I spend the entire afternoon at Sam's. It's been quite a while since I last dropped by. Her place is so Samantha-like, modernly furnished in ocean blue—her favorite color—from the sofas to the bed. The walls are pale cream with a little shade of blue on one side.

And a huge portrait of herself, Merilyn Monroe style, is hanging on the wall.

We just watch movies, do our own manicure, eat junk food and drink unhealthy cola. I mean, who cares? It's a vacation after all. Considering my current predicament, this is just fine. At least I try hard to fake it by staying oblivious of my memories of Montana and the whole adventure that followed.

"Do you realize what you're doing to yourself?" Sam asks with a pitying face.

"Me? What am I doing?" I chug on my drink, smothering a smile.

"You can't fool me with your forced smiles, Kira. You look unhappy."

Well, I am unhappy.

"Don't worry about me, love. I'll be fine in time. We can't have our way in everything; it's what I've come to realize lately. And if this is my share of hell on Earth, then so be it. I'm not the only person with a broken heart, many people live with pieces," I remark coolly.

"Oh God. Okay." Sam sighs heavily, sliding a pizza box toward me. " Just eat more, because I know you'll burn the calories the minute you crucify yourself in the ocean trying to beat up the waves."

I bite a slice with a laugh.

"I think I'll have to go to New York," I say after a few minutes.

"What?" Sam sits up abruptly from the fluffy rug full of scattered pillows.

"I know it's crazy but I'm willing to lose my mind for once and follow my heart, Sam. I'll go to him just like he came for me." My mind is decided on this.

Sam blinks several times.

"Okay, wait!" She sits straight, giving me a concerned look. "You can't possibly fly to New York and get lost like Kevin, can you? I mean, are you sure about this, Kiki?" Her laughter becomes unrestrained.

"I am." I laugh along. "The worst case scenario is for me to get crazy over there and jump into the Hudson."

"What a plan," Sam mutters, amused. "What if you don't find him?" She glances at me, somewhat worried.

My heart withers. What if?

"Well, if I lose, I'll just fly back home. End of the saga."

"You've lost it." Sam lays back down, and I can't say she's wrong.

"Enough of my boring story! Seat your ass straight, and tell me about Jonathan." I urge her for some cheesy gossip.

When Sam tells me about her dates with him, I can't help but notice the sparkle in her eyes. She sounds pretty happy and excited, speaking of him, and I pray this time they are into something strong.

Honestly, Jonathan is the only guy who's ever loved my friend truly. I'm sure he won't play around with her like those funky guys she usually goes out with. He is matured, sensible, and reliable.

I'm so happy to hear they're having a wonderful time together.

***

Back in my apartment I spend a very quiet evening. Sam left in a hurry after a mysterious phone call as soon as she drove me back. That girl! She's always onto something unusual. Music and a book become my bestie and time seems to fly so slowly.

An hour later I hear a pound on the door and I guess it's Amelia. A smile stretches my lips as I could really use her presence right now. Sluggishly, I abandon the comforts of my plush and lower the music volume, before I wander towards the door.

"Who is it?" I ask.

A familiar voice giggles. "Open the damn door, bitch."

It's Sam again. Okay, not what I expected.

Swinging the door open, I mutter, "To what do I owe this—"

"Kiki! Guess what? There's someone here for you," Sam interrupts with excitement dancing in her smiling eyes.

"Someone for me?" I squint my eyes quizzically while stepping out carefully.

Sam grins.

"I hope you'll be happy to see . . ." She doesn't finish her sentence, and Liam appears before my eyes.

Oh my God! I fall back instinctively and freeze as though I've seen a ghost.

"Thank you," Liam tells Sam, and I'm just puzzled, eyes raw and wide toward him.

He's here. And it's not a dream, is it? I firm my eyes to make sure I'm not hallucinating.

Sam veers closer to me. "Kiki, I know you're mad at him, but I also know that you're longing for him. Just give him a chance to explain before killing him, which I won't mind at all unless you don't invite me to dispose of his body." She's amused but I'm not.

And off she goes, leaving me and my-still boyfriend alone.

My first reaction is to stride back inside. Liam stalks me and it's like cold water is poured on my body. He shuts the door behind him at the same time I whirl around to face him. Face to face, my breath hitches as he paces near me, a blank look on his face. I fight not to cry, but tears prick in my eyes.

A soft sigh escapes my lips.

"How are you?" Liam asks, stirring my composure.

"What do you think?" I reply crossly.

He sucks in a breath, shoring his chest on and off until he's relaxed again. I focus on his eyes, ignoring the whole of him as he's still as handsome and breathtaking as before, wearing a washed out jeans and flannel shirt—a billionaire cowboy who loves to appear simple and reserved.

"I'm so sorry, Kira," he breathes.

"Oh?" I huff a tiny laugh. "You're sorry for what, though? For accusing me without even listening to my side of the story? For leaving me as if I mean nothing at all? What is it that you're sorry about, Liam?"

Now that he's here I feel relieved but angry at the same time.

"No, Kira, you're wrong." He tries to touch me, but I step aside.

If I let him touch me I'll melt. I'll forget everything and yield to him, which won't erase the fact that I'm not pleased with what he did. He has to explain why and make me understand him.

"Right. Maybe I am wrong," I reply calmly, standing near the couch. "Okay, you tell me, Mr. Right. Enlighten me. What kind of an excuse do you have? That you wanted to teach me a lesson for going against you? Is that it, Liam? Why did you leave me as if I meant absolutely nothing to you?" Pain strikes through me at the memory of what the hotel receptionist told me.

"I didn't abandon you, Kira. Let us be very clear with this," Liam says. My response is wagging my head and smile sarcastically. He sighs frustrated as he strides closer to me. "I was angry at you that day, and that's why I left your place."

"Undoubtedly," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

My sarcasm no longer seems to bother him.

"But I got an emergency call on my way to the hotel, and I had to be in New York as soon as possible," he says, standing right in front of me.

I'm towered by his height, and his virile body engulfs my presence alongside his scent.

"Really now?" I gaze up at him.

"Yes, and that is nothing but the truth." His eyes don't leave mine as he says this, and find no hint of lies or deceits in his voice, nor his blue irises that makes me desire to be at the beach right next to him.

"So, you had no time to even let me know about your emergency, huh? You just had to check out, and leave without even thinking of my position?" I snap at him, still very much disturbed by the fact.

Is it wrong that I'm lashing at him?

"Well . . . " He sighs, looking defeated, his eyes gazing down at me ruefully.

"Do you have any idea how I felt these past few days, Liam? Do you have any idea at all?" My voice softens, and my emotions overwhelm me.

"Kira." Liam moves from the table and sits beside me. "My love, I didn't plan to stay away from you for this long," he beseeches.

"Oh, don't start with the sweet talk." I try to march but he takes me into his arms right away. He knows when he calls me 'my love' I go all jelly and it's exactly what happens as he holds me tight. I jerk my body but he grabs me tighter while kissing my hair in a longing manner.

"Please trust me, Kira," he begs, encasing my face onto his chest.

I inhale his perfume, and that unique scent of his. The scent of a man.

Can I trust him? Should I? Fuck, he's my Achilles' heel.

"Do you really expect me to trust you, Liam?" I utter, not knowing what else to say. My intelligence seems all shaken, my heart and mind battling to rule my body.

"I wish you would, baby. I really hope I haven't completely destroyed the trust you had in me. Because if it's over, I have no idea what else I'll do." Liam stares at me deeply as I pull my head back. "I probably needed some moment alone and that's why I left without even thinking twice. It dawned on me a little late that what I did wasn't right, but a lot has been going on over there and . . ." His voice trails, and now that I behold him close, he looks very tired and rugged, as though he hasn't slept well for a good while.

I search for the truth in the blue of his eyes, and I know I have no reason to doubt his allegations. Why would he lie to me? What for? However, I still feel hurt by everything. I just can't understand why he didn't even call me after he had arrived in New York as he claims.

Or left me a message . . . at the very least.

"I called you several times, Liam. I sent you a bunch of voicemails but you still didn't respond to any. I stayed awake the whole night trying to reach you and—" I stop my speech when Liam's delicious lips land on mine, in a way that always stirs me up.

Not this trick, Jesus!

"Liam, sto—" I try to resist but he holds me tight, I dare not move.

His embrace imprisons me softly, and I willingly oblige.

"I lost my phone, and I'm not sure how," he says between my lips.

"How convenient! Yeah, I heard that story," I breathe.

"What should I do to make you believe me?" He deepens his kiss, driving me insane. "Tell me, baby. I'll do anything."

In a matter of seconds, I yield to this cowboy's charms and find myself clinging onto his neck, urging him to press himself harder onto me. We keep kissing, and I miss his taste, I miss his body, I miss his smell.

"You weren't planning on leaving me, were you?" I ask when we halt, panting crazily while holding him as though making sure he doesn't go anywhere.

"Never," Liam replies sternly. I promise I'll never ever leave you again."

Staring at Liam's eyes so deeply and intently, I no longer care about our differences, nor his reasons. I just want to kiss him, and make love to him. I want to be sure that he's really back into my life.

"Why do I love you like crazy?" I ask stupidly, hugging him while sniffing the burning tears. "I was a wreck when you disappeared."

"Hey . . ." Liam utters sadly, embracing my body with passion.

"You could've left me a message, just that." I sob, recalling the agonizing hours spent upon his absence. "I thought you abandoned me. I thought you didn't want to see me anymore."

"I'm sorry, I was angry," he says, and I draw back to stare at his puppy eyes. "I love you and I'd never leave you, Kira."

A smile escapes me at this little statement. How easy I am!

Not knowing how treacherous my mind can be, I end up securing his lips with mine. We start kissing hungrily, and touch longingly. In a few minutes we're both underdressed, and my body is on fire at all the things this man does to it and I'm not complaining.

I love this bastard, I really do, and he knows I do. I just hope he feels the same way, or else I'm doomed.