For Now and Always (Liam Payne)

Chapter 30

Liam arrived back to his flat, dropping his suitcases by the door. All he wanted was a shower and his own bed. And Eva, but that wasn't about to happen. He walked in the door of the bedroom and saw her dress on the floor. The yellow one. The one she had been wearing when he broke up with her. He had planned to wait and take her out, explain to her why he was doing this, but in the end, he chickened out. He knew that if he had to say it to her face, he'd never do it.

He picked up the dress and brought it to his nose. It still smelled like her perfume. He went to throw it on the bed when he saw the pile of her things. Her phone, her purse, her keys, her shoes and the jewelry he had given her. She really had walked home. What a stubborn pain in the ass. He hadn't meant for her to leave these things behind. He didn't think....

That was the problem, he thought. He didn't think. He stripped off his clothes and stood under the hot water of the shower. They went back on the road in two weeks. He had two weeks to fix the biggest mistake of his life.

Liam: Where is she?

Dylan: You blocked my calls, why should I tell you anything?

Liam: I'm an asshole, I know. Just help me.

Dylan: She went home.

Liam: Give me an address.

Dylan: She's in America. Michigan. Lake Huron. Figure it out.

Liam: Don't be a bitch. Just help me.

Liam: Dylan!

Liam: I'm sorry I called you a bitch. Help me.

Dylan: I demand an hour alone with Louis. Then I'll help you.

Liam: DYLAN!

Dylan: It was a joke. Text Niall. He went to find her.

Fucking Niall. Why is it always fucking Niall? He never should have let her play golf with him. Sneaky bastard.

Liam: Where are you?

Niall: On a plane.

Liam: Tell me where she is.

Liam: Niall.

Liam: Answer me.

Liam dropped his phone, frustrated. Niall was already on a plane to see his girl. He had no idea what to do.

..............................

Niall stayed with Eva for two days. Her mother was surprising civil. Apparently, she was glad that Eva had made friends. "I've always worried about you being so shy, Evangeline." Her mother said the first night, at dinner. Well, carry out that her mother picked up on the way home from her office. "I'm glad to see that you've made friends."

Eva felt a surge of hopefulness. Maybe she could convince her mother to help her go back. She missed Dylan and the girls. She missed the crappy flat. She had to admit that she'd rather go back there, despite the heartbreak, than stay here. She had nothing here.

"So, uh, Niall?" Eva's sister asked. "How long are you staying?" She was eager to show him off. Her two best friends were already on their way over.

"Just two days. I need to get back." Eva's sister, Lex, he thought, was disappointed.

Eva smiled to herself. She finally had something that her sister wanted.

...................................

Lex's friends showed up when Eva and Niall were in the den, watching TV. Eva was using his lap as a pillow and he had one hand on her waist. When she walked in, both her friends were standing behind her, giggling like little girls. Well, they were only 15, Eva thought. This was probably overwhelming them, big famous pop star in their small town, two feet in front of them.