Red String of Fate - Thiam

Chapter 34 - Christmas Eve

December 24th - Friday

Theo P.O.V. 

I roll over in bed and try to find Liam's body with my hand, finding only his empty side of the bed. I rub my eyes and sit up in bed. Only now do I realize that a soft melody is playing in the house.

I get up and my feet touch the cold floor of the room. The sound comes from the last room in the hallway, the room with the piano.

The door is ajar and I peek inside. Liam is sitting in front of the piano and his fingers move with agility across the keys. I look at him mesmerized until he finishes the song.

I approach him and sit next to him, our thighs touching and our shoulders resting on each other.

"Happy Christmas Eve." I say with a huge smile.

"Happy Christmas Eve."

"I had no idea you could play. How many more hidden talents do you have?"

"None. My mom taught me how to play. It helps with anger and stress." He explains, his gaze fixed on the keys.

"Are you stressed now?"

"A little." He drops his head on my shoulder and I kiss his forehead.

"Why?"

"Well, Mason, Harper and Corey know I like you and they'll probably find out we're together as soon as they walk in here. But the rest of the pack doesn't know and I don't want to hide it from them like I did when you came back to Beacon Hills. I'm afraid of what they might say. I will stay with you regardless of what they say, but their opinion also matters to me, they are also my family."

"Exactly, they are your family and they care about you a lot. They will support you."

I hate knowing that I've done so much harm to Liam and his pack in the past that he's afraid to talk to them about me. I wish things were easier.

"Play for me, I loved this song."

Liam starts playing again, my gaze alternates between his fingers and his serene face. When he finishes, he places his hand on my thigh, which makes me feel goosebumps.

"It's called Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi. It's the only thing in Italian that I know the meaning of, it's white cloud. It was one of the first songs my mother taught me, it's really relaxing and calm. I love it."

Liam continues to surprise me day after day. I hold his face with my hands and kiss him all over his face. I feel him smile against my lips and I smile too.

Liam's stomach growls.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"Let's have breakfast."

We go hand in hand to the kitchen and I make him breakfast while he texts Harper, Mason and Corey.

"They say they should arrive mid-afternoon. But the time zone difference is a little confusing to be sure."

Liam and I spent the day cooking and decorating the house for when our friends arrive. Liam is eager for Harper to arrive so she can make her famous pudding that Liam loves so much. We're not great cooks but we did a good job.

I feel a handful of flour rub my face right after putting our carrot cake in the oven and I look at Liam in shock.

"You didn't do that."

I grab the bag of flour and start running after Liam who runs away from me as fast as he can. His laughter fills the house. I catch him when he reaches the living room and the impact makes us fall to the floor. The bag of flour opens in my hands and the entire content falls into Liam's face. Liam starts coughing and I laugh heartily. Liam sits with me on his lap and the flour falls on my clothes.