Chapter 19

VIVIANNE

The shift is immediate. His hand slides into my hair, cupping the back of my head as he deepens the kiss with a hunger that makes me whimper.

His mouth moves over mine with purpose, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips until I open for him.

The moment our tongues meet, heat floods my veins.

I gasp softly against his mouth. He groans—low and quiet, like he’s been holding back for too long.

His other hand settles at my hip, gripping gently, pulling me closer until our bodies are flush.

My hands explore without thinking, curling around his shoulders, sliding up the back of his neck, holding him there like I never want to let go.

The kiss slows—his mouth moving over mine like he owns it. He tilts his head, angling for more, savoring every glide and pull like he’s memorizing the taste of me.

His lips drag across mine, soft but certain, coaxing rather than taking. Then his teeth graze my lip—just enough pressure to make me shiver and melt all at once.

He kisses me like he needs it—like I’m the only thing tethering him to the moment.

When he finally pulls back, just enough to rest his forehead against mine, we’re both breathing hard.

“Viv?” he murmurs.

Then his breathing starts to even out, the haze of sleep pulling him under.

I lie there beside him, wide awake, staring at the ceiling while his arm stays draped over my waist.

The kiss replays in my mind, over and over.

I loved it.

But it was a mistake.

He won’t remember—but I can’t let myself pretend it means nothing.

***

“Shit!”

Liam’s panicked whisper wakes me. I roll over to see him sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

“Liam?”

He jumps, spinning around. His expression is tight.

“Viv, what the hell happened?”

“You don’t remember?” I ask as he runs his hands through his hair.

“I remember, but—” He exhales sharply, grabs the sheet, and wraps it around himself before standing.

“Okay, then what’s your question?”

He makes a small circle with his finger, eyes flickering from the bed to me and back. “I’m naked in your bed.”

I nod.

“And I don’t remember anything after the shower.”

“We kissed. That’s it.”

Something shifts in his expression—like he’s seeing me differently now. His gaze lingers, softer. For a second, I think he might say something else. But he doesn’t.

I clear my throat and look away. “It’s okay,” I say quietly. “But it can’t happen again.”

His eyes snap to mine.

“We work together, Liam. ~I~ work for ~you~. We need to keep things professional.”

A beat passes. He nods once—slowly, like he’s trying to bury whatever was rising to the surface, but I see it anyway.

Then he turns toward the door.

“Liam?”

He pauses, glancing back.

“Let me get dressed, and then we’ll go grab breakfast and talk at the office,” he says, before disappearing down the hall.

I sigh and drag myself out of bed. At the closet, I thumb through the hangers and settle on a black knee-length skirt, a black cami, and a blazer to match. I smooth it down, tucking the shirt in neatly.

The walk to Daily Grind is quiet and tense.

We grab our orders and head to the office. Jenna gives me a questioning look as we pass, but I just give her a tight smile and keep walking.

Inside, I drop onto the couch with a heavy sigh.

“So, where do we start?” Liam asks, his voice strained.

“Hold on.” I hold up a finger and walk over to his desk, pressing the intercom. “Jenna, can you come in here, please?”

A moment later, she walks in, eyeing us warily. “What’s going on?”

I pat the seat next to me. “You’ve been a wonderful friend, Jenna. I haven’t. You deserve to know the truth.”

Liam tenses beside me. His face flashes with shock, fear, and anger before settling into something close to defeat.

Jenna hesitates, then sits.

“Before we start, I need to say thank you—for being here, for sticking with me through everything. And because of that, I need you here for this conversation.”

Jenna’s eyes widen. “Oh God, you’re breaking up with him, aren’t you?” She covers her mouth, face paling. “I didn’t mean it—I shouldn’t have said that last night.”

You told her to break up with me?” Liam’s voice is quiet but sharp.

“I—I—um—” She looks between us, realization dawning. “Wait… What aren’t you telling me?”

I laugh and swoop in to save her. “Liam, think about what you just said.”

He blinks, then chuckles under his breath.

I inhale and start from the beginning—the coffee date.

Liam and I take turns, unraveling the story piece by piece.

By the time we finish, a weight lifts from my shoulders. Liam looks lighter too.

She studies me. “Why tell me now?”

“Because I hated lying to you. And I need my friend back.”

“Okay. That’s all I need to hear. But just so you know—I’m totally asking questions later.”

I laugh, and Liam’s face turns red.

My phone rings, pulling my attention from Jenna, who’s still laughing.

“Hey, Beck!”

Seeing my sister’s name pop up makes my chest ache. I haven’t spoken to her in what feels like forever.

“Viv?” Her voice trembles with fear.

“What’s wrong?” I stand, my whole body on alert.

Jenna reads me like a book. She touches my arm, listening closely.

Then Becca says it—the words I’ve been dreading.

My world stops. I can’t breathe.

“I—I have to go,” I say, dropping the phone.

I hear Jenna, but the whirling in my head makes it hard to understand.

Liam reaches for my arm, but I try to pull away.

“Viv,” he says gently.

I shake him off, but he doesn’t let go. His grip tightens, steady but firm, like he knows I’m slipping.

“Vivianne.”

His voice cuts through the noise in my head.

I look up.

His eyes are full of worry, confusion, something that might even be fear. But more than that, they see me. All of me. And that’s what undoes me.

The tears come fast. Ugly. Unstoppable.

He wraps his arms around me.

Everything hits at once.

The kiss.

The lie.

Telling Jenna.

Not telling her soon enough.

His father’s hands.

My mother’s voice.

The ache of not being enough for any of it.

Liam pulls me into his arms, and I don’t resist.

I crumble.

“What’s going on, Viv?” he asks, barely above a whisper.

“My mom,” I choke out. “She’s really sick, Liam.” My shoulders shake with each word.

“It’s going to be okay,” he says. “Jenna, I need you to clear my schedule and send all the paperwork for this week to the address Vivianne sends you. We’re taking a trip to her hometown.”

Jenna jumps into action and leaves the room.

My chest feels tight. I lean into him, breathing him in like I need it to stay upright.

When we finally pull apart, I type out my address and send it to Jenna.

“Okay, I’m going to the apartment to throw some clothes together,” he says. “Jenna.” His voice is firm.

She appears a moment later, waiting in the doorway.

“Sit with her. I’ll be right back.” And then he’s gone—and Jenna’s hugging me.

My mind is spinning. All I want is a second to breathe.

But I know the air won’t be easy to find where we’re going.