Page 56 of A Simple Reminder
We shouldn’t have done that. I know we shouldn’t have. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But no matter how much I tell myself that, the truth is harder to ignore. The way his body felt against mine, how natural it all seemed. It’s impossible to regret it.
I close my eyes, trying to silence the thoughts, but they won’t stop. I let my fingers twitch slightly against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his steady breaths. He’s still asleep, his jaw relaxed, lashes dark against his cheekbones. Peaceful. Unaware.
His arm shifts slightly, his grip tightening in his sleep, and I freeze. My heart pounds in my chest, the chaos of my mind threatening to spill over.This wasn’t part of the plan. None of this was supposed to happen.
But for a moment—just a moment—I let myself stay. I let myself feel how right it all seems, how his body fits against mine like it’s always been this way.
And then reality crashes into me like a wave, cold and relentless. I can’t let him wake up.
I untangle myself from him slowly, every movement deliberate, trying not to wake him. My breath catches as I roll away, the cool sheets brushing against my skin like a reminder of what I’m leaving behind.
When I reach the edge of the bed, I freeze—the cover clings stubbornly to him, refusing to follow me.
Okay, Sophie, just be quick and quiet.
One. Two. Three. I plant my feet on the floor, my body gloriously naked under the dim light of the early morning. The cool air sends a shiver racing down my spine as I scan the room for my dress. It’s here somewhere, right?
My eyes dart around, frantic but quiet. No sign of it. Not my dress, not my underwear—nothing.
Seriously?
I finally spot my dress crumpled near a chair and quickly grab it. My fingers shake slightly as I zip it up, the weight of reality settling in with each pull of the zipper. Am I really going to run away? I have to. There's no way I can stay here and face him when the morning light makes everything feel too real, too exposed.
Once I’m dressed, I can’t help but turn and look back at him. Liam, still asleep, sprawled on the bed. His face looks so peaceful, so unguarded in sleep. My eyes trace over the inked lines of his body, the tattoos that cover his arms and chest, so unmistakable yet...distant. He's so beautiful it almost hurts to look at him.
For a moment, I let myself admire him. His strong jawline, his body, and his lips—those lips that kissed every inch of me last night—are slightly parted, breathing in the quiet rhythm of sleep. He looks peaceful, content, and utterly breathtaking. I shouldn’t be standing here, lingering like this, but I can’t help it. The memory of his hands on my skin, the way he made me feel, keeps pulling me back. He looks so different like this—vulnerable, almost innocent.
But then, the thoughts start swirling again. I can feel the lump in my throat returning, that sense of guilt and fear. My father’s voice echoes louder in my head—”Promise me, Petal...”
I swallow hard, the weight of what I promised him pressing down on me. This can’t be real.But what if Liam has changed?What if he’s not the same person he was all those years ago?He seems more focused, more morally grounded than before. It's like he’s matured in ways I never expected, as if the years apart shaped him into someone different.
I shake my head, trying to push the thought away. It can’t continue. Not right now. I have too much at stake, too many responsibilities, too many promises to keep.
With one last glance at Liam, I turn, forcing myself to leave before I lose the strength to walk away. I sneak out to the living room, where my jacket, purse and heels are lying haphazardly on the floor. I just need to grab those and get out of here.
I openthe door to my apartment as carefully as I can, making sure not to wake Adeline as I slip inside. Overwhelmed and utterly confused by what just happened, I head straight for the bathroom. I need a shower.
The yelp that escapes me when I see my reflection is involuntary and too loud. My hair is an absolute mess, my lips are swollen, and my makeup—what’s left of it—is smeared. My eyes are red, with faint traces of tears clinging to them.
I shouldn't have gone back to his apartment. He's stubborn, and so am I. I needed to see the table, sure, but the wine helped nudge me toward the wrong decision. At least that’s what I’m telling myself—the table was the reason.
Pfft, who am I kidding? I knew exactly what was going to happen. I made the first move.Ikissed him.
I stare at myself, and tears fall before I can stop them. Tears for the situation I’ve put myself in. Let's be real—these feelings I’ve been pushing down are rising back up, and there’s no way I can stop them.
I never got real closure. We just ended it, and when I got back home, I waited. I kept waiting for him to fight for me, to prove that what we had mattered and what he did was a mistake. But instead, all I saw on social media was him out at clubs with his friends, business partners, and other women.
I know it’s foolish to hold on to memories for ten years. In another world, we might’ve worked out. But I can’t do this. I keep promises, especially to the important people in my life.
As amazing as Liam was—and probably still is—the industry he’s in requires long nights and sometimes compromising situations to get the right investors on board. I can’t live that life. He knew about my father, he knew everything I’d been through, and still…
I shake my head as more tears fall, feeling the weight of it all crash down.
“Soph?” Adeline’s sleepy voice makes me jump. I turn around, and the moment she sees my face, all traces of sleep vanish from hers.
“What's wrong? What happened? Did Jared do anything?”
I shake my head, feeling utterly drained and tired of it all. Tired of keeping this secret, of carrying the weight of it on my own. “I fucked up.”
