Thantophobia

Chapter 13

Liam.

What the hell is he doing here in New Mexico?

And why did he have to come into this place at the same time that I'm here?

I turn my head away and cover the lower part of my face by resting my cheek on my fist. I anxiously moved around the coffee mug in my other hand.

I attempt to keep my attention on what is going on outside the coffee shop windows, but that obviously fails because I'm still focusing on trying to have Liam not notice me right now.

My mind flashes back to the moments I had with Liam before my mate died. I squeeze my eyes shut as I try to clear it from out of my mind before I have some sort of panic freak out.

Sadly, it was around the time for me to take my medication again, so I was very anxious and jumpy.

I accidentally topple over the coffee mug on the table and the hot drink spills on the table and over onto my lap.

"Shit!" I cursed as I stood up, trying to attempt to dry my jeans before my legs got burnt. I grabbed some napkins from the table dispenser and rubbed the denim fabric on my thighs.

"Here, let me help you." I hear his voice for the first time in six years.

I watch him grab more napkins and begin to clean off the spill on the table, and thank god not my jeans.

Liam turns his head and looks up at me with a reassuring smile, before it faltered and fell, and a flicker of recognition showed in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but I quickly interrupted.

"Thanks for the help, I'm late for my shift though. Gotta go." The words very quickly tumble out of my mouth and I began to limp my way out of the cafe thanks to my medical boot.

"Wait!" I hear him run after me and soon enough, he blocked the way out of the cafe.

There's one thing that Liam has always been outstanding at, and it was how fast he could move. He was always a very quick guy.

"Sir, I need to get to my job." I try to move past him, without making eye contact.

"Aspetta un minuto! Per favore!" Liam blocked my way again.

This time I look at him, and I furrow my eye brows in misunderstanding. "Sir please, I don't speak Spanish. I must get going."

Liam huffed, and flicked me on the forehead.

I moved back, holding my palm over where he flicked me. "Ow! What the hell man!?" I glare at Liam.

"What the hell? Are you kidding me Kyle? Don't think I don't recognize you. And you know that was Italian, not Spanish." Liam scoffed.

That's when I noticed he developed an Italian accent. He no longer sounds American unlike the last time we spoke. Also, he did not fluently speak Italian either. I guess we both changed.

"I need to get to work." I try again, dodging the subject.

"Siediti!" Liam orders.

Or well, I assumed, but it certainly sounded like an order. But I had no idea what he was saying.

"Scusa. It's been a headache translating back to English. I'm trying to tell you to sit down." Liam gestures to a cleaner table and seat.

I sigh. "I'm not getting past you, am I?"

"Nope." He smirks triumphantly.

I roll my eyes and sit down and he sits across from me.

"Where the hell have you been?" Liam asks me.