The words hung in the air like a warning. Nova held her ground, refusing to let Eva see how much the comment stung.
"Thanks for the advice," Nova said coolly. "I'll keep that in mind."
Eva gave her one last lingering look before turning on her heel and walking out, leaving Nova alone with her racing thoughts.
As soon as Liam got back from the interview, his phone buzzed, seeing Eva's name on the screen, he answered.
"Hey, babe," Liam said as soon as he picked up the call, his voice tired but warm.
Eva answered with a tone so cold it instantly told him she was mad. "Don't hey me," she said, then continued her words sharp and deliberate. "So that bitch is now working in your fucking closet too?"
Liam's expression hardened, his jaw tightened as he stopped walking, he took a deep breath, forcing himself not to react immediately. "Eva," he said slowly, "she is not a bitch, she has a name, okay?"
There was a brief silence before Eva scoffed. "Yeah, as I expected, you're still all over her," she said angrily, the accusation slipping out effortlessly as soon as Liam corrected her.
Liam bit his lower lip, a habit he always had when he was trying not to say the wrong thing. "Look, Eva," he said, choosing his words carefully, "I asked her to help me with the outfit today and yeah, she's working for me, so it will not hurt you or our relationship." He paused, and then added, "Why are you mad over such a trivial thing?"
"Oh," Eva laughed dryly, "so now I'm a drama queen, is that it? Because the way you're saying this is like I'm being a drama queen here"
"That's not what I said," Liam replied quickly. "Babe, I'm sorry if it offended you, but in a place of work especially my studio closet, anyone can walk in there, and you know that." His voice softened, almost pleading. "And it doesn't hurt to ask for help, it's not like I asked her to marry me, it's for work, I don't even meddle in your work because I trust you so why don't you trust me?"
For a moment, Eva didn't respond, and Liam thought she had calmed down.
Then she spoke again, quieter this time, but more dangerous. "Well, to me, it looks like these little 'help asking' moments might turn into 'will you marry me'," she said slowly, "and I would hate that day."
Liam sighed, a heavy breath escaping him as he ran a hand through his hair. "Babe, relax…"
Before he could finish, someone called his name from across the room, Liam turned slightly, distracted. "Can we talk later? Something came up."
"Okay, I know I'm the second thing for you" Eva said her voice suddenly calm, too calm. "I'll come to yours."
Before he could respond, the call ended.
Liam stared at his phone for a second longer than necessary, a knot settling in his chest.
*****
Later that night at the elevator, doors closed with a soft chime, and the hum of descent filled the confined space, Nova leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as Liam stood beside her, his hands shoved into his pockets.
The silence was deafening, the air between them heavy with unspoken words, Nova tried to focus on the glowing numbers above the door, but her mind was a chaotic whirl of thoughts.
"She talked to you, didn't she?" Liam broke the silence, his voice low.
Nova turned her head slightly. "Eva?"
He nodded his jaw tight. "Yeah, she told me she saw you in the dressing room."
Nova sighed, straightening. "She didn't say anything surprising, just... warned me to stay in my lane, essentially and I will do the same if it's my man's closet… so it's not a big deal."
"That's ridiculous," Liam muttered, frustration edging his tone.
"She's your girlfriend, Liam," Nova said firmly. "She has every right to say it."
"Don't," he said, turning to face her fully, his voice softened, but his expression was intense. "Don't make excuses for her, you didn't do anything wrong."
Nova looked away, her chest tightening. "Maybe not… but Liam she is your girlfriend, you can't keep doing this to her"
'Yeah she is but… she is not being reasonable sometimes, that's why I get mad" Liam said that but Nova didn't say anything he just looked at him
His gaze bore into her, making her feel exposed. "You keep saying that, always defending her but you never explain why."
"You know why," she whispered, meeting his eyes.
"No," he said, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I don't."
She tried to step back, but the wall stopped her. "Liam, this isn't..."
"This isn't what…," he interrupted, his hand bracing against the wall beside her. "Stop running away from this, from me."
"I am not running away from you, I have always been there with you, close to you more than you think, but…" She whispered breathlessly.
Her breath hitched as he leaned in, their faces inches apart, she could feel the warmth radiating off him, see the conflict swirling in his eyes, her resolve faltered, and for a moment.
"But what…?" Liam asked his breath hitched too.
Nova looked at his eyes "You never notice… you made me question you so many times"
She let herself forget everything... Eva, their decisions, the chaos, she get her hands into his neck without a second thought.
Liam tilted his head slightly, his lips brushing against hers. It was tentative at first, testing the waters, but when she didn't pull away, it deepened, his free hand gently cupped her cheek, and she found herself leaning into him, her hands instinctively gripping his shirt, then they moved to his chest, roaming around in every corner of his chest.
Liam wasn't sure if it would make her feel something but he couldn't hold back too, his hands were already on her waist, roaming around it, touching her body up to her bare back, she only had a crop top on her, with her hands on his chest that made the top leave her waist bare while she was busy traveling from the Liam's chest to his back and everywhere.
The kiss grew urgent, both of them pouring everything they'd been holding back into that moment.
Time seemed to blur, the outside world fading into nothing, but just as the intensity peaked, Nova's phone buzzed loudly in her pocket, the sudden vibration jolted her back to reality, and she pulled away, her breathing ragged.
"Oh no," she whispered, her hand flying to her lips as her phone buzzed again.
Liam stepped back, running a hand through his hair. "Nova..."
"I... I have to take this," she stammered, fumbling for her phone and glancing at the screen.
It was Lara.
"Of course," Liam said, his voice laced with frustration, but he made no move to stop her.
The elevator dinged as it reached the ground floor, Nova stepped out, clutching her phone tightly as she answered the call, her voice shaking.
Liam stayed behind, leaning against the elevator wall, he closed his eyes and exhaled sharply, the taste of the kiss still lingering, the ache of what could have been clawing at him.
Later on at the apartment, it was quiet when Liam returned that evening, he dropped his keys on the kitchen counter and ran a hand through his hair, the weight of the day pressing down on him.
"Liam," Eva's voice called from the living room, she stepped into view, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.
He sighed inwardly, knowing where this was headed. "Eva," he said, forcing a smile. "Did you eat?"
"Don't,,," she said sharply. "We need to talk."
Liam leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "About what?" he almost forgot that they had unfinished talk.
"About her," Eva said, her tone clipped. "Nova," Eva said, the name hanging in the air like a challenge. "I saw her in your dressing room today, Liam, what was she doing in there? Liam I'm not done with it, I told you I don't like her"
"She was organizing my things… Babe we talked about this why are you bringing it now?" he replied evenly, refusing to rise to the bait "This has nothing to do with her," Liam said firmly.
"Doesn't it?" Eva shot back. "Because I see the way you look at her, the way you defend her."
Liam clenched his jaw. "Eva, you're making something out of nothing."
"Am I?" she demanded, her voice rising. "If there's nothing, then look me in the eye and tell me she doesn't mean anything to you." Silence, Eva's laugh was bitter. "That's what I thought."
"Eva, stop," Liam said, his tone softening. "This isn't fair to either of us."
"No," she said, her voice trembling. "What's not fair is me giving everything to you while you're off... falling for someone else and still trying so hard to make me feel like you love me, I can't believe I have been in a bullshit kind of relationship, what was I doing?"
Liam exhaled deeply, guilt gnawing at him. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"But it did," Eva said, tears welling in her eyes. "So what now? Are you going to leave me for her?"
"No," he said firmly. "I don't even know what this is, but I do know we're not... we're not working, Eva, and you know it too."
"Ooh I see now you finally get the reason to break up with me" Her shoulders sagged as the fight drained out of her. "So, what? That's it? We're over?"
"I think we've been over for a while," Liam admitted quietly. "We've just been pretending we're not and for real Eva I have been trying really hard to make you happy but…"
Eva interrupted him and wiped at her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "I loved you, Liam and I still do."
"I know," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "And I'm sorry."
She turned and walked toward the door, pausing to look back at him. "You'll regret this, Liam, maybe not today, but someday."
The door closed softly behind her, leaving Liam alone with his thoughts and the memory of a kiss he couldn't forget.
Eva's words still rang in his ears, each one sharp enough to sting, he grabbed the nearest bottle of whiskey, uncorked it with a quick twist, and poured himself a glass, without hesitation, he downed it in one go, the bitterness mirroring the frustration boiling inside him, his thoughts drifted to Nova again, It wasn't the first time today, or even this week.