Finding Love Again

34

After the meal, Maya excused herself politely from the table. The lively chatter of Liam's family continued in the background as she made her way up the grand staircase, her mind racing with thoughts. She needed to find Liam and get some clarity. Why had he introduced her as his girlfriend when they were just... friends?

As she reached the second floor, she found Liam standing by a large window, gazing out at the sprawling garden below. His silhouette was calm and composed against the soft light filtering through the curtains. Gathering her courage, Maya approached him, her footsteps light on the carpeted floor.

"Liam," she began, her voice soft but determined, "Can we talk?"

Liam turned to face her, his expression warm and inviting. "Of course, Maya. What's on your mind?"

Maya took a deep breath, trying to steady the nervous flutter in her chest. "Why did you tell everyone that I was your girlfriend?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for an answer. "That’s not true, and you know it. We’re… just friends."

Liam's gaze softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Because I want it to be true," he replied gently. "Maya, will you be my girlfriend?"

Maya blinked, caught off guard by his directness. She could feel her heart racing in her chest, her thoughts swirling in confusion. "Liam, stop messing around," she said, shaking her head. "This isn’t funny."

But Liam's expression remained serious. "I'm not joking, Maya," he said softly, stepping closer to her. "I mean it. I want to be with you. I care about you... more than you know."

Maya stared at him, her breath hitching as she tried to process his words. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, her mind blank. "I... I don’t know what to say," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I’m not ready for this, Liam. Maybe we should just stay friends... at least until we figure things out."

Liam's eyes didn't waver. Instead, a small, knowing smile played on his lips. "Maya, you're 27, a single mum to a boy," he began softly, "You've been on terrible dates, tried the Tinder dating app... and you're desperately in search of love again."

Maya's eyes widened, a chill running down her spine. She knew those words. She had written them herself, on her dating profile. Her hands shook slightly as she pulled out her phone, unlocking it with trembling fingers. She opened her dating app and scrolled through her conversations with a user named "Mr. Perfect." A series of light-hearted, teasing exchanges flashed on the screen. She read through the chat history, connecting the dots in her mind.

It was Liam. It had been Liam all along.

"You..." she breathed, looking up at him, her eyes wide with realization. "It was you behind that profile?"

Liam nodded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Guilty," he admitted, his tone light but sincere. "I thought it was time to come clean. I didn’t plan for it to go on this long, but I wanted to know you, the real you, without any of the walls we put up in real life."

Maya felt her mind whirl with questions. Why would a man like Liam, with his good looks and charm, be searching for love on a dating app? Why her, of all people?

"But... why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why would you be looking for love on a dating app when you could have any woman you wanted? And why me?"

Liam's expression softened, his gaze locking with hers. "Because I’ve had all the superficial relationships I could handle," he said quietly. "I wanted something real. And when I saw your profile, your honesty, and your vulnerability... I knew I had to meet you. I’ve seen you fight for your son, stay strong through everything life has thrown at you, and still, you’ve kept your heart open. That's rare, Maya. And that's what drew me to you."

Maya felt overwhelmed, the intensity of his words sinking into her. "This is... too much," she whispered, her throat feeling tight and dry. "I need a moment. I need to get some water."

Without waiting for a response, she hurried down the hallway, her phone clutched tightly to her chest. She descended the staircase quickly, her breath coming in short bursts. As she reached the kitchen, she grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the tap, gulping it down quickly. But it wasn’t enough. Her throat still felt parched, her mind still reeling. Desperately, she leaned over the sink, turning on the tap and letting the cool water run over her lips, drinking straight from the faucet.

She could hear murmurs behind her, but she didn’t care. She needed to calm down, to think. The cold water rushed down her throat, but her thoughts continued to race. Why Liam? Why now? Why her?

When she finally lifted her head, she realized the kitchen had gone silent. She turned around slowly, her eyes meeting the stunned gazes of Liam’s family, who had gathered in the doorway, watching her with a mix of concern and confusion.

"Maya, are you okay?" Emily asked gently, stepping forward, her eyes filled with worry.

Maya nodded, wiping her wet mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm... I'm fine," she managed, her voice still shaky. "Just needed some water."

Liam appeared in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. He stepped towards her, his presence calming amidst the swirling chaos in her mind. "Maya," he said softly, "I’m sorry if I overwhelmed you. I didn’t mean to push you into anything you’re not ready for."

Maya looked at him, her heart still racing. "I just... need some time to process all this," she replied, her voice barely steady. "It’s a lot to take in."

Liam nodded, his expression gentle. "Take all the time you need," he said softly. "I’m not going anywhere."

As the family began to disperse, giving them some privacy, Maya felt a small glimmer of relief. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew one thing: Liam was serious about her. And as much as it terrified her, it also gave her a strange sense of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something real.