Chapter 5

Emilia

I've barely said Rosie's name before she whips around, the end of her long hair that she's pulled back into a ponytail hitting Ryan in the face.

"Emi!" She runs over to me, practically shoving Liam out of the way. "Oh my gosh, Em." Ro engulfs me in a hug. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see your text and then when I did you weren't answering your phone. I was so worried about you."

"I'm okay." I say just as Liam comes back over to us, holding a frozen bag of peas up to me which I gratefully take and place on my wrist.

Rosie gasps, "your wrist! Oh my gosh who did this to you? I swear to god I'm going to find him. He's going to regret ever even looking at you. You know what? He's actually never going to look at any girl ever again because I'm going to…" I break out into a fit of laughter. Man that feels good after the events of the last thirty minutes. "What? I'm serious." I point over to the two guys leaning against the kitchen counters, wide eyes and jaws dropped. Garrett is smirking because he's seen this side of her before.

"She's a bit protective." My voice finally feels like my own.

"Only for those I love. I'm so stupid, I never should have left you alone."

"It's okay, I'm fine. Liam helped me out." I smile at him across the room, he's got a frozen bag of corn on his knuckles. Gosh, I knew he was physically attractive, but now that everything from the evening has sunk in and I realize he's also a good person, wow. I'm sure he'd be that way for anyone though, he's just a good guy.

"Thank you Liam." Rosie smiles at him for a second before turning her attention back to me. "We should go, Garrett, can you call an Uber?"

"Wait, let me drive you back." Liam chimes in and walks over to me taking the frozen peas off my wrist and examining it.

"You don't need an Uber, I only had one beer hours ago, so I'm fine to drive."

"Liam, are you sure? You've done so much for me already."

"Yes, I'm sure Emilia."

"Perfect!" Rosie hugs my waist. "Ubers are kinda sketchy late at night anyways."

We all pile into Liam's Jeep Wrangler, well all of us except Ryan who stays behind. I'm sitting in the front seat, Rosie's directly behind me and Garrett is in the back behind Liam. When I look back, Rosie is passed out, that girl has an absolute gift and is able to sleep anywhere. Ten minutes later we arrive at our apartment complex.

"I got her." Garrett says and walks around to the back passenger side scooping Rosie into his arms. "Ready Emi?"

"Just give me a minute and I'll be in."

"Need me to wait?"

"No, it's okay. Thanks Gar." He nods and makes it to the front door swiping his key fob and managing to get the door opened while still holding Rosie.

"What's up with those two?" Liam asks watching as they disappear into the building.

"Just friends." I shrug. "They know each other from back home, they reconnected in a class and we kind of adopted him into our duo. Though I'm not sure he wanted to be. He's a good guy though." Liam nods.

"Ahh, I think Ryan's into her."

"You think?" We both laugh.

"Let me walk you to your door."

"You don't have to."

"I know but I want to."

"Okay." We get out of his car and walk the short distance to the front door. I scan my key fob that gives us access to the building and he opens the door. "We're on the first floor, 113, it's just a few doors down on the right." We head that way and reach my apartment too quickly. Even though were walking in silence it feels nice, he feels like the type of person you can just be with, you don't have to do or say anything and you're still content.

"This is it." I point to the door just in front of us. "I'd invite you in to see it but we kind of just moved in like this morning so we don't even have anything. We're sleeping on an air mattress in the living room." I let out an awkward laugh, not sure if that's incredibly embarrassing.

"Wow, you've had quite the day then."

"You could say that." I let out a breath. "Thank you for everything. You've been amazing, you're a really great guy Liam."

He smiles at me. "You're welcome." I can't resist the urge any longer and I hug him. It takes him half a second but he hugs me back, it's the kind of hug you could stay in forever. Strong and comfortable. As we slowly pull apart, I stand on my tip toes and I kiss him on the cheek.

"Goodnight Liam." I open the door and step inside, turning to face him again.

"Goodnight Emilia." I smile, his eyes not leaving mine while I close and lock the door.

Rosie is now awake after her little car siesta and sitting on our makeshift bed in the center of the living room, eyes wide and staring at me in anticipation. "So, did you kiss him?"

"What? No."

"Why not!"

"Well I did, on the cheek." I shrug.

"So your aim's a little off."

I pick up a pillow and throw it at her and we both erupt into a fit of laughter. "I doubt he would want me to kiss him, I was just crying in front of him and he probably thinks I'm some crazy dumb girl he has to rescue." I mutter, shaking my head since I feel ridiculous, I walk over to the bathroom to wash off my makeup.

"But you're not some crazy dumb girl." Rosie says, following me into the bathroom.

"Right, but he doesn't actually know me." Throwing my cotton round into the small trash can, one of the few things we do have in this apartment that we brought from our dorm. I head back out into the living room, Rosie hot on my heels.

"But I bet he wants to, I mean he gave you his clothes and he drove you home." Climbing into bed, I snuggle into the blankets and sigh, hoping Rosie will drop it but knowing she's not done voicing her opinion yet. "And you're still wearing said clothes. Just saying."