STAY

INTERRUPTIONS

Dad has already set up the beach area by the time I reach home, I help him set the barbeque and get the ice boxes and beer bottles ready. When I realise only fifteen minutes are left, I go in to take a quick shower and after quite a struggle over what to wear I finally stick to a plain sky blue summer dress and my flip flops.

I brush my hair and clean up my room after creating such a mess by trying dress after dress. When I finally, make my way outside I see Laslo, Liam and an old man with pepper grey hair and a button down shirt, already making themselves at home. Regardless of how mean he is, I can’t manage to get my eyes off Liam Warden. With the olive green t-shirt, white shorts, umber hair and those hazel eyes he manages to keep my eyes so occupied all the time.

‘Hey Chlo! I hope you missed me today.’ Laslo says as we make our way to the beach.

‘Hey. I guess I did, a little.’ I say smiling as Laslo laughs.

‘Chlo, this is my buddy Louis Warden.’ Dad says pointing to a man of his age.

‘Hey Louis.’ I say nervously.

‘It’s so good to finally see you. I have been hearing about you for years.’ He says smiling.

Unsure of how to reply, I simply smile and seat myself at the table that dad and I had managed to place by the beach side. To my absolute horror Liam comes and sits by my side. He remains silent all along but his eyes stay focused on me, looking elsewhere only when it is absolutely necessary. Not that I was looking, but my body can’t help but freeze when he is around.

‘So, how are you liking Wayward? I hope my boys don’t trouble you a bit too much.’ Louis asks breaking me out of my thoughts.

‘OH, I really enjoy working there, haven’t gotten a chance to bake like this back at home. And the boys have behaved well as of now.’ I say laughing.

‘As of now?’ Liam whispers in my ear sending a chill down my spine. I plan on ignoring his closeness and try to focus on the sea waves. I have turned into that girl who looks at the water to avoid conversation.

We serve ourselves as Louis goes on to tell us stories about Liam and Laslo from when they were little. I can’t help but laugh at the fact that Liam would bully Laslo into doing all his homework in spite of Laslo being two years younger. Liam looks at me as if my laughter caught him off guard just like his did mine, and I see his own smile for the first time that day. 
‘When you came here as a kid, Laslo would tease you with Liam and you would really enjoy it.’ Louis laughs. The fact makes me freeze and Liam laugh seeing me this uncomfortable.
 Honestly I remember coming to Santa Monica once when I was nine but not before that. 
‘You were probably five at that time, a perfect image of your mother.’ Louis smiles.
I smile back and feel Liam’s hand rub my bare thigh. My eyes shoot up at him and all I see is a smug smile while he sips his beer. I didn’t know a person could have such an effect on someone until I met this hell of a man. It’s impossible to avoid the chills that run up and down my spine as his hand lays there. To hide the sudden appearance of pink on my cheeks I get myself excused. I’m smiling like a lunatic all the way back to my room. I know that he is not my type but something about that pulls me to him. I brush up my hair once again, pick up a bottle of soda and get back to the beachside.

‘We should head back home now, as I still haven’t reviewed the files you left by yesterday.’ Louis says.

‘Oh yeah, you will also have to go through the files I’m working on. I will email them to Stacy before your meeting. And also don’t forget to discuss the launch details with Mr Zian.’ Dad replies.

‘What? You can’t expect me to do all of that before the meeting. I still think we should postpone it for a few months.’

‘Louis, you do know how much effort we had to put in arranging this meeting. We cannot disappoint them now.’ I sip my wine trying to understand the situation.