Shameless (The Therapist #2), стр. 50
“Oh, excuse me. You're right.” Missy comes in and takes a seat on the small black couch across from my desk. “So, you're about to branch out, huh? Gonna just leave me here to fend for myself.”
I giggle. “Yeah, I think it’s time. I didn't get a degree just to keep working at the same place I worked before I ever had a degree. But, you can work for me once I get it off the ground if you want.”
“Aww,” Missy says, placing her hand over her heart. “Just let me know when it’s ready, and when you're offering extensive math classes for me to learn how to do shit with numbers, and I'm there.”
We both chuckle together, before falling into silence. I think we both know big changes are coming. That kind of thing is always scary for everyone involved, but it’s the right thing to do. It’s going to take a lot of work, but I’m ready for it.
I think to vocalize my thoughts to Missy, but before I can speak, my cell phone vibrates on my desk. The number that comes across the screen isn't one I recognize, but it’s a Delaware area code, so I decide to pick it up.
“Hello?” I say, and Missy starts to get up to leave so I can have some privacy.
“Hi, is this Tessa Milton?” Liam’s voice booms from the phone loud enough for Missy to hear, and she pauses in the doorway.
“Yes, it is. Hi, Liam,” I say as my eyes widen. I instantly feel a fresh surge of glee and adrenaline in my chest. Missy even does a little dance before she sits back down to be my perfectly nosey support system.
“So, you did give me the right number?” Liam says, and I can see his smile through the phone.
“I did,” I reply.
“Well, thank you, Ms. Milton. How are you doing?”
Much better now!
“I’m good,” I say, making sure I don't go overboard. “Really good, actually. How are you?”
“I’m great. Busy with work, but I’m still so thrilled with it that it doesn't really feel like work right now. I’m sure it will later, but for now, it’s the best kind of busy in the world.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I answer. I smile at Missy, and she reacts by forming a heart with her hands and mouthing “You're so cute,” to me with a gigantic smile on her face.
“So listen,” Liam goes on. “Now that I've mustered up the courage to call you and I see you didn't give me the wrong number, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go on a date with me sometime soon. I’ve been dying to have some fantastic conversation with someone who listens and relates to me, and I think you might be the only person who can pull it off while also making it look really good.”
I smile so big it hurts my face. “I’d love to.”
“Great! Are you free later this evening?”
“I’ll make sure I’m free whenever you'd like to meet up.” Missy falls back in her chair and fans herself, and I roll my eyes as I smile.
“Okay, awesome,” Liam replies. “How about seven-thirty? Ruby Tuesday in Milford sound okay?”
“It sounds great,” I answer. The excitement I feel is almost too much to hold in any longer. “I’ll see you then.”
“See you then.”
“Okay. Bye, Liam.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Milton.”
The second I hang up the phone and pull it away from my ear, my excitement breaks through the blockade, and Missy and I both erupt into childish screams of excitement.
Chapter Thirty-Two
~ Tessa ~
Liam smiles at me like he’s seeing me for the first time, and he really likes what he sees. As a matter of fact, allow me to rephrase. Liam smiles at me like he’s seen me a million times, and realizes how much he loves seeing me—like seeing me will never get old to him. The kicker is that this is only the third time we’ve seen each other. Liam just has this flicker of light in his eyes that shines like a star buried in his pupils, and the star brightens when he looks at me.
“What?” I ask as I begin to feel a little awkward from him staring.
“I don't know,” Liam says, adjusting in his seat. “You're just nice to look at.”
I can feel myself starting to blush, and I literally fan myself to keep my face from turning red. Sometimes, a simple compliment is the most effective.
This is the most dressed down I’ve ever seen Liam. The two times we ran into each other before, he was making a quick pit stop in Applebee's to have a drink to blow off some steam and celebrate an accomplishment, respectively. He was dressed in a nice suit every time, but tonight he’s in a dark gray button-up with the top two buttons undone, revealing a toned chest with a barely-visible tattoo teasing just beneath the edge of the second button. I can’t make out what the tattoo is from here, but my eyes are drawn to it. Liam is still fancy, but it’s toned down. It doesn't change anything, though. He's as gorgeous as ever.
I chose to dine in a flowing black dress with silhouettes of flowers sweeping across the bottom. It’s a little elegant, but it makes me feel gorgeous. These days, I’m all about doing what makes me feel good, regardless of what people may say about it. Life is too short to care about the opinions of strangers.
“So, how was work today? I’ve been curious about whether or not things held up for you the way you hoped they would,” Liam says.
Our waitress brings our food and places it on the table. Liam ordered steak, while I chose two chicken breasts topped with asiago cheese and bacon.
“Well, I told my mother