A Different Form of Art

Chapter Twenty Two

Bradley POV

I didn't have any appointments so far, so I was just waiting for walk-ins at the counter when I saw her. The woman who had almost screwed up Liam and I's relationship. I was eternally grateful to Liam for forgiving me for her actions, but I still never planned on seeing her, or calling her. I saw her walking down the street, still scantily dressed, and getting closer to the shop. It seemed as if she was just going to pass by when it seemed as if she remembered something. Her head perked up and she looked through the windows of the shop before I had time to hide my face.

Our eyes met and I swear I saw a slight smirk play at her lips before she opened the door and walked inside. I didn't have time to walk away, and I wasn't that rude. But I still really didn't want to talk to her, or see her.

"Hello." I said, rather coldly.

"Hello, Bradley. I was just passing by and saw you weren't busy. Got a second for me?" She said, sweetly with a hint of lust in her voice.

"I guess. What do you need?" I wanted her out, as soon as possible.

"Well, I just noticed you haven't called me yet. Granted, it's only been two days, but still. Most guys are faster than that. I'm quite good, if you know what I mean." She replied, winking at the end.

"I'm sorry, I've been quite busy, actually. And to be completely honest, I'm not really interested. Sorry." I wasn't sorry, not one bit. Every ounce of my being hated this woman, but I still felt the need to be as nice as I physically could.

"Oh really? Well, that's a pity. I enjoy helping out men, especially single ones. You deserve to have your desires fulfilled." She said. My desires? Was she joking?

"Yeah well like I said, sorry, but I don't need your help." I said, as nicely as possible. When was she going to leave?

"It's fine, you have my number if you ever change your mind. By the way, you look great in that shirt. It would look better on my floor, I'm sure, but st-"

"It's actually my boyfriends, I stayed the night at his place last night. That's why I've been busy, and I'm not interested. I have a boyfriend. So I won't be calling you anytime soon, because I love him very much. Now, if you don't need anything else, you're welcome to go now."

The shocked expression on her face said it all. I think she may have been originally offended because I had cut her off mid-sentence, but then when I mentioned Liam she was speechless. Didn't have me pinned as the gay type, huh?

She didn't say a single word as she slowly backed out the door. I didn't think I would be seeing her again. I looked across the street as she left, and saw Liam in the window of his own shop, staring. His eyes glanced from me to the woman power-walking down the street, away from my shop as fast as her stiletto-clad feet could take her. I smiled his direction and he smiled back. I couldn't wait for Saturday.

Later that day, after I got off work I walked home to see Liam leaning against my door.

"Special delivery!" He stood up, smiling and revealed a bag of Chinese takeout.

I sighed, walking up to him and cupping his cute face in my hands. "I love you." I whispered against his lips before lightly pecking them.

"I love you too. Also, I hope you like orange chicken. I figured it was kinda something everyone liked, so I got some. Along with some fried rice and chow mein. Does that sound okay?" He asked sweetly.

"It sounds perfect. Thank you, I really needed this. Wanna go inside?" I asked.

"Actually, I was wondering if you would maybe want to go back to the meadow, it's getting dark and we can watch the sunset and then look at the stars together. Is that okay? I mean, if you'd rather eat inside I totally understand, but I thought it might be fun to be outside. There won't be bugs this time of year." He said, almost timidly.

"That sounds amazing. Just let me grab a jacket and then we can head out." I said, unlocking the door. "Do you want to grab a blanket for us?" I asked.

"Sure!" He disappeared around the corner as I walked to my room to grab a jacket. Liam was wearing a hoodie of his own, it was grey and had horns on the hoodie. He looked so cute and cuddly in it. I decided to wear my yellow hoodie that had a picture of Jake the dog from Adventure Time on it. I quickly slipped it over my head before walking back into the hallway. "Liam?" I called.

"Yes?" He replied, walking around the corner, blanket in hand.

"You ready to go?" I asked.

"Sure. I think I put the food down in the kitchen when I went to grab the blanket." Liam said.

"I'll grab it, since you're carrying the blanket." I walked to the kitchen and picked up the bag of food, it was right on the counter, just like Liam had said. I shoved my keys and phone in my pocket and walked towards the front door, where Liam was already waiting.

"Let's go!" He said.

We walked, hand in hand, back to the meadow. By the time we got there, the sun was just about to set, so we quickly laid our blanket out and sat, quietly eating our food as the sun peacefully disappeared over the trees. It was still slightly light out even though the sun was gone, but the stars would be coming out soon. Liam and I finished up our food and laid down on the blanket, my head resting on his chest and our hands intertwined.

The stars began to appear in the dark sky, I knew it was getting late but I couldn't have cared less, laying out in the meadow with Liam was so perfect, I never wanted to leave. He bent down and I felt his soft lips touch my forehead.

"I love you so much, Liam. I swear, every time I'm with you I fall deeper and deeper in love with you. I didn't know that perfect people existed before I met you, I'm so lucky to have you." I almost whispered it, but I knew that he had heard me. I turned over, so that I was looking into his eyes. I could see constellations of his own in them, reflecting starlight in his deep chocolate orbs. I could stare into them all day and never get tired of it. I moved my legs so that I was straddling him and was about to bend down and kiss him, when he sat up and wrapped his arms around me, so that I was pretty much sitting on his lap. He leaned in, and just as I thought he was about to kiss me, I felt him whisper against my lips.

"I love you too Bradley. So much. I'm not as eloquent with words as you seem to be, but just know that I love you so fucking much I can't even describe it. I just wish we had met sooner, that I hadn't been so nervous to talk to you." I felt my heart about to burst out of my chest, it was so filled with love for this perfect man I couldn't bear it, I loved him so much I couldn't ever imagine being separated from him.

"It's okay, we're together now and I'm not losing you anytime soon." I closed the tiny gap between our lips and let him explore my mouth.

We stayed there for a few hours, Liam holding me with my fingers knit in his hair, our mouths connected, and the constellations as a roof over our heads. Nothing had ever been as perfect as that night.