Two Lovers Entwined

6. Fading lines.

The clock on Sophia’s desk ticked louder than usual, each second marking her growing restlessness. The gallery show was just days away, and as one of the curators, she was responsible for making sure everything was perfect. But today, her mind wasn’t on the art. It was on Noah. On Liam. On the storm brewing inside her that she couldn’t seem to quiet.

Noah had surprised her last night with tickets to Italy—his grand romantic gesture. The trip was a week away, a beautiful getaway that was supposed to rekindle what they had lost. But instead of excitement, Sophia felt dread. Every time she thought of the trip, Liam’s face would flash in her mind. She had been doing her best to avoid him after their conversation at the park, but avoiding him only made her think of him more.

Now, with the biggest gallery event of the year approaching and the trip looming, her emotions were a tangled mess she couldn't untangle.

That afternoon, as Sophia prepped the gallery space, her phone buzzed. She glanced down and her stomach twisted—Liam.

Liam: “I’m dropping off something for the show. Will you be there?”

Her heart pounded. She wanted to say no, to make some excuse about being busy, but she couldn't keep running away. They needed closure, she told herself. Just closure.

Sophia: “I’ll be here.”

The gallery hummed with quiet energy as Sophia moved between the pieces, adjusting lighting and ensuring everything looked perfect. A sense of calm washed over her as she focused on the artwork, the chaos inside her momentarily muted.

Then, she heard the door open, followed by familiar footsteps. Liam had arrived.

Sophia took a deep breath, steeling herself as she turned to face him. He was carrying a large canvas wrapped in protective cloth, his expression unreadable as he walked toward her.

“Hey,” he said softly, setting the artwork down. “I brought the last piece for the show.”

“Thanks,” she replied, her voice carefully neutral. “You didn’t have to bring it yourself.”

Liam shrugged, his eyes scanning the gallery before settling on her. “I wanted to make sure it was in the right hands.”

There was a tension in the air, a tension that had never quite gone away since their last encounter. Sophia could feel it like a physical presence between them, pulling her in one direction while her mind told her to step back.

“You’re really good at this,” Liam said, gesturing toward the artwork displayed. “I mean, the whole curation thing. You make everything look like it belongs.”

Sophia smiled faintly. “Thanks. It’s… it’s the one thing I’m sure of these days.”

Liam nodded, his gaze lingering on her. “What about the other things?”

She looked away, not ready for where this conversation might lead. “I don’t know.”

Liam took a small step closer, lowering his voice. “Sophia, you don’t have to keep running from what you feel.”

Her chest tightened. “I’m not running.”

“Aren’t you?” he asked gently. “I can see it in your eyes every time we talk. You’re fighting so hard to stay in control, but maybe you’re holding on to the wrong things.”

Sophia swallowed hard. She knew he was right, but admitting it would make everything real. She had spent weeks convincing herself that her relationship with Noah was enough, that it could still be salvaged. But deep down, she knew the truth.

Before she could respond, a group of gallery assistants walked by, interrupting the moment. Liam stepped back, his expression unreadable once again.

“I should let you get back to work,” he said quietly.

Sophia nodded, relief and disappointment mixing inside her. “Yeah, thanks for bringing the piece.”

Liam hesitated for a second, then turned to leave. But as he reached the door, something shifted inside Sophia, a spark of impulsiveness that she couldn’t suppress. Before she could stop herself, she called out to him.

“Liam, wait.”

He turned around, his eyes locking onto hers.

Sophia took a deep breath, her heart racing. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

Liam’s gaze softened as he walked back toward her. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now, but you deserve to feel alive, Soph. To be with someone who makes you feel that way.”

His words hit her like a tidal wave. She did want to feel alive—needed to. All of the doubts, the second-guessing, the fears of hurting Noah, faded into the background as she stood there, inches away from Liam, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I can’t…” she started, but her voice trailed off.

Liam reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to decide anything right now.”

The space between them seemed to shrink, the pull undeniable. She knew she should step back, should walk away. But instead, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a soft, hesitant kiss.

It wasn’t the desperate, overwhelming kiss from the other night. This was slower, more controlled, as if she was testing the waters, trying to understand what it meant. But even as their lips met, she felt that same electricity course through her, that same feeling of being alive in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.

When they finally pulled apart, Sophia’s heart was racing, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

Liam didn’t say anything at first, just looked at her with that same intensity that had always made her feel both safe and vulnerable. “Whatever happens, just know that I’m here.”

Sophia stepped back, reality crashing back into her. She couldn’t do this—not like this. Not when everything was so uncertain.

“I have to go,” she said abruptly, turning away before Liam could stop her. She didn’t wait for his response, didn’t look back as she hurried out of the gallery, her heart pounding in her chest.

As Sophia stepped outside, the crisp air hit her, clearing her head. She pressed her hand to her lips, still tingling from the kiss, and felt a wave of guilt wash over her. What had she just done?

She wanted to feel alive, yes. But at what cost? She was risking everything—her relationship with Noah, the stability she had worked so hard to build.

But even as her mind raced with doubts, part of her knew the truth. Kissing Liam hadn’t just calmed her nerves. It had awakened something inside her that had been buried for far too long.

And now, there was no going back.