Begin Again novel Chapter 92

The digital display on the dash said it's 8:15 PM.

It's late.

But not late enough for Linda to have gone home already.

Liam's appointment with her was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, but he couldn't wait that long. He had to chat with her ASAP.

She didn't sound too impressed when he called her, but she agreed to a thirty-minute chat.

The building was nearly empty, and he wasn't likely to run into anyone, so he took the public elevator to Linda's floor.

"Couldn't this wait? We're supposed to meet in two days," she said as she showed him inside.

"Nice to see you too, Linda." Liam smiled and headed straight to the couch. "And no, it couldn't wait. I have news!"

He spent the first ten minutes of their spur of the moment meeting, updating his therapist on his two romantic evenings with Eden.

Normally he liked to sit up for their chats, but today he wanted to act like a real patient and get his money's worth.

He sprawled out on the couch and gazed at her ceiling, noticing for the first time in two years the elaborate yet calming design—and tonight, he liked staring at it as much he enjoyed listening to the sound of his therapist's monotone voice.

"So what happened to taking things slow and meeting up with Eden in non-intimate settings?" She asked, not taking as many notes today. But Liam wasn't too concerned since, technically, this wasn't a scheduled therapy session even though she would surely bill him for it.

"We did take things slow! We talked, but it led to a fight and then we made up. Eden had an orgasm. Turns out it was her first in two years, and she left me with another dreaded case of blue balls—" Liam filled her in, turning his head to look at her.

This was why he never liked lying down, he thought. Because he couldn't see Linda's face, even though he knew ninety-nine percent of the time, her expression was pure disapproval.

"Too much info, Liam!"

"Linda, how is it too much info when I hired you to fix my dick?" He groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

"Well, you didn't hold on at all!" She pointed out. "You jumped her the first chance you got!"

"I'm sensing a lot of disapproval right now," Liam scoffed as he sat up and crossed his arms over his chest, his whole demeanour oozing with indignation. "I followed your suggestions and put myself out there. I'm trying to show Eden I'm worth her time. What is the issue?"

"I'm worried you are rushing things with her," Linda opened her notebook and jotted down her thoughts.

"I waited two years for her. How am I rushing things?" He argued, suddenly annoyed with her. She, of all people, knew his struggles and should have been happy for him, proud even that he's making progress and trying his best to overcome his intimacy issues and fears.

"You went through a lot in those two years." His therapist said, unperturbed by his outburst. "Eden also went through a lot. She brought a human being into this world."

"What's your point?" Liam asked irritably. He hated longwinded explanations. They were time-wasters.

"The point is, you are not the same people you were two years ago," Linda said patiently. "You met under extraordinary circumstances back then and shared an immensely intimate moment, but you had no foundation for something so intense."

"We'll build a foundation," Liam insisted.

"You want to," Linda nodded. "But does she? Does Eden want to build a foundation with you?"

Liam didn't like her questions at all. They made him very uncomfortable. Maybe because he wasn't sure about Eden's headspace. There were times she seemed happy to be with him, moments when she was deliriously ecstatic, like tonight, when they had made love.

But then there were also times she seemed so sad, and no matter what he tried to say or do, he couldn't reach her.

Then there was still the question of the lawyer.

"Liam?" Linda prompted, tapping her chin thoughtfully with her index finger.

"She said she wants me," he smiled sadly, rubbing his suddenly clammy palms on his jeans, painfully aware he wasn't answering the question.

"'Want' has different meanings for everyone," Linda said as she drummed her fingers on the notepad lightly.

Liam was well aware of that. He wanted Eden's body. But she wanted his heart and was adamant she would never give in to him unless he handed it over.

He was terrified of giving her so much power. She already owned his body. Giving her his heart would be suicide. He couldn't—wouldn't—give her so much control over him.

She left him once for reasons still not clear; he couldn't bare his heart and soul to her only to have her crush him like before when she vanished.

"Maybe that's what you need to explore." Linda shut her notebook and crossed her legs.

"I don't need to explore anything." Liam made a snap decision. "I'm going to court her. She wants to go on dates. So I'll go on dates with her. I'm going to make her happy."

His announcement was met by stunned silence.

"So?" He prompted her for a reaction. "What do you think? Why am I not getting any excitement from you? Linda, work with me!"

"She has a son," she reminded him. "Whatever you do, always remember there's another human being."

"That's another thing. Eden never wants to talk about her little boy. I bring him up every chance I get to show her I don't mind she has a kid with another man. But she never wants to discuss Aiden," Liam admitted.

He knew it's too soon, and he's probably rushing things when it comes to Eden's son. But something was wrong. He felt it deep in his gut, no matter how hard or how long Matthew tried to convince him otherwise.

Every time he mentioned Aiden, Eden clammed up and could never meet his eyes.

"It's possible she's trying to protect her son in case things don't work out between you two."

Yes. Linda's explanation sounded much more plausible than the crazy scenarios he was starting to dream up in his head again.

He liked Linda's logic better than his wild suspicions—Suspicions he was not ready to confront in case they turned out to be true because it would mean Eden was not the woman he thought she was. He didn't want to entertain the idea that he could be so wrong about her.

Linda checked the time on her watch and smiled ruefully. His session's up.

"Your assignment this week is to help me figure out a way to woo Eden," Liam announced as he stood up and shoved his hands in his hoodie. "I've done the restaurant and the flowers and the live band. I want something fresh and out of this world. You have to blow my hair back with your suggestions. The keyword for this week, Linda, is innovation!"

Linda rose to her feet as well and walked him to the door, shaking her head in disapproval. "You keep forgetting I don't work for you, Liam."

"Then why do I pay you, Linda?" He smirked over his shoulder before he turned to the elevator, feeling lighter than he did when he walked in earlier.