Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 30

Jessie's P.O.V

Liam's jaw practically hit the floor when I finished telling him everything. We stood in line at the coffee shop, the murmur of people chatting around us, but he was frozen in disbelief, his eyes wide as saucers. I wasn't sure if he was ever going to speak again, until he finally let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head.

"I knew it," he said, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face. "I bloody knew it. When I said you had a crush on her, you shot me down like I was talking nonsense."

I gave him a cold glare, rolling my eyes as I shoved him lightly with my shoulder. "You're so annoying, Liam."

"Yeah, but I'm right," he teased, the grin never leaving his face. "And now you're telling me you've gone from painting with this woman to..." He gestured vaguely, lowering his voice as the line moved forward. "Well, you know."

I just sighed, trying to push down the nerves bubbling up again. "Yeah, well, it's complicated. You didn't hear the whole thing."

Liam raised an eyebrow, looking far too smug for my liking.

"I don't need to hear the whole thing to know you're in deep with her."

I shot him another glare as we reached the counter. Liam ordered his black coffee, and I went for my usual latte. The barista didn't seem to notice the tension or the fact that Liam was winding me up, but I guess that was part of his charm. He had this way of making light of everything, even when I wasn't sure I was ready to laugh about it.

As we waited for our coffees, Liam turned to me, his smirk replaced with a more serious expression. "So, how was it left? After everything?"

I shrugged, though I knew exactly how it had been left—it was all I'd been thinking about for the last four days.

"Allie said she was going to pack up her things and move into Casey's place for a while. She was supposed to text when she was free to come back to the studio and finish the last painting." I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. "But it's been four days, and I haven't heard from her."

Liam frowned, taking his coffee as it was placed on the counter. "Four days isn't that long, Jess. The girl's going through a bloody divorce."

"I know," I said quickly, feeling a little embarrassed that I was even bringing it up. "You're right. I just thought... I don't know, I thought I'd have heard from her by now, especially after the night we had together."

He gave me a look that was somewhere between sympathy and amusement. "Jess, she's probably trying to figure out her whole life right now. Not everyone can process things as fast as you."

I scowled at him, grabbing my coffee, but I knew he was right. Of course, Allie needed time. I'd never been through a divorce, but I imagined it wasn't exactly something you could just breeze through in a few days. Still, there was this gnawing feeling in my chest, a sort of ache that I hadn't expected.

"She hasn't ghosted you, Jessie," Liam said, walking with me toward the door. "She's probably just up to her neck in boxes and trying to sort her head out."

"I guess," I muttered, pushing the door open with my shoulder.

Liam shot me a sidelong glance as we started walking toward the studio, his expression softer now. "I'm just saying, don't freak out. Give her space. She'll come back when she's ready."

I nodded, though my stomach still twisted with uncertainty. "You're probably right."

"I'm definitely right," he corrected with a cocky grin. Then, after a pause, his smirk returned. "But I've got to say, Jess, I've never seen you like this over a girl before."

I stopped walking, turning to him with a glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "I don't know, you just seem... different. Like you're actually invested in this one."

"Shut up," I muttered, shaking my head as we kept walking. But I couldn't deny that what he said was true. I did feel different. There was something about Allie that just... fit. I'd been with numerous women before, sure, but it had never felt like this. It wasn't just physical—though that was incredible, too—but there was something else.

"With Allie, it just feels right," I said, almost more to myself than to Liam. "Even when we're just talking, or when we're working on the paintings together, it's like we're on the same wavelength. I don't have to explain myself. She just gets it. I've never felt this comfortable with anyone."

Liam gave me a knowing look but didn't say anything for a moment. Then, with a small smile, he said, "Sounds like you've got it bad, mate."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Maybe. I don't know. It's just... new. And terrifying. And exciting all at once."

He nodded, sipping his coffee thoughtfully.

"That's usually a good sign, you know."

I smiled, but my mind was already drifting back to Allie, wondering what she was doing right now. Was she sitting in Casey's apartment, thinking about me? Or was she so wrapped up in this whole mess with Mark that I wasn't even on her radar? I hated that I couldn't just pick up the phone and text her, but I knew she needed her space. It had only been four days, and yet it felt like so much longer.

As we reached the studio, I pushed open the door, feeling a familiar sense of comfort as the smell of paint and canvas hit me. This was my sanctuary—where I could lose myself in my work and forget about everything else. But even now, I couldn't stop thinking about her.

Liam walked in behind me, glancing around at the paintings on the walls. "So, what's the plan? Are you just going to wait for her to get in touch?"

I shrugged, setting my coffee down on the table. "I guess. I mean, I could always just work on something else until she's ready."

But even as I said it, I knew that wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to finish this project with Allie. I wanted her here, standing in front of me as I try to capture her beauty.

I sighed, picking up a brush and absentmindedly twirling it between my fingers.

"I just don't know what she's thinking right now. I don't know if she's regretting what happened between us, or if she's just too overwhelmed to deal with it." I said in a low tone as I stated at the blank canvas in the middle of the room.

Liam leaned against the wall, watching me.

"You're overthinking it, Jess. Give her time. If she feels what you're feeling right now —and from what you've told me, it definitely sounds like she does—then she'll come back. You just have to be patient."

I nodded, though patience had never been my strong suit. I was always the one who wanted answers right away, who hated waiting around in uncertainty. But for Allie, I'd wait.