Collided: Dirty Air (Book 2)(106)

I blink twice without thinking.

Liam pulls me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me and enveloping me with his scent. “I’ve missed you so damn much, but I didn’t want to come before I settled everything. It’s been hard as fuck to stay away from you for this long, especially when you are upset because of me. But you deserve my all, so I’m here to deliver.”

He lets go of me and pulls out a small jewelry box, snapping me out of my mental holiday.

“Whoa. No. You can’t just show up out of the blue and bring a ring box.”

He shakes his head from side to side as he stares at the box. “I don’t know whether to be amused at your assumption or pissed you look horrified. Here goes nothing,” he mumbles under his breath as his cheeks flush.

I love nervous Liam. It’s a rare occasion saved especially for me.

“Sophie Marie Mitchell, I would like to announce first and foremost that I have never known someone as incredible as you. When I met you almost four years ago, I had no idea you’d pop back up in my life years later, acting and looking the way you did. I’m not one to believe in fate or destiny for that matter. But seeing you at that gala, fuck if I’d believe in anything for you. Literally anything. When you talked to me about the stars and the sky, I knew I had to spend more time with you. The girl whose eyes twinkle as bright as the very things she loves to watch. And while you were busy staring up at the vast nothingness, I’d watch you while envying a damn sky. A sky for fuck’s sake. But at the time, I didn’t realize I wanted you to look at me that way. With unconditional love.”

My eyes cloud as I stare into Liam’s eyes.

He takes a breath and smiles at me again. “The more time I spent with you, the more I fell, but I was too stupid to realize it for what it was. I was scared to let someone in after seeing what my brother went through, but there you were, not taking no for an answer. You challenged me in every way. You gave me all of you while I hid behind a mask, and with that, I let you down. It’s something I never want to do again for the rest of my life. At least not without heaps of make-up sex and apologies because I want to be a man you can count on. One who is worthy of your affection, I love yous, and orgasms.”

“Leave it to you to make me laugh and cry all at once.” I swipe away a tear that lost the fight with my tear duct.

“I love you so fucking much. I never want to go another day without saying it or a moment without you knowing it. Fuck friends with benefits. Give me all the damn benefits, love included because I’m a stupid fucker for thinking I could let you walk away from me.” He pops open the lid of the jewelry box, revealing a pair of diamond star earrings twinkling under the sunlight.

My eyes betray me, the tear I shed before turning into a waterfall. “You’re a little stupid. But that’s okay because I still love you.”

His smile grows wider at my words. “I researched all about stars. And the funny thing was how I thought you were my star—a bright spot in my life keeping me constant company no matter how dark everything else got. But in reality, we’re stars because they are born in pairs. They’re created by a big fucking boom of dust and shit, forming into something beautiful and eternal. You’re stuck with me for life because we’re a duo.” He leaves no room for opposition.

“And if I say no?”

“Then too fucking bad. You can’t deny a cosmic boom.” He pulls me in for a soft kiss with a promise for more.

I cup his cheeks and hold his eyes hostage. “I love you. For meeting me where I was at and helping me grow into who I am. For never giving up no matter how many times I shut you down. And for showing me what it feels like to love someone else and be loved in return in all the ways that count, even when you weren’t able to admit it to yourself. When words weren’t an option, you showed me with everything in you. I love you from your dirty brain to the tips of your ridiculously expensive sneakers.”

His lips find mine again, his tongue invading my mouth, welcoming me back.

Liam breaks away from our kiss. “Before I forget because you’re sexy as fuck and I lose my shit around you.” He pulls out my little laminated list, showing me every checked item.

“Okay…” I look up at him with confusion until he flips it over.

My eyes mist again, happy tears mixing with shocked ones. Liam wrote a ton of new items. He kisses away the tears streaming down my face while I read, missing a couple that trickle down his Sharpie creation.

Join the mile-high club.

Get married.

Buy our first Christmas tree.

Make a mini Sophie.

Design Sophie’s art studio.

Spend Christmas in Germany.

Fuck Sophie’s backdoor.

Buy the house first (see other).

Make a mini Liam.

Have a quickie while the kids play outside.

Visit space (ambitious).

Watch our child’s first kart race (either gender because feminism rules).

Buy a dog (if you’re a cat person it’s over).





My eyes blink at the final item. Move to Italy and join Vitus. Liam hits me with a goofy smile, warming my heart.

“You’re moving to Italy? For Vitus? You forgot to mention that in your little speech!” I wrap my arms around his neck.

“I didn’t because that’s not the most important thing anymore. What good is racing if I can’t spend all my time with the person I love.” Liam twirls us in a circle while running his nose against my neck. A couple of my neighbors leave their houses to check on the noise, but I wave them away.