Two Lovers Entwined

3. Why I think about it?

The next few days passed in a blur for Sophia. She tried to bury herself in work, hoping it would drown out the nagging thoughts of Liam and the lingering guilt about her conversation with Noah. But no matter how much she immersed herself in the gallery’s operations, her mind kept wandering back to the magnetic pull she felt toward Liam. It was dangerous, she knew that. But danger, in some inexplicable way, felt alive.

It was Friday evening when Sophia found herself sitting on the sofa in the apartment she shared with Noah, nursing a glass of wine and staring blankly at the TV. Noah had made plans for them to go out, but Sophia wasn’t in the mood. She had barely spoken to him since their dinner a few nights ago, and the silence between them had grown into something neither of them wanted to address. The tension was palpable, and though Noah had been patient, she could sense his unease.

“Hey,” Noah said softly as he walked into the living room, his eyes full of concern. “You sure you don’t want to go out? It might be good for you to get some fresh air, maybe take your mind off whatever’s been bothering you.”

Sophia looked at him, forcing a small smile. He was trying, as always, but the weight of her confusion made her feel trapped. “I’m just really tired,” she said, swirling the wine in her glass. “Work’s been a lot this week.”

Noah sat down beside her, his hand resting on her knee. “I know something’s going on, Soph. You’ve been distant lately, and I just… I want to help. Whatever it is, we can get through it together.”

His words made her chest tighten. She wanted to be honest, to tell him about the doubts swirling in her mind, but how could she admit that she wasn’t sure about them anymore? That she wasn’t sure if her heart still belonged entirely to him?

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She glanced down, her breath catching when she saw the message light up the screen.

Liam: “I’ll be at the gallery tomorrow, working on a new piece. Would love to see you.”

Sophia’s pulse quickened as she stared at the message. She knew she should ignore it, delete it, anything to put distance between herself and the temptation Liam represented. But instead, her fingers hovered over the screen, betraying her thoughts.

Noah noticed her hesitation. “Everything okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

“Yeah,” she replied quickly, locking the phone and setting it down. “Just a message from work.”

She hated lying, but what else could she do? Noah was the safe choice, the person she had built her life with. But Liam… he was the unknown. The risk. The possibility of something that might be missing.

Noah stood, clearly sensing her need for space. “I’ll be in the bedroom if you need me,” he said quietly, giving her a long look before walking away.

As soon as he was gone, Sophia picked up her phone again, staring at Liam’s message. Her heart raced as she tapped out a quick reply.

Sophia: “I’ll be there.”

The next morning, Sophia arrived at the gallery earlier than usual, telling herself she was there to work. But deep down, she knew the real reason. The anticipation of seeing Liam had kept her awake most of the night, and though she felt guilty, she couldn’t stop the pull that drew her toward him.

The gallery was quiet, the morning light filtering through the windows and casting soft shadows on the floor. As Sophia moved through the space, her footsteps echoed softly, the silence making her even more aware of how different this day felt.

Liam was already there, standing in front of a half-finished canvas. His back was to her, but he turned the moment he heard her approach, his eyes lighting up with a smile that made her stomach flutter.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” he said, setting down his brush.

Sophia shifted awkwardly, trying to keep her composure. “I had some things to check on,” she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Liam stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them in a way that made her heart race. “Sophia, you don’t have to pretend with me.”

Her breath hitched at the intensity in his gaze. He always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, and that terrified her.

“I’m not pretending,” she said, but even she could hear the lie in her voice.

Liam reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, sending a jolt of electricity through her. “You’re here because you want to be,” he said softly. “Because there’s something between us, and you feel it too.”

Sophia opened her mouth to protest, to deny what he was saying, but the words caught in her throat. He was right. There was something between them, something undeniable and dangerous.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered, stepping back, her mind swirling with confusion. “I have Noah, and I love him. I’m committed to him.”

Liam’s expression softened, but there was still a fire in his eyes. “I’m not asking you to choose right now. I just… I want you to be honest with yourself, Sophia. About what you want. What you really want.”

Sophia’s heart pounded as she looked up at him, torn between the comfort of the life she had with Noah and the wild, unpredictable feelings that Liam stirred within her. She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but she couldn’t ignore the growing storm inside her.

“I don’t know what I want,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam stepped closer again, his hand gently cupping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Then let me help you figure it out.”

Before she could process what was happening, Liam leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was like the world stopped for a moment, the only thing she could focus on being the warmth of his touch, the feel of his breath against her skin.

Sophia froze, torn between the desire to kiss him back and the overwhelming guilt that crashed over her. She pulled away, her heart racing, her thoughts in a jumble.

“I can’t,” she said, her voice trembling. “I need to go.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried out of the gallery, her mind spinning with a thousand conflicting emotions. She had crossed a line, and now there was no going back.

As she walked home, the weight of what had just happened pressed down on her chest. She knew she had to make a decision soon, but the thought of choosing between Noah, the man she had built her life with, and Liam, the man who made her feel alive in ways she hadn’t felt in years, seemed impossible.

The only thing she knew for certain was that her life had just gotten a lot more complicated.