magical goodness, I grabbed a seat on a barstool by the kitchen counter. I was debating whether or not to wake Liam, when my phone started to vibrate with a call.

"Hi mom," I answered.

"Lottie, how are you?" she asked, sounding rushed.

"I'm good, mom. And you?"

"Fine, darling. I wanted to let you know that I just landed in New York. Don't forget we have that charity luncheon tomorrow."

"Wait, is that tomorrow?"

"Lottie," she breathed with impatience. "I reminded you about it last month."

"I know...I'm sorry, mom. I've just had a hectic month."

"I don't understand why you don't just hire movers and get it over with."

"I'd rather do most of it myself. I don't like people going through my things," I reminded her for the tenth time.

"Very well, Lottie. Do it your way. Now, do you need my stylist to bring over some things for tomorrow?"

"No, mom. I have a closet full of clothes. I'm sure I'll find something to wear."

"Alright, but please wear something new. There'll be photographers there. I want you to look nice. It'll be the talk of the town if you're caught repeating an outfit."

"Yes mom, as you wish."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow, darling," she said cheerily and disconnected the call.

"Nice job quoting Westley," a groggy voice said from behind me, as I ended the call with my mom.

I turned and smiled at Liam. "Good morning sunshine, how did you sleep?"

"Ugh," he groaned, cracking his back. "I think I need to make an appointment with my chiropractor."

"I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen. I could have offered you my guest room." I bit my lip, but I couldn't contain the laughter that burst out of me.

"For that, I'm stealing your coffee." He gave me an evil cackle as he quickly snatched my coffee right out of my hands.

I should have been raging mad at his thievery, but I was too distracted by his dimples to say anything. Holy smokes! What was it about a man with dimples? Why was I drooling all of a sudden?

I cleared my throat and got up, walking toward the espresso machine to make myself a new latte. "You can have that one. It was getting cold anyway."

"I don't mind." He shrugged his shoulders. "It's worth it for the coffee kiss."

"What?" I mumbled, looking up at him. "Coffee kiss?"

"Yeah." He took a sip from my cup, staring directly into my eyes.

Suddenly, my kitchen was feeling unusually warm. I was melting under his gaze. "What's a coffee kiss?" I asked, my voice sounding husky.

"It's when my lips touch where yours have been while drinking from your cup of coffee."

Oh boy! I cleared my throat and turned my back on him, trying to avoid embarrassing myself further. I made myself a new latte, as Liam perched himself on a barstool.

"Are you almost ready for the move?" Liam asked, curiously.

"Yeah, I've packed most of the things I want to take with me. I'm thinking of leaving everything else here."

"Are you keeping this place?"

"Yeah, it's already under my trust. I'd rather just keep it and have a place to stay when I visit New York."

"That's smart. But, don't you want to rent it? You can make some extra money."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't really need the money, and I don't like strangers in my space."

"Right, you hardly use the money that you already have."

"Well, I'm really lucky to have what I do. Plus, you've done wonders with my investments."

"Thank you, Lottie. But, you were doing fine before me. You'd been living off the funds from your Coogan account for years."

"That was the perk of working as a child. I got to take some time off as an adult."

Liam nodded, looking down with an odd expression on his face.

"Is everything alright?" I asked him, concerned.

"Yeah," he said, giving me a slight smirk. "I was just thinking about how different we are. We grew up with completely opposite childhoods."

"Is this your way of calling me a spoiled princess?" I teased.

"Oh no! I'm sorry, Lottie. That's not what I meant."

"It's okay, Liam. I was just joking around. What you've accomplished is much more impressive than what I was born into...modeling for a department store that my parents owned shares in is hardly awe-inspiring."

"That doesn't matter, Lottie. Yes, you were born into money, but you've also worked when others your age didn't. If you want to enjoy some time off now, you should."

"Thank you," I smiled at him but —deep down— I was contemplating my life choices. Maybe it was time to do something with my life other than attend a bunch of charity events.

Liam and I finished drinking our lattes, as he watched me silently. Once he was done, he placed the empty mug on the counter and stood from the barstool.

"I should head out," he mumbled. "Thank you so much for letting me stay the night."

"Of course, but don't you want to stay for some breakfast?"

"Thank you, maybe next time. I've taken up enough of your time."

I nodded and walked him to the door.

Before he opened the door, he turned to face me. "Is it okay if I call you?" he asked.

"Yes, I'd really like that."

"Is it okay if I give you a hug?"

I stared at him, hesitating a little. I really wanted a hug, but I was still feeling very vulnerable from everything I had shared with him.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, I can stand still while you hug me," he suggested, tentatively. "Would that be okay?"

"Yes, I'd really like that." I slowly approached him and wrapped my arms around his waist. Liam kept his arms by his side and did not move a muscle. After a minute, I stepped back and looked up at him. "Thank you," I whispered.

"I'll see you soon, butterfly."

Then, he turned toward the door, opened it and walked out.