I was the embodiment of a song from my favourite band The Smiths as I was rushing through the busy streets of London in a panic, dodging my way around the mass amounts of ongoing people as I made my way towards the wine bar I was supposed to be fifteen minutes ago.
Walking around a corner, I hear my ring tone vibrating from my handbag, the familiar sound making me stop in my tracks to move to the side of the street, reaching in to grab the source of the noise as I pull it out to press the green call button quickly.
"Hello?" I answer breathlessly as I hitch my handbag back around my shoulder before running my hand through my windswept hair.
"Sophia, hey!" I hear a familiar voice announce happily through the phone line, my eyes instantly widening while a broad smile spreads across my face.
"Zach! Oh my God," I grin as I hear him chuckle in reaction, all while I begin to walk again, reminding myself that I needed to be somewhere as I continue to make my way towards the wine bar.
"I really want to talk to you, but I have a meeting I'm super late for," I whine as I walk briskly through the crowded street, my heels echoing as they clink off the cobbled ground.
"That's fine, just ring me back when you're free. I need to talk to you about something," he says before we say our goodbyes, leaving my mind to wander on what he wanted to talk about.
As I hang up and finally come into view of the gorgeous brick building, I rush up to the entrance of the bar, my hands holding my white lace skirt down that was blowing about in the wind, just before the man that was stood outside kindly opens the door for me.
"Thank you!" I grin enthusiastically before walking into the welcoming heat, my eyes instantly darting around the room until I see a handsome Liam sat at the table near the window, my legs automatically walking over to him.
He was in his usual attire, his dark suit complimenting the presentable and controlled man that was in front of me, and it looked like it was almost made just for him. His broad shoulders looked tight in the cloth of his dress shirt, and his facial hair complimented his strong jaw line that I knew loads of women would swoon over. I couldn't help but admire him as I ran my hand through my wavy hair to tidy it, before adjusting my matching laced crop top and making my way over.
"I am so sorry," I apologise as I approach him, his head snapping up from his paperwork to lock eyes with me, and I watch as he soon smiles, a beaming grin taking over his attractive face as he stands us to greet me.
"Don't be silly, you're alright," he tells me softly before wrapping his arm around my bare waist, pulling me into him to place a kiss on my temple, us both then moving to sit down.
"It's lovely to see you," I tell him just as a waiter approaches us, and I turn towards him eagerly, already knowing exactly what I had wanted.
"I'll have a Shiraz please," I smile as the man grins down at me approvingly, then looking across to Liam who orders the same, before the attentive man leaves so we were left on our own.
"How are you? You look beautiful by the way," Liam tells me, his voice deep and husky as he sets his hands on the table, his broad and toned arms tense as I dart my tongue out to lick my lips before speaking, and I couldn't help but blush at his compliment.
"I'm good," I smile shyly, "The boys are away to LA now, so I'm purely focussed on writing. I've got my work head on," I tell him as his eyebrows shoot up and he leans back to stretch his arms behind his head, leaning back in his chair.
"Oh yeah, that's pretty cool," he says, "How's things with you and your boyfriend now anyway? You know... after what happened at your artist talk," he asks with a low chuckle and I can't help but giggle, my cheeks flushing at the memory of Matty crouched on top of Elliott, the guy that was way too eager for his own good.
"We're good, he's just... he doesn't like it when other guys show an interest, he gets defensive," I mumble as I think about what happened, and I watch as Liam nods before reaching up to run a hand through his tousled locks, then leaning forward to rest his sharp jaw on his knuckles.
"That must be hard for him then. I mean, you're bound to get loads of guys showing an interest like that," he states seriously, and I can't help but laugh, not knowing what to say as I was a little shocked.
"Sophia, don't be so modest," he says with a seductive crooked smile, "You're gorgeous and I know for a fact that I'm not the first person to see that," he tells me seriously as I stare at him, and for some reason I was flattered.
"Example one being me, example two is on it's way," he murmurs lowly, and before I get to ask what he meant by that the waiter returns, setting each glass of wine carefully in front of the both of us.
I look up at the man kindly with a smile and notice that he was already gazing at me intently, returning a warm smile before walking off, and as he did he took the time to look back at me once more, catching my eyes to offer me a wink.
"I told you so," Liam smiles cockily as he lifts his glass of wine and I laugh uncomfortably, unsure and unconvinced by what had just happened.
"Okay Mr. Barker, since you are so clever..." I trail off cheekily before taking a sip of my wine, looking up at him through my eyelashes, "Fill me in on what's happening."
"I was planning on it, Miss Davis," he grins over at me before tilting his glass over to mine, and I reach to clink mine against his with a giggle.
A little while later we had covered most of the areas that I needed to know, and I finally knew what appearances I was attending before we could both leave for America.
I was so pleased as it turns out I get to stay out in LA for a whole two weeks, which is a lot longer than I thought I was going to have with Matty, and the thought alone excites me.
"Oh, fuck... I knew I had something else to tell you," Liam states, his voice excited as I raise my eyebrows in question, finishing off the last of my wine as I watch him dig through his bag eagerly.
"Here, read this," he tells me with a grin as he hands me over a document, and I take it carefully to set it in front of me just as the waiter returns again.
"Can I get you both another drink?" he politely asks as I look up to Liam who shrugs, before nodding and grinning over at me.
"Why not, same again?" he questions as I nod, a smile taking over my face before I look up to see the waiter looking at me again, his sharp blue eyes boring into mine.
"Same again," I confirm as he nods, a small smile tugging on his lips as he looked at me, before moving to reluctantly walk away.
"Read it," Liam demands softly as I chuckle and look down at the document in front of me, reading that it was screenshots of a conversation through email between Andy and Damien, my two assigned publishers, and I was instantly curious.
"I have access to the whole email system, but don't tell anyone that's how I got these," he explains with a laugh, and I look up at him with a smile, knowing that he could have gotten in trouble but he was doing this just for me.
My eyes darted along the emails that had discussed my writing and what was the next step for me in my career, until I was finally skimming the last page and I saw that there was an email sent to Liam himself.
Liam Barker,
I would like you to be the one who gives Miss Davis this wonderful information, as us here at Perry Publications are very excited for this future possibility.
After many conversations with Andy Carrick from Cali House Publishers and Publications, we've come to the conclusion that we would be interested in creating a book that purely features Miss Davis' short stories and essays, a.k.a. what she creates and applies into her blog.
Get back to me when you decide on what the outcome is.
Thanks again, Liam.
Damien Perry
Perry Publications, London.
My eyes widened as I took in what they were suggesting, what they wanted to do, and looking up to lock eyes with Liam, he was holding an excited look on his face that made me even happier.
"Oh my God!" I squeal before leaping out of my seat and over to him, and just before I reach him he stands up, grabbing me around my waist to lift me in the air as I wrap my arms around his shoulders.
"This is amazing," I say with a smile on my face as he chuckles, his arms tightening to give me a squeeze, and I couldn't help but feel happy that he was here experiencing this with me.
"You deserve it," he grins as I pull back to look at him while he slowly eases me back onto the ground, and I pull down my skirt that hitched slightly up my waist.
"I was so excited to tell you," he laughs, making me giggle as I reached up to place my hand on his shoulder, and I suddenly felt so thankful to have the man in front of me in my life.
"I'm glad you were the one to tell me," I tell him seriously as he grins down at me, then pulling me in to kiss my forehead before I move away, just as the waiter returns with our second round of wine.
"You both make a lovely couple," he tells us as I laugh nervously, moving to sit in my seat just before I shake my head.
"Oh, we aren't together," I giggle shyly as Liam lifts his phone from the table, his eyes giving nothing away as he stares over at the dark haired waiter who wouldn't stop staring at me.
"That's great to hear," the man says with a smirk as he walks off again, all before I could tell him that I was actually with someone else.
"Again, I hate to say I told you so," Liam chuckles as I reach to swat his shoulder playfully, then leaning back again to grab my wine glass.
I cross my legs as I run my hand through my hair again, a broad smile on my face just as I hear a camera shutter going off, and I soon realise it was coming from Liam's phone.
"Oi!" I laugh as he takes another, chuckling to himself before he shrugs and pays attention to the photos that were now on his screen.
"I can be your official photographer as well as your assistant," he looks up and grins before he looks back down to start moving his thumbs, typing something out across his screen and I raise my eyebrows in question.
"Check your phone," he then states as he locks his and sets it back in the original spot on the table, all while I reach for mine to see that I had a notification.
I bite my lip as I tap my finger on my Instagram app, opening up my notifications before I see that Liam had tagged me in a photo.
I smile as I see he's chosen the second one he had taken, the one of me smiling into the camera, my hand holding up my glass of wine as the candle that was sat in the middle of the table lit up my face, and I loved it, it was a lovely photo.
The only thing that was unsettling me was that it looked like a photo a couple would have taken together, a photo that someone would put up of the person that they love, but I was flattered as I dart my eyes down to read the caption.
liambarker: celebrating with this beautiful girl @ LaRose Wine Bar, London
I smile as I look up to see him looking at me intently, taking a sip of his wine as I hold up my glass to him, watching as he leans in to clink them together and we smile at each other warmly.
"Let's celebrate then."
//
"What is it?" Aluna asks excitedly as I stand in front of my four best friends, us all having drinks in a local bar that I asked them to meet me in earlier.
"Let me guess! Are you actually pregnant this time?" Danielle shouts with wide eyes as I shake my head and laugh, completely dismissing that thought.
"No, I am not pregnant," I giggle amused as I clutch my wine glass and grin at them all.
"Have you already met someone else? Fuck, someone let Healy know," Rachel says cheekily as the girls all giggle, and I can't help but laugh again as I make eye contact with her, squinting my eyes playfully as Rachel shrugs over at me.
"What?" she laughs, "You look like you got some," the girls continue to laugh as my mind wanders back to my antics this morning and last night.
It was more time spent on the phone to each other, time were we spent the duration of our call endlessly panting sweet nothings and moaning each others names, and it seemed to be a ritual of ours ever since he left over a week ago.
"Why are you suddenly all flushed?" Aluna questions with a smirk across her pretty face, making me giggle as I shake my head and clasp my hand over my mouth, trying to hide my sudden arousal at the thought of Matty's grunts and rasps filling my ear.
"Tell me!" Emily demands before taking a sip of her cocktail, all the girls eyes now on me as I continue to look at them all exasperated.
"I haven't met someone else and no, I didn't get some," I chuckle dryly as Rachel furrows her eyebrows together, knowing me way better that that.
"I have a brilliant sex radar, and you've definitely done something!" she states matter of factly and points over to me with the tip of her finger.
"I haven't!" I laugh with my hand held up as she frowns at me further, Aluna laughing hysterically as everyone continues to stare at me in wonder.
"Okay, I had phone sex last night and this morning, but that wasn't what I was supposed to be telling you all," I say rushed with a sigh as the girls erupt in chants, Rachel then telling everyone 'I told you so'.
"Jesus, Matty can't leave you alone can he?" Emily smirks over at me as I shake my head once again, amused by all my best girls that were sat before me.
"Well fuck, I need Matty to give George some tips," Danielle says seriously as I lift my hand to snap my fingers, getting everyone's attention back on me.
"What I wanted to tell you all..." I trail off as they look at me expectantly.
"... is that Damien wants to publish a book of my essays," I grin, biting my bottom lip as the girls all cheer, clap their hands and rush over to me.
"This is amazing, I'm so proud of you," Emily exclaims as she wraps her arms around me, everyone else soon following before Rachel heads over to the bar to order a round of shots.
The rest of the night seemed to be a blur, the whole time I spent with the girls blended all together, and I knew that I had drank way too much, especially when we were stumbling our way out of the bar to find our way home.
"I love you girls," I shout into the taxi that had just dropped me off at the end of my road, them all grinning at me as I take a step back to shut the door.
"Love you!" Emily shoves her head out through the open window as the car takes off, and I chuckle to myself as I hear them all shout the same thing before they're out of reach, the taxi speeding off until I couldn't see it any longer.
I smile as I begin to walk down the road, trying to rummage through my handbag to find my keys but get distracted when I see my phone. I clumsily bring it up to my eye level, then seeing that I had a few messages and missed calls, them all from Zach and Matty.
"Oh shit," I spoke out loud, almost stumbling over my own feet as I remember that I had to call Zach back, recalling that he wanted to tell me something but I had completely forgotten due to all the excitement.
I stopped in my tracks as I read Zach's message telling me to call him again, then seeing one from Matty who had said pretty much the same thing, and I couldn't resist as I press his name on my phone, before placing it next to my ear to continue walking up my street.
I wait, anticipating him answering as I look down at my feet, watching my each step as I took in how my heels were clicking loudly through the vacant and empty street.
"Soph', hey!" Matty answers quickly, "Are you alright?" his voice concerned as I pull back to see what time it was, soon finding that it was nearly one in the morning.
"I'm perfect, just- I'm walking home," I laugh as I spot a cat sitting on the windowsill of the house I was walking past, and I waved at it amused.
"You're walking home? Babe, what time is it with you?" he asks worriedly as I spot my house in the far distance, it seeming like it was miles away.
"It's almost one, I was out having drinks with the girls," I smile as I reach into my bag again to grab my keys, them jingling as I tug them out and drop them.
"Fuck," I whine as I bend over to grab them, once again stumbling before I stand back up, straightening myself out while my head throbbed.
"Okay, I'm staying on the phone with you until you're home," he states broadly, and even though I was intoxicated, I could sense that he was concerned for me.
"I wish you were here with me," I say softly, suddenly missing him more than ever as I hear him sigh, the frustration evident in his tone.
"Fuck, I miss you," he husks as I smile, walking closer to my place before I think about the cat again.
"When we get our own place we should get a cat," I suddenly state, twirling around to the house where the cat was still sat on the windowsill.
"A cat?" he chuckles and I nod, even though he couldn't see me.
"They just leave," he states, making me laugh loudly before I place my hand over my mouth in shock, my voice echoing through the empty street.
"We have to get one... or a dog," I giggle to myself, playing with my keys as I step slowly across the pathway.
"You're drunk aren't you, beautiful girl?" he asks, his voice holding a laugh that made my stomach flutter.
"Very much so," I grin, "You know what alcohol does to me," I then whisper, my voice suddenly sensual as I hear him breathe heavily through the phone line.
"Oh, I do," he says darkly, his voice making me bite my lip, "I know very well what it does to you, love."
"I want you here, I need you inside me," I breathe, "I want you to pull my hair and fuck me senseless," I whisper honestly, not missing the groan that slipped from Matty;s mouth as I thought about him being here with me.
"Fuck, you can't say things like that when I'm in a room full of guys," he rasps and I laugh cheekily again, completely amused by his words.
"Baby, I do," I purr, "I need you... I want you to be the taste on my tongue," I tell him as I suddenly hear fumbling over the phone.
"Soph', please don't do this to me now, we're in the studio and you're driving me crazy," he breathes and I suddenly feel my stomach drop, the excitement vanishing as I walk down the lane to my house.
"Okay, I'm sorry," I mumble as I lean over to slide off my shoes, taking them off to grab them and stand back up again to focus on my front door, my vision fuzzy.
"Don't apologise, that makes me feel like a fucking knob," he sighs as I walk closer to my place, my sight becoming clearer as I focus on the front of my house.
"What the fuck?" I whisper as I notice someone sitting at my front door, that person wearing dark ripped jeans, an acid washed denim jacket and I take in that there was a cigarette held in their left hand.
"Soph?" I hear Matty question as I take the phone away from my ear for a moment to walk closer, soon stood right in front of the unknown person that I then knew was a man, him wearing a hat over his tousled blonde hair as I furrowed my eyebrows together.
"Excuse me?" I speak up, my voice bold as the person snaps his head up to look at me, and I'm suddenly faced with the familiar sight of hazel eyes that I couldn't mistake anywhere.
"Jesse?" I gasp as he smiles at me weakly before stubbing out his cigarette and standing up, brushing off his jeans as he gazes at me intently, all while my heart was beating rapidly against my chest.
"Matty, I need to ring you back," I husk into the phone, ignoring Matty's protests, my voice suddenly hoarse and weak, and I couldn't bring myself to tear my eyes away from Jesse's.
"It's good to see you, Soph."