Alexandria's Superman

(twenty) shape of you

(Liam's POV)

Ali's on her way to headquarters right now, for purposes she didn't explain, after she just finished her weekly check up on the Chicago branch.

She said she'd come by the bar as soon as she was done at headquarters - that promise is honestly all that's getting me through this boring ass work day.

I used to not mind work so much because I'd meet girls and get to break up fights with weak wannabe thugs, but ever since I've met Ali I don't care about any other girls. And nowadays, I don't find myself at work at the wee hours of the nights when fights usually break out. More often than not, I'm with Ali, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

"Earth to Liam," Wes snapped his fingers in front of my eyes. "I already have two tables and three people at the bar. Can you handle those guys that just walked in?"

My gaze followed his gestures to a couple of thuggish men that just walked in.

I recognized them to be the same two men that were planning to rob or pull a fast one on Ali the night I took her home.

"Those are the guys that were here the night I met Ali," I whispered. Even without whispering, I knew they wouldn't be able to hear, but I felt better staying hushed.

Wes rose his eyebrows in an alarmed manor. "They've been coming by kind of frequently."

"Hmm..." I trailed off. I stepped around Wes and approached the table of the two thugs sitting at on of our tables.

"Liam-" Wes made an attempt to stop me from potentially starting an upheaval, but it was a little too late.

"What can I get for you two?" I tried not to sound skeptical about their intentions here.

"Two draft beers." One guy with a prominent five o'clock shadow ordered. He rose his eyebrow as he laid eyes on me. "You're the kid in that picture with Alexandria Dickson."

I clenched and unclenched my fists repeatedly to keep my anger in check.

My knuckles are only just now healing, no need to undo all of that over a couple of sketchy guys.

Taylor seemed to sense the tension and came over, placing his hands on either sides of my shoulders as he backed us away.

"It'll be right out." He called over his shoulder. We ended up in the back room alone while Wes handled the front.

"Unless you're going to start working 14 hour shifts again, I suggest you don't start a fight because we can't afford to keep paying for clinic bills whenever you decide to lash out." Taylor snapped. It was enough to snap me right back into reality.

I have been spending way too much time with Ali, acting like I'm 17 again and living with my brother and his wife. I'm 25 and living with my best friend now; it's not fair to him that I'm out enjoying my life with Ali while he's working 13 hours a day to make money to pay our bills.

Sure, I still work roughly 10 hours a day, but it docks the pay from what we have grown accustomed to over the past few years we've lived together and worked at Dooley's.

Taylor sighed, "I didn't mean it like that. I'm happy that you're happy, Liam; I've been waiting to see you happy like this for seven goddamn years. I'm just saying don't cause any trouble, got it?"

"I'm going to start picking up more hours, again, Taylor. I'm sorry, I've been a shit show of a friend lately."

"It's cool, man." He assured me and patted my back before returning to the front of the bar where all of our costumer's awaited our service. "I'll take that table." He added as he took two beers in his hands, obviously referring to the table with the thugs.