Toxic Truth

12

LIAM

Zella is smiling widely, as she leads me into her studio and all I want to do is make that smile stay on her lips.

I want to find reasons to make her smile, do stuff that makes her happy.

That smile will be the death of me.

I'm so fucking mad at Grace for lying to her about us dating. I haven't even thought of another woman since I met Zella, let alone look at one.

I'm going to confront Grace about this and tell her to leave me alone for once and for all, or she'll have to deal with the consequences.

But first I need to fix things with Zella. Which is why I called her over at my house for dinner, I wanted her to know that she's important to me.

The automatic lights turn on the moment we step inside and the room comes into focus.

The place is wide, with wooden floor and white walls. Her paintings are hung on the walls, each one of them so nicely done.

She's so fucking talented.

I move forward to assess the paintings slowly. Every painting has so many details, she didn't leave anything out.

"These are amazing, Zella," The compliment slips out of me, in a low whisper. I'm out of words here.

She comes to stand next to me and shyly says, "Thank you."

I look down at her, "So this is your Art gallery, huh?"

Those hazel eyes look up at me as she nods. "This is my Art gallery, and that is my studio where I get my work done," she points at a door on the far left corner of the room.

Taking my hand in hers, she leads me towards it. I clutch her hand tighter, wrapping my fingers around it. I can feel her pulse pounding beneath my thumb on her wrist.

She doesn't say anything as she opens the door and walks inside. A large room comes into view, filled with canvases, tables, and all the other art supplies.

I'm still holding her hand when I point at a painting, "Is that what you're working on currently?"

I can't figure out what it is though, there are only a few black blotches on it right now, not giving away what's it supposed to be.

"Yeah, but I haven't really started with it yet. At all."

She looks at me, contemplating what to say. For the first time in my life, I'm lost at words. I don't know what to say. I just want to be with her.

"So," she starts.

"So," I say and she chuckles.

"You look pretty today. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that earlier," I mentally scold myself for not saying it earlier.

"Just today?" She teases and I roll my eyes, yanking her forward.

"You look pretty all the time."

He eyelids flutter and suddenly the room seems too small. I'm breathing in her scent and trailing a finger up her arm.

My fingers reach her dark locks and I gently start toying with her hair. I love her hair. It's dark brown in colour, and so long that it's almost reaching her waist.

I might even be obsessed with it.

When my fingers accidentally brush against the skin of her neck, she shudders and I'm undone.

Holding up her hands, she puts them on my chest, raising to her tip toes. "Liam-"

The ringing of a phone breaks us apart. Zella takes her phone out of her pocket and mutters. "Shit, it's my mom."

She smiles up at me sheepishly, "Sorry."

"It's fine," And because I can't help it, I brush my lips across her forehead. "We should leave now."

"Yeah, let's go," She clears her throat.

We decided to come here in Zella's car because she would have to go home then, so she's driving me back.

We pull into my driveway and she stops the car. "I guess we're done for the night today."

"I guess," My lips twitch.

I don't know if I should touch her or not, so I wait for her to do something.

She leans over my seat and kisses my cheek. "Good night Liam."

Even though it's just a kiss on the cheek, I can't stop myself from smiling like an idiot.

"Good night, Zella."

The moment I step into my living room, two pairs of eyes land on me.

"We've been waiting for you," My sister says.

I know what they want to talk to me about, so I stroll in casually, putting my hands in my pocket. "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"You didn't tell us who she is."

"I told you she's my friend."

"That's all that you said!" She grumbles, annoyed with me. "You can't expect us to believe that she's just a friend who you invited over to have dinner with us. You don't do that, ever."

"She's right. You can tell us what's going on between you guys," My brother joins the conversation.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Isa's eyes go wide in excitement.

"No."

Her face falls and she pouts, "I wish she was. You've never had girlfriends."

"She's my friend, but yes she's important to me and I like her, which is why she was here tonight. You guys can expect her to be around so be nice to her," I give Amo a pointed look.

My brother is kind of closed off and it takes him time to get comfortable to new people, but I don't want Zella to think he doesn't like her or that's she's not welcome here.

He narrows his eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that. I did talk to her. Besides, I think I like her, so don't worry."

He gets up from the couch and claps my shoulder. "I'm going to sleep now, you plan on how to make her your girlfriend."

This guy knows so much more than he should-

I elbow the fucker when he smirks at me, as if he knows how much I'm struggling here, and he grunts with a laugh.

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