Two Lovers Entwined

17. She is not what she is.

Liam stood back, wiping a small smudge of blue from his hands onto a rag, admiring the painting before him. The strokes were rough yet deliberate, abstract shapes weaving together into a mesmerizing tapestry of color and emotion. But at the center of it all, barely noticeable unless you looked closely, was a figure—a figure that, in the depths of his mind, had taken the shape of Sophia. Her silhouette emerged from the chaos of paint, subtle but undeniable.

Just as he was contemplating a few final touches, a soft cough broke the silence.

Liam turned, confused, his eyes landing on the woman standing in the doorway. She was familiar, though he couldn’t place her right away. It took a moment, but then it clicked. He’d seen her before, but only in photographs—the ones Sophia had shown him during their conversations about her past. This was Rosie.

“Can I help you?” Liam asked, his voice neutral but curious.

Rosie stepped forward, her gaze drifting toward the painting. As she moved closer, her cheeks flushed slightly. It was clear that she recognized the abstract form of Sophia among the brushstrokes. Her eyes lingered on the figure before she shifted her attention back to Liam.

“That’s... that’s beautiful,” she murmured, her voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “You’re going to exhibit this?”

Liam nodded. “In a week, at the gallery.” He reached for a business card from the small stack on the nearby table and handed it to her, along with a special invitation to the exhibition. Rosie hesitated for a second, then took the card with a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing at the card before tucking it into her coat pocket.

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, her tone shifting slightly. “I know Sophia,” she said carefully, watching Liam’s reaction. “I’ve known her for a long time.”

Liam raised an eyebrow but remained composed. “Oh? And how do you know her?”

Rosie’s eyes searched his face for a moment, as if trying to decide how much to reveal. “We went to college together,” she replied, then added, “I... I used to date Noah.”

At the mention of Noah’s name, Liam’s jaw tightened. He had heard about Noah from Sophia, but not in great detail. He knew their history was complicated, but Sophia had made it clear she was trying to move on. He wasn’t interested in hearing more about Noah—especially from someone like Rosie, who clearly had her own agenda.

“And what does that have to do with me?” Liam asked, his voice cool.

Rosie shifted her weight, her expression hardening. “I just thought you should know who Sophia really is. She’s not... she’s not the person you think she is.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed. “And why should I believe you? From what I’ve heard, you’ve spent years trying to sabotage her.”

Rosie blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. “I’m not trying to sabotage her. I’m just telling you the truth. She’s always had a way of playing people, making them think they’re important to her when, in reality, she’s just waiting for the moment she can move on.”

Liam crossed his arms, growing impatient. “You’re wrong about her. I don’t know what happened between you two, but Sophia’s not like that. And honestly, I don’t care for your version of events.”

He turned back to his painting, signaling that the conversation was over, but Rosie wasn’t finished. She took a step closer, her voice lower now, almost a whisper. “You think you’re different, don’t you? That she’ll stay with you?”

Liam didn’t answer, but the way his shoulders tensed made it clear that her words were getting under his skin.

“She’ll go back to Noah,” Rosie continued, her tone more biting now. “She always does. And when she does, you’ll realize that you were nothing more than another object in her collection.”

Liam turned to face her, his eyes flashing with anger. “Get out,” he said, his voice cold.

Rosie’s expression softened, but there was something in her gaze—pity, perhaps—that only fueled Liam’s frustration.

“I’m only trying to help you,” she said softly, turning to leave. “You’ll see soon enough.”

Without another word, Rosie walked out of the studio, leaving Liam standing there, his heart pounding, his mind racing.

As the door clicked shut behind her, he let out a frustrated sigh, his hands trembling slightly. He looked back at the painting, the familiar silhouette of Sophia staring back at him from the canvas.

Was Rosie telling the truth? Could Sophia really be keeping him at arm’s length, waiting for the right moment to slip back into Noah’s life?

Liam clenched his fists, pushing the thoughts out of his mind. He wouldn’t let someone like Rosie poison his feelings for Sophia. He trusted her—or at least, he wanted to. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and as much as he hated to admit it, it would be hard to ignore.

“She’s wrong,” he muttered to himself, trying to believe it.

But deep down, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Liam walked into his apartment, his thoughts still tangled from the encounter with Rosie. The conversation had left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he was determined not to let it affect him. As he closed the door behind him, the sound of running water from the bathroom caught his attention. Sophia was still staying with him for a few days until she found a new apartment, and he had grown accustomed to her presence. The apartment felt warmer, more alive with her in it.

Just as he was about to set his keys down, the bathroom door opened. Sophia stepped out, her skin still damp from the shower, a towel tied loosely around her body. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, droplets of water glistening on her neck and collarbone. Liam’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes instinctively lingered on her figure.

For a moment, their eyes met. Sophia smiled at him, a playful glint in her eyes, but Liam quickly turned around, trying to act nonchalant.

“I... uh...” Liam cleared his throat, his back still turned to her. “I was thinking... maybe we could have dinner together tonight. You cook for me this time.”

Sophia chuckled softly, the sound light and teasing. She walked a little closer, and Liam could feel her presence behind him, even though he refused to turn around.

“You can look at me, you know,” she said, her voice smooth, almost daring him. “Noah never did.”

“I’m not Noah,” Liam said quietly, his voice steady.

Sophia’s smile faltered for a brief moment, but then she nodded, appreciating the difference he was trying to make. She wrapped the towel tighter around her and walked past him, heading towards the kitchen.

“I know you’re not,” she murmured as she opened the fridge, grabbing a few ingredients. “That’s why I’m here.”

Liam's heart seemed to catch fire, he approached Sophia while she didn't take a step back. He touched her damp skin, a little warm. He looked into her eyes and licked his lips. He approached her mouth and kissed her softly, taking her cheek and a little further towards her neck. Sophia didn't resist. That tongue was delicious. They separated for a moment if they looked into each other's eyes.

She was everything he wanted, but he still doubted if Rosie was really right about Sophia. Was he really willing to meet her? Was Rosie right?

Nothing mattered to him, all he knew was that if he didn't control his impulses he would end up falling in love in the worst way.

And it was something Liam feared.