Iwoke to an empty bed, and the sun streaming through the windows. I squint as the early morning light breaks through my sleepy haze before turning over and stretching. My muscles are deliciously sore from Liam, who I assume is in the kitchen from all the clanging and banging coming from that direction. I grab his shirt from the chair in the corner and throw it over my head before cleaning myself up in the bathroom.
I follow the aroma of coffee and bacon into the kitchen, where I find Liam at the cooker top. Bacon sizzles in the pan as he transfers it onto a plate before turning to me.
“Good Morning” the knicker-dropping smile he gives me makes my knees weak and it takes all of my power to answer him. Black lounge pants hang low on his waist giving way to the very defined V that I know leads to something utterly mouth-watering. His dark hair is sleep rustled, and his baby blues are glitter with something cheery.
“Morning” I offer with a blush.
“Liam you really should…” I snap my head around at the sound of the sweet, female voice and come face to face with a beautiful brunette. I grab the hem of Liam’s shirt and tug at around my thighs, hoping it will help me keep even a shred of my modesty.
“Amelia, this is my sister Jessica. Jess this is Amelia” Liam says proudly before wrapping his arms around my waist. I offer her a weak smile, hating that he didn’t give me any heads up.
“You could have told me” I hiss quietly.
“Amelia, it’s so nice to meet you” Jessica snaps my attention back to her. Standing tall in her fitted jeans and light cream jumper, her matching chocolate waves pulled up into a loose ponytail at her neck, she looks exactly the way she did in the photo.
“Likewise, this isn’t how I usually dress” I huff but she flaps her hand in the air dismissing me.
“I was only stopping by quickly, I’ll leave you two to it. Let’s get together soon? You’re the first one he’s letting me meet! Finally get a girlfriend” she huffs, turning to grab her coat and handbag.
I cock my eyebrow behind me towards Liam, his chin resting happily on my shoulder.
“I mean it! We’re going to dinner. I’ll call you later” she calls after pointing at her brother.
“Bye!” he yells too loudly, making my flinch away from him mouth.
“I made breakfast” he coos before nipping at my lobe. I turn and swat his arm before he finally lets me go.
“Thank you” I take a seat on one of the bar stools and take a sip of the coffee he placed in front of me.
“I have some work to do today, but you’re welcome to stay here” he tells me as he joins me and placed our food in front of us.
“Okay”
“Then we can go to dinner tonight” he spears some bacon before bringing it to his lips and chewing. The blush that rises further on my cheeks makes me turn my head away, but Liam grabs my chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning my face towards him and pushing my hair behind me ear.
“With your sister?”
“No. But another time”
“She seems nice” I smile around my coffee, and he shrugs as if he’s not so sure.
“Liam!”
“What? She’s painful. But you’ll come to learn that” he snickers.
“I’ll need to grab some clothes first” I tell him gingerly, and his eyes flick between mine and the shirt I’m wearing.
“Okay, let me get some work done and then I’ll take you this afternoon”
“Okay” I smile before we both finish our breakfast.
Liam heads to his office and I get to wander around his flat. I grab my phone and text Becca to tell her what happened, and she replied with a million-different emoji’s telling me how excited she was. I had a shower and threw on Liam’s shirt again, I didn’t fancy walking around this new space naked, regardless of how much he would have enjoyed it. I found a bookshelf in his office and he told me to help myself, so I did. I curled up in the dark leather, wing backed arm chair and read a book. I lost all track of time and when Liam came over and told me to get dressed with a firm kiss on the lips it was past four o’clock.
We headed back to my flat, I knew exactly what dress I was going to grab for our first proper date tonight. I was surprised I wasn’t throwing up with excitement. Grabbing my keys out of my bag I turn to the door, but Liam’s hand stops me and he’s staring pointedly behind me. I turn my head to see that the door is slightly open, and I know I shut it and locked it. It’s something I always double check. Unease settles heavy in my stomach and I try to swallow the lump that’s in my throat. My heart rate increases, and I will it to calm down. It’s probably nothing. I push the door open slowly, the slight creak it makes filling the silence that’s settled all around us. I tilt my head to look inside before I go to take a step in. “Let me” Liam says before pushing past me. “Stay here” he demands over his shoulder. My mouth is dry and all I can do is nod. My mouth drops open when I see all my things have been trashed. The hall table is on its side, the dish that resides there is smashed all over the floor. Liam walks around, going into various rooms before coming back towards the front door. “No One is here, I’ll call the Police” Panic instantly sets in deep in my stomach and I rush to say “No! Wait.”
“Amelia”
“Just let me look around okay?”
I step over the glass as I head into the living room where my sofa is upturned, and my coffee table is shattered. The Tv on the wall has been hit with something, creating funky looking colors strewn across it, and my stuff has been thrown everywhere. The kitchen is much the same, all my dishes have been smashed to smithereens, the glass crunching under the weight of my boots, my bar stools and dining table are scattered everywhere. They’ve even taken a knife to some of my art pieces I have decorating the walls. I fight back the tears in my eyes, and the need to throw up. What did I ever do that was so bad to her that made me deserve this? I head towards my bedroom and realize they didn’t stop at my living space. The room is trashed, they’ve thrown paint all over my beautiful bed, red splashes careen the walls, the furniture. Flashes of Liam and I on that bed are tainted to me now. This whole room is strewn with such good memories of us two and now it’s been ruined. I shrug out of my coat and dump it on a clean spot on the bed. And that’s when I notice the piece of paper. I grab it before heading to my wardrobe to check my safe is still here. It is, I guess whoever it was, was unsuccessful in cracking the code to open it. There isn’t much of value in there anyway, rather sentimental value. Silly, little things that I managed to keep from my childhood. I run my hands through my hair, tugging on the elastic that’s still holding it in place. I let it fall around my shoulders as I open the piece of paper. It’s typed which I find strange.
Amelia, we know where you live. We have something of importance to you. Head to Wales and nothing will happen to her.
“No!”
Bile rises in my stomach faster than before, I hunch over at the thought that Gran could be in trouble. They wouldn’t hurt an innocent, frail old lady, would they? Shit.Shit.Shit I knew it was her who was behind this, who else could it have been? My mother has never gone to this length before. She couldn’t have pulled this off on her own, she must have help from somewhere. My head feels like it’s going to explode, I’ve had too much information to process over the past few weeks and now I get this shit. Liam’s hand rests on my shoulder, and I grab at it. He reads the note from behind me and takes in a shuddering breath.
“They’ve never gone this far before. How the fuck did they get in?”
“I’ll find out. You can’t stay here Amelia. Grab some things and you can stay with me”
“Liam…” I start to argue but he cuts me off.
“No. Fuck No! You are not arguing with me on this one. Grab your stuff” With that he turns and walks out of my bedroom. I stare at the note one last time before grabbing some of the clothes they haven’t trashed out of the drawers and shoving them carelessly into an overnight bag. As I do a deep sense of foreboding hits me out of nowhere and I rush to the bathroom in time to throw up. My stomach contracts against my dry heaving and I manage to clean myself up before Liam walks in.
“Hey, you alright?” he runs a soothing hand down my spine and I offer him a weak smile. The need to see Grace weighs heavily on me, I need to get to Wales. A heavy stone sets deep in my stomach, and I hold it tightly hoping to ease it away somehow. I can feel my breathing becoming restricted and I groan at the onset of a panic attack. I can’t cope with one now! I have to get moving. I glance around the bathroom once, catching my reflection in my shattered mirror before Liam pulls me away.
“Come on, let’s get you out of here” he says securing his beanie on his head as we head to the door.
“I have to go to Wales” I insist before shoving my keys into my bag. Not that they’re any good for obvious reasons.
“Not today you don’t”
“Liam, I have to make sure she’s okay. The nursing home is good, but it could be better” I demand meeting his eyes.
“Then call the nursing home Amelia. We’ll sort this, but we’re not going to Wales tonight”
“No, I have to see her for myself. I don’t trust anyone right now” I argue. He won’t win this, I’m going to see her and that’s final.
Liam pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration before running his hand over his hat, as if he’d forgotten he’d put it on, and finally coming to meet my stare.
“Fine. We’ll arrange it later. Do you trust me to deal with this?” His accusing tone makes me realize the words I just said. I don’t trust anyone. But that’s a lie. I do trust him.
I nod before muttering a “Thank you”. I grab my coat and shrug my bag higher up my shoulder before Liam grabs it off me and heads out of my upturned flat without a second glance.