Target

Alysha was messaging with someone while I tried to focus on the movie. She made it difficult for me. Not because her phone is annoying me, but because she simply here. “Hmm.” She doesn’t seem to be aware that she said that. “What?” “What what?” “What ‘hmmm’?” I laugh. “Gwenn invited me to go shopping next week.” “Sounds like fun.” “In Rotterdam.” “Why?” “Don’t know, ask her,” she laughs. “But I think I have to go.” She gets up. “Why can’t you stay,” I pout. “Because, I have to get up early tomorrow.” “But so do I, so you can still stay here.” “I have nothing to wear.” I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my chin on her head. “But I don’t want you to go.” Mentally I kick myself. I shouldn’t be saying this. Hell, I should’ve finished this a few weeks ago. But I don’t care. I care for Alysha and I am busy trying to find my way out of this mess. “I can come over tomorrow evening.” I shake my head. “Interview… Or something.” I don’t remember. I’ll see it when I get there anyway. She shakes her head. “Get it together Payne. Call me okay.” She stands on her toes to kiss my cheek. Seriously, she is so tiny. “I will.” “Liam?” “Yes?” “Let me go please.” I smile. “What if I don’t?” She smiles deviously. I let go. “Careful,” I say before she leaves. “Always am.”

I am anxious. Harry and I are waiting at the airport to pick the girls up. I am extremely impatient. Alysha and Gwenn have been gone for two days, and I am already going crazy. Part of me is also worried that someone else tried to hurt her. Snap out of it, I think. I spot her and can’t stop myself. I walk up to them and hug Alysha tightly. I am so relieved to hold her again. “How was your trip?” “Great,” Gwenn and Alysha answer simultaneously. “Full suitcase?” Harry asks. “Yup. And you get to clean it up.” Gwenn laughs. Alysha yawns. “Want to go home?” I ask. She nods gratefully.

When we come at my house, Alysha dumps her jacket and finds my bedroom. “Is shopping so intense?” I tease. “Don’t get me started.” She throws her clothes in a corner of the room. “Where is that thing I dumped here,” she asks while she looks under the bed. “Here.” I take a shirt from my closet. My jaws drops when I turns around. “What did you do?” Alysha looks up, confused. “What?” “You are covered in bruises.” I try to keep my voice normal, but I panic. She has a busted expression. “Lysh? What happened?” “It is nothing, really.” It doesn’t sound convincing. “Okay, listen, I have a vitamin C shortage, so I bruise easily. And I forgot to take extra.” I shake my head. “You gave me a heart attack.” “Don’t worry, I can take care of myself.” I smile, but not convincingly. “Liam, don’t worry about me, okay? I am a big girl.” I sigh. “I know…” I strike her hair and get up. I change and when I turn around, Alysha has already disappeared under the blankets. I think she was already asleep. She had to teach me that. I slip under the covers too and wrap my arms around Alysha. I close my eyes and listen to her steady breath. It calms me enough to make drift off to sleep.

Notes

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