Nothing can be more awkward than how I felt right now.

The whole ride was just plain awkward. None of us said anything, and we've driven for only 5 minutes.

I kept glancing over at him, waiting for him to say something because I couldn't think of anything to say.

"Stop watching me, " he said, his eyes still on the road.

"Uhh.. sorry," I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and turned my head and bit my lip.

I can't believe he noticed. I mean, of course, he did. I made it so obvious. I cringed, wanting to slap my forehead.

I looked up out of the car window to notice that we were going the wrong way home.

"Hey, um, you're going the wrong way home," I said out loud, turning to look at him.

"We're not going home," he stated.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see,"

-
We might have been driving for a good 30 minutes when the car finally came to a stop.

When I got out of the car, it took a minute to realize that we were no longer in Norcllawn.

But 30 minutes away in Alester.

"Liam, why are we in Alester?" I questioned him, looking around to see that we were parked in front of a single shop called 'The World Belongs.'

"I wanted to bring you here," he gestured towards the small shop. "Come," he said, walking in front of me and inside the shop.

I followed behind him.

Once we were inside, my mouth fell to the ground. And my eyes doubled in size.

I didn't think I could get butterflies from a shop, but I did. It was beautiful.

This book shop was the most perfect thing I had laid eyes on.

"What do you think?" Liam asked, and I couldn't even form the words to say anything.

I was in awe.

The book shop gave an old cottage vibe but was decorated with beautiful plants. It has fairy lights going around all the shop. And many shelves filled with all types of books.

"I can't believe this place exists," I looked up, standing in the middle of the store.

I smiled at him and rushed through the aisle. I heard Liam's footsteps behind me, but I was too distracted even to acknowledge him.

I grabbed hold of as many books as I can in my hand before they all tumbled on the floor. I hissed but took the opportunity to plop down on the floor and opened one of the many books I grabbed and read right in the middle of the aisle.

"Enjoying yourself?" Liam asked, leaning against one of the shelves with a smirk on his face.

I nodded my head. And showed him the book I was reading. "It's about a female pirate that disguised herself as a man to get closer to one of the sailors," I told him and set the book down and grabbed hold of another and then another and then five more.

He listened to me patiently. He never looked bored once. He genuinely seemed interested. He even walked over to where I was sitting and took a seat next to me.

I was surprised this man was someone completely different just yesterday.

Was Liam always like this? He never allowed me to see this side of him, and now that he finally is, I don't ever want to be parted away from him?

"Thank you for bringing me here," I told him as I closed one of the books I was telling him about. "How did you even know about this place?"

"This is my dad's brother's shop, so my uncle's," he said, surprising me. "My dad used to take Ty and me here when we were younger. It was a lot different back then," he glances around him. "But we stopped when we got older and dad got too busy to take us, and eventually I forgot about this place, but when my dad died, I came here for the first time after so many years," he let out. "and when I saw it for the first time again with everything changed  I couldn't help but think of one thing..." he paused, his eyes meeting mine. "You."

I gaped at him, stunned.

"I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to show you this place and how much I knew you would love it," he confessed.

"Liam, I do love it. It's not like any bookstore I've ever been to," I said with a smile, and he, for the first time, returned that smile.

"I don't need my memories to know what happened between us cuz the truth is I always liked you even if I was fucked up for it," he confided. "It's not going to be easy like I told you before, but I want you. I've always wanted you,"

I was about to say something but was interrupted when someone called out his name.

His smile widens when he got up and hugged the man in front of us.

I got up from the floor and stood.

"Storm, this is my uncle Jack," he introduced.

His uncle smiled at me and reached out his hand. "Nice to meet you,"

"Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Stone," I took his hand.

"Please call me Jack," he said, and I smiled and nodded my head.

Jack looked almost identical to Liam's father. They all had very similar features. Jack had hair that stopped at his shoulder, and he had a tattoo of a tower on his forearm.

"This place is beautiful, by the way," I told him.

"Why, thank you. I like to take care of it once in a while," he joked. "You like to read?" he asked, noticing the pile of the books onto the floor.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry about this. I'll get it up right away," I said, quickly bending down to pick up all the books, feeling embarrassed that I had just left everything like this.

He chuckled. "I was only teasing you—your welcome to read as much as you want. You know what they say the world belongs to those who read," he said, shrugging his shoulder.

So that's where the title for the shop came from. Cleaver.

"Anyways. Liam, I'm going to head out for a bit. Some of my employees are still here if you want to stick around," he said, tapping the back of his shoulder.

Liam nodded his head.

"I'll see you later Storm," he waved goodbye and left.

"Your uncle is nice," I told him.

He grinned at me. "Grab all those books I'll take you home," he said.

But to be honest, I wasn't ready to leave just yet. I wanted to stay here for another hour, maybe even two.

He noticed the frown on my face. "Fine," he took a seat back on the floor, and I eyed him. "One more hour,"
-

We had lost track of time by the time we actually were driving back.

He had said one more hour, but we stayed probably three.

By the time we had arrived home, my heart was filled, and I wanted to ask him when we could go back next.

Even the time we spend there seemed so little. It was the first time Liam and I actually did something together. It was the first time I was able to see this new side of him.

He parked at my driveway.

"Thank you for bringing me there," I told him. "I don't think I had this much fun reading after so long," I told him.

He reached out to the back seat and grabbed a bag.

"Here," he said. I took it in my arm and looked inside with confusion.

"What's this?" I asked him.

"I got you all the books, so I don't know. You can tell me what happened next in the pirate story," he grinned.

There were all the books we had read together. All 7 of them.

He got them all for me. I couldn't believe it.

My mouth was wide open, and I couldn't control my happiness bursting through me.

I threw my arms around him.

I felt him stiffen against me but relaxed soon after. He slowly reached out his arms and wrapped them around me.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed.

"Your welcome," he whispered.

I pulled away from him with one last smile and got out of the car.

I waited until he pulled out of my driveway inside his own before I made my way inside.

****
Hello, my lovelies! How are you guys doing?

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. This was one of my favourite chapters, and we got to see the sweet side of Liam also!

What do you guys think will happen next? Do you guys want to see this side of Liam more? What do you think about his confession?

Leave all your amazing theories and comments down below, and please don't forget to vote!

Lots of love,

Just another girl