28: A Kiss to be Worried About

Maria’s POV

"Hello, Liam," I managed to say, my voice dry like broken glass.

Not warm. Not cold. I could say I sounded distant.

Liam heard it. He always had good ears for moods. He gave a short nod and a small smile that curled from the corner of his lips.

“Yeah... I don't expect you to be happy to see me. You and i didn’t exactly end on good terms.”

He wasn’t wrong. The last time I saw him, I left a part of myself behind—a broken part I had to put together on my own.

“Look Maria, I'm sorry. Really I am. I just… you have no idea how I wished things hadn't gone the way it did.” he added.

His voice was softer now, a little hesitant. I blinked. And for a second, just one second, I saw the man I once fell for. Not the man who always made me feel like I was the problem, who used me like I'm some tool.

I sighed. “Narrh, it's fine. We're… we're past that. Guess I could say apology is accepted.”

That seems to lit up his whole face. “Thanks, Maria.”

We sat. I didn’t even remember ordering the bartender, but somehow a drink appeared in front of me.

Liam got something for himself too and we talked. Actually talked.

Like two people who used to be something and now had nothing but awkward smiles and time to kill.

“I don’t work at Red Coffee anymore,” I told him when he asked. “I’m just taking a break... figuring things out. Might find something better.”

Liam nodded like he understood. “What about Sophia? Still threatening guys on your behalf?”

I actually laughed. The first real one in days. “She might still, but we barely talk anymore. Not since I left the café.”

“That’s sad. You two were a riot.”

“She’s still my friend. Just... distance.”

He sipped his drink. “So what really made you leave?”

I hesitated. My fingers wrapped tighter around my glass. “I just... got tired. Felt like I deserved more than smiling for tips and fake kindness. You know?”

He nodded slowly, understanding. But before he could speak again, I dropped the bomb.

“Also, I was attacked. In my apartment. Some weeks ago.”

That got him. His whole body tensed. “What? Are you okay?”

“I am now.”

“Jesus, Maria. Who did it?”

“I don’t know.” I replied, “But someone’s helping me look into it.”

His eyes narrowed just a bit. “If you want... I could help too. I still work with the feds. I might be able to come up with something faster than your... friend.”

My stomach flipped. “No, it’s okay. I trust... him.”

There was a beat of silence. Liam didn’t miss it.

“Him?” he asked, voice calm but curious. “So... I’m guessing you’re seeing someone now?”

“Oh no, it’s not like that. Just a friend.” I laughed nervously, brushing hair behind my ear. “He’s just been helping with stuff. That’s all.”

Liam studied me. I could tell he was trying to see if he could read through me.

My heart pounded hard. If he knew the kind of man Luca was, he’d either walk away now or try to drag me out of his world like I was drowning.

I steered the topic fast. “What about you? Still chasing bad guys?”

He smirked. “Yeah, still in the force. We’ve got a few cases, but you know how it is. Paperwork, politics, and secrets.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“More like exhausting. But yeah, it keeps me sharp. Com'on please, I wouldn't want to bore you with these kind of stuff. Besides, it's classified.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You don't want to tell me because it's boring or because it's classified?”

He laughed, the sound warm. “Let’s just say both.”

Then his phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. “I hate to leave, but duty calls.”

He stood. For a moment, I expected him to just walk away with a quick bye or see you later. But he paused.

“You know, the offer still stands. I can help look into who attacked. You don't have to worry about anything.”

My lips curled slightly. “Okay, may not be a bad idea.”

He smiled. A real one. The kind that used to melt me once.

Then he said:

“It’s good to see you again, Maria. And... I know I probably don’t deserve to say this, but—I missed you. I really did.”

He leaned down. Pressed his lips softly against my forehead.

A long, slow exhale escaped my lips as he pulled back. And just like that, his scent hit me. That same scent. That maddening, familiar scent that once made me weak in ways I hated.

A tiny shiver went down my spine and between my legs.

I blinked fast. No. No, Maria. Stop it.

“Hope to see you again,” he added and then walked away.

I just sat there and watched him go.

My hands were on my lap, held tight. My lips parted, trying to form a goodbye, but nothing came out. Not even a whisper.

He was gone.

And I was just... sitting.

Still.

Breathing too fast.

Feeling too much.

Because the truth was—I missed him too. Maybe not the Liam who left. But the Liam I remembered.

But I had Luca now. A man who protected me. Fought for me. Even surrendered for me.

Liam... was the past.

But the worst part? My body remembered him.

The way he kissed my forehead shouldn’t have made me feel anything. But it did.

It lit something I thought was gone.

And now, I fear I may never stop thinking about it.