Comfort Zone (Awkward Love 4)

“Just get dressed, drive up here, have your little ceremony and then do…whatever it is you need to do. You have fifty people coming to this thing, half of them are probably already here. Suck it up and be an adult, okay?”

“I’ve been trying to suck it up all week,” she grumbles.

“Mom!” I yell. “Just come up here and we’ll talk about it, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispers.

I cringe and turn my phone off, then throw it across the room. I have no hope in hell of going back to sleep after that. Between handling Mom and this thing with Liam…I shake my head. I was so disappointed that nothing happened last night. That kiss…wow. I get hot just thinking about it. I can’t stop wondering if Grammy hadn’t tried to infiltrate one of the most exclusive poker games in the state and almost got herself kicked out of the resort, where would last night have ended up?

There’s something about Liam, and it’s more than just physical, and it has little to do with him being my professor, or me not remembering what happened. I look forward to our conversations, and the more I get to know, the more I like. He makes me laugh like nobody else, he’s sweet, considerate, and the fact that he stopped things from going any further than a kiss at the bachelor party tells me he respects me. The icing on the cake is he’s the kind of guy who’ll drive five hours to pick up his grandmother.

I giggle, just thinking about the look on Liam’s face when he pushed past me, into the room, because Grammy had smuggled Andrew here. I can’t believe we didn’t hear him during the half an hour drive from Liam’s mother’s house, to here. That poor thing wouldn’t have known what was going on. I think I’m beginning to understand why Liam didn’t want to do this drive alone. Maybe it was never a ploy just to try and get with me.At eight, I head downstairs to make the most of my included cooked breakfast. I send Liam a text along the way, on the off chance he’s awake. I’m not sure what his plans are today, other than making sure Grammy doesn’t cause anymore chaos. I try calling Jake too, but he doesn’t answer either. I slide into a booth and glance at my phone again before I order. I’m not much of a breakfast eater, but I feel like I’m going to need the energy to get through today, so I go for avocado and eggs, and an extra strong coffee.

Halfway through, Mom calls. I’m afraid to answer.

What will it be this time? Dad’s pants have split?

“Hello?”

“We’re at the airport, just waiting on an Ober driver to pick us up.”

“Uber,” I correct, smiling.

“So long as he comes, I’ll call him whatever he wants.”

I snort. That’s what she said.

“Okay. Let me know when you get here.”

“I have to go and speak to the event coordinator, first, but maybe I can get ready in your room after that?

“Sure.” I smile. “I’ll see you soon.”I head back to my room to get ready. I still haven’t heard from Liam by the time I reach my room, so I have a quick shower. I’ve only been under the water for a few minutes, when there’s a knock on the door.

Shit. Mom.

Sighing, I jump out and wrap the thick towel around my body, then race over to the door. Liam stands there when I open it. He raises his eyebrows, then slowly roans his eyes up over me, until they meet mine. They shine as a smile creeps on to his lips.

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

I stare at him. “What do you think?”

“I think I like this much more than the dress you were wearing last night.”

I can’t help but laugh. “I sent you a text.”

“My phone is dead,” he apologizes. “I think Grammy did something with the charger, but she won’t tell me what.”

I chuckle, because I can totally see Grammy doing that.

“Where is she?” I ask as I glance past him.

“Back in the room. She was watching her shows and apparently leaving the house between ten and two is the worst thing in the world.”

“At least it will keep her occupied during the ceremony,” I say.

“That’s a good point.” He nods.

“So, are you coming in, or are you just going to stand there and stare at me all day?”

“Can I come in and stare at you?” he smirks.

I creep the towel a little higher, showing just a bit more of my thigh. He swallows, then gives me an intense stare. I lower my gaze, it suddenly becoming very obvious how turned on he is.

“If only my mother wasn’t going to be here any minute,” I tease.

His expression turns incredulous as I struggle to contain my amusement. I only feel a little bit guilty about winding him up.