Silently Falling

Chapter 26

Rose

I felt myself going very still as my mind tried to process what I had just heard.

My eyes flickered toward Rhyan, and for the first time, it appeared that he was rendered speechless as well. After coming back from the initial shock, Rhyan furrowed his dark eyebrows and questioned Liam.

"What? Who told you that?"

"No one did. I figured it out on my own." Liam stated with a cute giggle, looking proud of himself.

Rhyan's eyes wandered towards me for a brief moment before he cleared his throat and slightly tilted his head back so that his dark brown hair that had fallen over his eyes would go back up. I noticed how the muscles in his arm flexed as he shifted Liam and carried him in a way that he was facing both of us.

"Rose isn't my girlfriend Liam. We aren't... um... dating-"

I tried not to pay heed to the pang of unknown emotion that I felt in my chest, that weirdly felt like.. idk.... disappointment? Y'all I'm going insane. Why would I need to feel dis-

"But she's wearing your clothes!" Liam interrupted my self-diagnosis as he pointed at me with his cute little fingers.

Well, as you could guess, I turned bright red at those words. How could I not?? Every time I think the situation could get even more embarrassing and absurd, I am proven wrong.

My closed fist flew up to my mouth as I took a deep breath. I lowered my gaze and stared at my feet before glancing in Rhyan's direction, hoping he could come up with something, but I was greeted with a bewildered look on his handsome face. It almost made me forget the situation we were in and made me want to start laughing hysterically.

"Yes-uh... Wow. That was quite observant of you to notice," Rhyan nodded slowly, and Liam beamed.

I noticed a muscle twitch in Rhyan's flawless face as he tried to control his expressions before continuing.

"but, I'm curious to know what Rose wearing my-um," Rhyan cleared his throat awkwardly and stole a quick look towards me before continuing, "clothes have to do with anything?"

Liam looked back at him with a deadpan like he couldn't believe he had to explain something simple like that to an adult.

"Well, Aunt Daphne wears her boyfriend's clothes around, so since Rose was wearing yours, I figured that she must be your girlfriend too. "

Rhyan's eyebrows raised even higher as he listened to Liam's theory, and by the growing slight tilt in his smile, I could tell that he was impressed with his little brother's analysing skills.

Somehow, my otherwise useless reflexes kicked in, and I quickly moved forward to take Liam from Rhyan's arms and put him down on the well polished floor.

I prayed to God that no-one noticed the sharp inhale of air I took as I felt my fingers brush against Rhyan's in the process.

I then crouched down and took both of Liam's hands in mine, "Well, in my case, I'm wearing Rhyan's clothes only because mine got drenched in the rain."

Liam made an adorable "O" shape with his mouth as he took in the information.

"Okay," he said as he looked back and forth between me and Rhyan.