Diana stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the cream dress she’d retrieved from the floor.
Her hair was still damp from the shower, falling in loose waves past her shoulders.
She’d finger-combed it as best she could, but there was only so much that could be done without proper tools.
She looked presentable. Mostly.
Liam sat on the edge of the bed, already dressed.
Black shirt, grey pants. Simple. He watched her check herself in the mirror one more ti, her fingers adjusting the thin gold bracelet on her wrist.
"We should get so food," Diana said, turning to face him. "If you really want to thank you properly, there should be a place around here we can sit down and eat."
Liam tilted his head slightly. "Why don’t we just order sothing here?"
She smiled, but there was sothing knowing in it. "Because if we stay in this room and wait for food to arrive, we’re not going to eat it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"We’ll just end up having sex again," she continued, matter-of-fact. "I’d actually like to talk to you."
Liam considered that for a mont. Then nodded. "Alright."
"Let finish getting ready," she said, walking over to where she’d left her purse near the dresser. She pulled out a compact and checked her face briefly, then closed it with a soft click. "Then we can go."
---
The elevator ride down was quiet.
Diana stood beside him, her hands folded in front of her, her posture relaxed but composed. The numbers ticked downward on the display above the doors. 12... 11... 10...
When they reached the lobby level, the doors opened with a soft chi.
But instead of walking toward the exit, Diana turned right.
"This way," she said.
Liam followed her down a short hallway. At the end was a glass door with brass handles and a small sign beside it that read **Terrace Dining - Open 11am to 9pm**.
She pushed the door open and stepped through.
The space opened up imdiately into sothing unexpectedly pleasant.
It was a terrace, mostly outdoors but covered by a wide awning of white canvas stretched across a steel fra.
The floor was smooth grey stone, clean and level.
Tables were scattered across the space, maybe a dozen of them, each with two or four chairs. The furniture was simple but well-made. Dark wood. Clean lines. White tablecloths.
Only three tables were occupied.
At one, a man in his fifties sat alone with a newspaper and a cup of coffee.
At another, two won in business attire were talking quietly over salads.
At the third, near the far edge of the terrace, a younger couple sat holding hands across the table, barely touching their food.
It was early afternoon. Most people were at work. The ones here were either on a late lunch break or didn’t have anywhere else to be.
The far side of the terrace was open to the air, bordered by a waist-high railing of black tal. Beyond it, the city stretched out. Buildings. Streets. The faint hum of traffic several stories below.
A waiter appeared almost imdiately. Mid-thirties, dark vest, white shirt. He gestured toward an empty table near the railing. "Just the two of you?"
"Yes," Diana said.
He led them over and pulled out a chair for her. She sat, smoothing her dress beneath her as she did. Liam took the seat across from her.
The waiter handed them nus. "Can I start you with sothing to drink?"
"Water is fine," Diana said.
"Sa," Liam added.
The waiter nodded and walked away.
Diana opened the nu and scanned it briefly. Liam did the sa.
The offerings were straightforward. Sandwiches. Salads. A few pasta dishes. Nothing complicated.
After a mont, she set the nu down and looked at him.
"So," she said.
"So," Liam echoed.
She smiled slightly. "Do you regret it?"
He didn’t hesitate. "No."
"Good." She leaned back in her chair, her fingers resting lightly on the edge of the table. "I don’t either."
"But?" Liam asked.
"But what?"
"You said you wanted to talk. That usually ans there’s a ’but’ coming."
Diana laughed quietly. "There’s no ’but.’ I just wanted to make sure we’re on the sa page."
"Which is?"
"That this was what it was." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "I’m not going to pretend it ant nothing. It didn’t. But I’m also not going to pretend it’s sothing it’s not."
Liam nodded. "I’m fine with that."
"Are you?" She studied his face. "Because I’m older than you. And you’re my daughter’s boyfriend. I have a life that’s... complicated. And I also like you but i don’t want you thinking this is sothing it can’t be."
"I’m not thinking that."
"You’re sure?"
"I’m sure."
She held his gaze for another mont. Then she nodded, satisfied. "Alright."
The waiter returned with two glasses of water and set them down. "Ready to order?"
Diana glanced at the nu again. "I’ll have the Caesar salad. Grilled chicken on top."
"And for you, sir?"
"Burger," Liam said. "dium. Fries on the side."
The waiter collected the nus and left.
Diana took a sip of her water and set the glass down carefully. "Can I ask you sothing?"
"Go ahead."
"What do you want?"
Liam frowned slightly. "What do you an?"
"From life. From this." She gestured vaguely between them. "From anything."
He thought about that for a mont. "I don’t know yet."
"That’s honest, at least."
"What about you?"
She smiled. "I’m still figuring that out too."
They talked for a while after that. Nothing heavy. Just conversation.
She asked about school. He asked about her work.
She told him about Elsa, about how proud she was of her, about how stubborn she could be. He listened, mostly. Let her talk.
The food arrived. They ate. The conversation continued, flowing easily now, the earlier tension completely gone.
When they were done, the waiter brought the check and set it on the table.
Liam reached for it.
The waiter handed it to him without hesitation.
Diana raised an eyebrow. "Don’t even think about it."
"Think about what?"
"Paying." She held out her hand. "Give it here."
Liam looked at the check, then at her. "I can cover it."
"I know you can." She leaned forward slightly. "But I insist. You’re out here because of . It’s my treat."
He studied her for a mont. Then he shrugged and handed it back to her.
She smiled, satisfied, and pulled a card from her purse.
---
They walked back through the lobby together. When they reached the entrance, Diana turned to him.
"Can I offer you a ride?"
"Yeah," Liam said. "That works."
The rcedes was still parked where they’d left it.
Diana unlocked it and they both climbed in.
She started the engine and pulled out of the lot smoothly, rging into the light afternoon traffic.
The drive back was quiet. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet. The city passed by outside the windows. Buildings. People. Life happening everywhere around them.
When they reached his apartnt building, she pulled up to the curb and put the car in park.
Liam opened the door and stepped out. Then he leaned back in slightly. "Thanks."
"Anyti," she said.
He nodded and closed the door.
Diana watched him walk toward the building entrance. Then she pulled away, the rcedes disappearing smoothly into traffic.
---
Liam pushed open the door to his apartnt, shopping bags hanging from both hands.
"I’m ho," he called out.
The space was quiet. Empty.
No response.
He closed the door behind him with his foot and looked around. The bed was still unmade from this morning. The coffee table still had the plates from breakfast sitting on it, forgotten.
’Right. Tasha’s still with her dad.’
He walked over to the couch and set the bags down on the floor beside it. Four of them. All from stores he’d never been to before today. Diana had insisted on buying him things. Shirts, mostly. A jacket. Pants that actually fit properly.
’It was nice of her to get all this.’
He dropped into the couch, his head leaning back against the cushions. His body felt heavy. Tired in a way that wasn’t unpleasant but was definitely present.
He thought about the day. About Diana. About the hotel room.
About the way she’d looked at him in the elevator. About the way her back had arched when he’d pulled her hair. About the way she’d laughed when he’d pulled out.
About the rest of it too.
After they’d left the hotel, she’d wanted to do other things. He’d been surprised. Soone like her, he’d expected her to just drop him off and leave. But she’d insisted.
Shopping.
She’d taken him to a few stores. Not anywhere he would’ve gone on his own. Nice places.
The kind where the staff hovered just enough to be helpful but not annoying.
She’d picked through racks of clothes, holding things up against herself, asking his opinion on cuts and colors.
He’d given it. Honestly. She’d seed to appreciate that.
It had taken hours. Actual hours.
She’d tried things on, considered them, put them back, picked them up again.
The whole process. By the end of it, she’d bought two dresses, a pair of heels, and a jacket she’d said she didn’t need but wanted anyway.
On the way back to the car, she’d turned to him and said, "We should do this again."
Not the shopping. The other thing.
He’d known what she ant.
And he’d nodded.
Liam pulled his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it. He opened his ssages and scrolled to the one he’d sent to Tasha earlier.
**Liam:** Let know when you’re heading back.
No response yet.
’She hasn’t replied.’
He set the phone down on the coffee table and stood, walking over to the bed. He sat down on the edge and pulled off his shoes, then his shirt.
His ribs ached faintly when he moved, a dull reminder that they weren’t fully healed yet.
He lay back slowly, his head sinking into the pillow, his body finally relaxing completely.
The ceiling stared back at him. Blank. Neutral.
’I hope she’s alright’
Liam closed his eyes.
Sleep ca quickly.
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