One way or another

 Emily really wasn't sure she ever wanted to speak to Liam again. Of course, she gave him the silent treatment on the way back from their road trip with Valentina and Matty. Naturally, Liam seemed to enjoy the quiet while Matty and his girlfriend snoozed all the way home.

Emily couldn't help but swell a frown, but it wasn't until a week later she got up the nerve to be in a stomp about it when she brought him dinner again where Liam worked.

"How could you! Making me sleep with a stranger." She could have busted an eye from her evil glare, but Liam didn't say much. Instead, he ate whatever she gave him. He didn't fall into her fit of anger. 

"Would your dad approve if you and I shared a bed?" He tilted his head with a very smart mouth that she couldn't decide if she wanted to smack him with the back of the hand or kiss him.

She only took a deep breath. She knew she should give up on him, but she couldn't. Not yet. Her brother Bishop kept her hopes up from time to time with a text about how she could find romance if she only kept calm.

She turned from Liam, hoping he didn't see how fussy she actually was. Really, she was nice to everyone, but him. Of course, she couldn't explain to him why it was like this. Perhaps, he was the one she could be her true self with. But she was certain that was a turn-off.

"I like your family," she thought she heard Liam say. She turned back and looked at him kind of funny. "I wouldn't dare want to make your dad mad."

Emily couldn't help but smile. She nodded. Maybe they were a good pair after all. Well, it came to her like a dream, but now she couldn't remember if it happened while she was asleep or just watching him at the grocery store all those months ago.

Yes, she was the one who prodded her Dad along about him. She thought it would be a great opportunity for him to follow in her Dad's footsteps in security at CITY. Emily knew who Liam was back at the University. Naturally, he never looked her way. He had to be focused. She was certain.

"So..so..do you even like me?" She found herself louder than she meant to be. 

Finally, she got a smile out of him. Naturally, Liam was always a mystery.