Remember When ↠ l.p.

Don't be nervous!

"Oh really?" I try to hide the disappointment in my voice. "I can't believe she did managed to sneak off with something again, and with us both watching her this time!"

"I'm sure she's an aspiring criminal, she just hides it extremely well among the quiet smiles and adorable sneezes." Liam sighs and I hear murmur something I can't understand away from the speaker of the phone. "Listen, I know you just saw me less than 24 hours ago, but would it be fine if I dropped it off by your house? I wouldn't have brought it back around until I had news, but I was already in the neighborhood and I thought why not?"

"Uh," I pause and glance around the house, Cailyn is in the midst of bringing out all of her stuff-toyed animals and is lining them up around the coffee table. There is either a meeting or some sort of tea party going on. Otherwise the house is in similar condition to as it was last night. "that would be fine I guess. When do you think you'll get here"?

"Well that's the thing, I'm sort of already here. I'm outside your door." I nearly drop the phone in a mix of emotions. Joy, because I don't have time to worry about him getting here, surprise that he didn't give me more of heads up, and a bit of fear as I haven't put on any makeup today.

"Well in that case, I'll let you go so I can open up the door." I laugh and then hang up the phone. Taking a few seconds, I try to pat my hair down before opening the door to him. He stands there alone, holding out a Barbie who is missing a shirt and is only wearing a scarf, a skirt, and a single, red high heeled shoe. 

"Goodness, it looks like she's been through a lot." I tease, casting a suspicious look in Cailyn's direction. Liam looks down at the doll and nods seriously.

"She tried to escape my custody several times. It was a mission returning her home." he holds her out again and I miss the gesture because I'm looking behind him to where his car is parked, Theresa is mashing her face against the window and waving a little. Another figure sits in the passenger seat, still and immobile, I can't tell who it is. I return Theresa's wave and then find Liam holding the doll extremely close to my face.

"Oh sorry, Theresa was just waving-" I break off, feeling the same awkwardness and doubt seeping into my thoughts that were there yesterday. This is why I didn't want to get so invested in this job and in seeing him. Because this always happens and I can't shut it off! Liam's voice brings me back down to reality.

"I left her in the car today, I didn't want to give her another chance to 'borrow' anything else." he says, making quotation marks in the air. I nod and smile, accepting the half-clothed barbie doll. His hands brush mine briefly and I shiver. Definitely from how cool it is outside, definitely. 

"I understand, uh thank you for bringing it over and have a nice day." I awkwardly shift from one foot to other. His mouth lifts up on one side in a slight smirk.

"Isabella, don't tell me you've decided to become nervous around me. You've already found my lost daughter in a large supermarket and she's managed to steal from you in return," he laughs and reaches out to pull me into a surprisingly tight hug. I squeak at how sudden it is but wrap my hands around his torso lightly in return. "Don't be nervous, it'll only get crazier from here on out, I'm sure." he releases me after a final squeeze before turning around and heading back out to the parking lot. Leaving me still standing with the door open, my mouth still hanging open.

"I'll call you again when I get news about the job!" he calls out, almost as an afterthought,  as he opens his car door.

I'm gonna try to make each chapter interesting and exciting in some way, shape, or form. Hope this was ok, lemme know through feedback by voting or commenting :)