Shameless (The Therapist #2), стр. 48

“Nice to see you, too,” Liam replies, before turning to the bartender and ordering a rum and coke and turning back to me. “So, how have you been?”

“I'm really good, thank you. How about you?”

“Much better than the last time I saw you,” Liam says. “You definitely seem happier than last time, too. You’ve got a perky glow about you tonight. How about me? Am I glowing?”

A giggle escapes my throat. “I think you are.”

“Oh, that’s sweet of you to say. Well, I feel like I’m glowing for sure. Wanna know why?”

“Of course.”

I’d listen to anything this man has to say, because I remember how easy it was to talk to him last time. I’d just decided to start acting like a grown, single woman, and Liam was here venting about how pushy his lawyer father was. I remember how good it felt to have someone to relate to, but before we could even connect, he finished his drink and was gone without a trace. It looks like fate has brought us together again.

“I signed the final papers to close on a new building today,” Liam says with a broad, proud smile. He turns to sip his drink, but that grin never fades. It’s so strong of a smile that it’s contagious, making me smile, too.

“That’s cool,” I answer. “Still working business with your father?”

“Well, that’s the really cool part about it, Ms. Milton,” he says, and I instantly fall in love with how he says my name. “The papers we signed today were to close on a new building to house our new law firm. I took the bar exam, and now I’m starting my own firm with another lawyer friend of mine. It’ll be called Liam and Rind. His name is William Rind, so it makes sense. Wait. It makes sense, right?”

Liam bulges his eyes when he looks at me and I giggle like a schoolgirl at his playfulness. He must’ve really been down in the dumps the last time we spoke, because he seems like a whole new man today. Much brighter and more alive. His smile is vibrant and flirtatious, and his sense of humor is on full display. It makes him even more attractive. Could he be any more perfect?

“Yes, it definitely does,” I answer. “Well, I’m proud of you, Liam. That’s awesome. Way to go.”

Liam lets out a joyous chuckle before climbing out of his seat to take a bow in front of everyone in the restaurant. The bartender laughs and starts to applaud, causing three or four tables next to us to clap as well.

Liam twirls his hand in a circle and dips his head. “Thank you very much,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. Apparently, getting out from underneath his father’s thumb was exactly the relief he needed, and I love how much I can relate to that.

“All right, all right,” Liam says as he sits back down. “Enough about how awesome I am, Tessa, geez. I get it, you like me. Let’s just move on, all right?”

I let out another giggle with a shocked expression on my face.

“Uhh, all right. Somebody is really full of themselves today,” I say, reveling in how good it feels to laugh and smile.

“I know, I’m sorry. It’s just a really good day,” Liam says. “But, enough about me. I want to hear about you. Last time I saw you, you were talking to me about your mother. How has that been going?”

He remembered. My heart does a little jig in my chest.

“Well, it was rough for a while, but it’s better now,” I tell him. “We had to have a real heart to heart, but we got it all out in the open. I told her how I felt about the way she was treating me, and she apologized. She hasn’t been the same since. It’s been so surreal that I’m still waiting for the day she goes back to how she used to be, but so far so good. It’s been awesome.”

“That’s great! How do you feel now?”

“Like a thousand pounds has been lifted off my chest and shoulders, and I’m able to walk around free for the very first time. I feel like I’m floating, something you can relate to, I’m guessing.”

“You're guessing right,” Liam agrees. “I had a heart to heart with my dad, too. He didn’t take it as well as your mother did, so we had to go our separate ways. Once I was free from him, I felt like I could fly to the moon and back, so I went ahead and kicked the bar exam’s ass. Now, my firm will compete with my father’s. Payback’s a bitch.”

Liam chuckles and sips his drink, pulling another smile from me. “You seem to be really enjoying your moment.”

“I am! That guy has been a thorn in my side my entire life. I tried to do what you did. I tried to give him a chance to learn about how I felt and make adjustments, but he didn’t want to do that. He’s too hard-headed. So, I had to do what I had to do. All that matters now is that I’m happy. This feeling is irreplaceable. It can't be beat. Peace of mind means everything. I know you feel me on that one.”

“I absolutely do.”

“Yeah, I knew you would, Ms. Milton. That’s why I like you.” Liam knocks back the rest of his drink and stands up. Watching him get up and prepare to leave gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach. I don't want to just let him go this time, but I feel nervous about asking him for his number, so I’ll wait to see if he asks me for mine.

“All right, I’ve done enough celebrating tonight,” Liam says. “Now I have to get to work so that the firm comes out swinging. So, I’ve got to go. It was great talking to you again, Tessa. Let’s do it again soon.”

“Yeah, we really