Page 46 of A Simple Reminder
Liam bends down and picks up the vase, holding it out for me. “You should put it away before it breaks or something,”
“You really didn’t have to, Liam. I’ll pay you back for it, I promise,” I respond, making this promise while fully aware that it will probably take some time before I actually have saved up enough money.
“No, you won’t. This is a gift for my favorite employee,” he insists firmly, a soft seriousness in his eyes that tells me he won’t take no for an answer.
I pause, looking at the vase in his hands, then up at him. His eyes are soft, they could pull you in at any time. I’m very aware of that. But him stating I’m hisfavorite employeemakes any flush evaporate. He’s my boss and I’m his employee. I have a reputation to keep spotless.
“Thank you, Liam,” I finally say, accepting the gift. “Let me put it away. I’ll be back.” I need a moment to compose myself. I walk to the window and set the vase down gently before adding the forget-me-nots he got me into it.
When I return, Liam is already saying his goodbyes.
“Bye, Soph, have fun tonight. See you on Monday,” he says, his posture unusually tense, almost uneasy. It’s subtle—just a slight rigidity in the way he stands. Maybe his leather jacket is too tight over those broad, muscled shoulders.Don’t go there, brain!
“Bye. Thank you again.”
He offers a fleeting smile, too quick to reach his eyes, before turning to leave.
The moment the door closes behind him, an uneasy silence fills the space.
“Was he weird, or was that only me?”.
“No, I don’t think so,” she replies, her smile wide and a bit too forced. She's also acting weird, avoiding my eyes as she changes the subject. “Show me that flower pot, it looked so pretty.”
Excited to share something positive and perhaps to distract myself, I quickly move to where I placed it. “Look,” I say.
Her eyes light up as she admires it, but then I add, “It was $1,800.” Her hands stop reaching for it, “I’m sorry. How much?”
“Oh my God, I knew I shouldn't have accepted it. It’s too much. I’ll just give it back tomorrow. What was I thinking? I mean, $1800 is a lot. Way way too much and I–”
“Okay, babe. Breathe. You can’t give it back. He wanted to do something nice for you, and you should let him,” Adeline says, her voice calm and reassuring. “Liam obviously cares about you, and this was his way of showing it. It’s a gift, not a debt. You’ve worked hard, and this is his way of showing appreciation. Plus, he has loads of money—this little thing didn’t even break the bank.”
I nod slowly, trying to absorb her words, feeling a mixture of gratitude and unease.
“Yeah, but it’s so much,” I murmur, still not entirely convinced but willing to let it go for the moment. “It is beautiful, isn't it?” I add, trying to shift my focus back to the beauty of the gift rather than its cost.
Adeline smiles. “It's gorgeous, and it’s going to look amazing in here. Now, how about you go and finish getting ready? It’s time for yournot-date.”
Jared bookeda table at a new Italian restaurant that’s been the talk of the town. I've heard so much about this place—they say the food is exquisite, and not only that, the environment is just stunning. It exudes upscale charm with a tone of intimacy. Certainly, the perfect date spot, which this is not!
It's a small place tucked away on a quiet street and is known for its authentic ambiance. Soft golden lighting spills from elegant fixtures, casting a warm glow over the rich, dark wood paneling. Each table is draped in red tablecloths, which complement the flickering candle lights. These candles cast flickering shadows that play across Jared’s face, subtly illuminating his classically handsome features—the sharp cut of his cheekbones, the straight line of his nose, and his finely shaped lips. In the soft candlelight, he looks like he could be a figure from a classic painting, undeniably beautiful. Yet, as I observe him, there’s a disquieting calm within me; his perfect features stir no feelings of warmth or affection as they once might have.
Liam’s face flashes in my mind, unbidden—the way his jaw tightens when he’s annoyed, the slight smirk he gets when he thinks he’s being charming. Liam’s presence is anything but calming. It’s infuriating, magnetic, electric. And it stirs something in me that Jared, with all his flawless beauty, never could.
The warmth of the wine settles in my chest as the evening progresses. I’ve already downed two glasses of red alongside my beef carpaccio, each sip making me feel it a little more acutely. The combination of the dim lighting and the wine soothes my nerves yet does little to ease the growing discomfort of the conversation.
“So, Sophie, I've been thinking, this date—” Jared begins, attempting to steer the conversation into more personal territory.
“It's not a date, Jared,” I interject quickly. How many times do I have to tell people? This. Is. Not. A. Date!
“Semantics.” He waves it off with a dismissive flick of his hand, not bothered by my correction. “You and I, we work well together. In more ways than one.” His voice lowers suggestively, and he gives me a look—eyes darkening with something that borders on playful, but also desire. A desire I don’t want.
“Jared.”
“I’m not saying we should get back together. I’m just asking for you not to close all the doors. We’d be a power couple, Soph.”
I don’t like him calling me Soph. Only my closest friends call me that.
And Liam.
