His Lost Queen

BELLE

Liam had shaken Laila awake after we had pulled into the parking garage of his apartment building. She was confused but didn’t argue when Liam asked her to stay the night on my account.

She was so tired that when we made our way into his apartment, she immediately plopped down on the living room couch and fell back asleep.

I walked through his apartment in awe. “You live here alone?” I asked.

His place was nice—very nice. It was huge, with a full kitchen and a large living room and dining room.

To my left was a long hallway that I assumed led to multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. I couldn’t help but notice this did not look like the home of a twenty-something-year-old.

It was too neat, too mature, and way too big for one person. It also didn’t evade my attention that Liam had pressed the button for the top floor when we were in the elevator.

He lived in the penthouse, his living room facing out over an incredible ocean view.

Liam sighed. “I know. It makes me look like a rich asshole.”

“No! No, that’s not what I meant,” I rambled out quickly, pulling my eyes from the incredible view to meet his gaze. “It’s just…” I looked around again. “It’s kind of—”

“Big. And fancy,” Liam finished for me. I was surprised to see a frown on his lips as he also examined his apartment. “I didn’t pick it. My dad got me this apartment for my eighteenth birthday.”

That made me pause. Exactly how much money did this dude’s family have?

“Wow. Eighteen,” I mumbled. “Isn’t that kind of a slap in the face? ‘Happy birthday, son. Move out.’”

Liam tried to smile; it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Eighteen wasn’t soon enough if you ask me. I would have gotten out of his house years before if I could have.”

I suddenly felt bad for having brought the subject up. There were obviously some touchy feelings surrounding Liam and his dad.

Trying to move the attention to something else, I said, “Well, where do you want me? I would sleep on the couch, but it looks like it’s already occupied.”

I smiled at Laila, who was drooling all over Liam’s nice leather sectional.

“I have a guest room that you can stay in. Follow me,” Liam replied.

The room he led me to was just as nice as the rest of the place. It had a queen-size bed, a dresser with a TV on top, and a closet.

It was decorated in neutral colors, all grays, whites, and blues, and had floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the beach. It even had its own bathroom.

“Wow,” I breathed. “This is amazing.”

Liam nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. He looked uncomfortable. “Yeah, well, it’s all yours.”

Just standing in this pristine room was starting to make me feel incredibly inadequate in my dirty clothes. I hadn’t even taken a shower since leaving Grayson.

“Are you sure you’re okay with a stranger staying in your extremely nice apartment?”

“I insist. Just don’t steal or break anything, and we’re good.” He eyed me, grinning. “You seem like the stealing and breaking type.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you, Liam. Seriously. You have no idea what a lifesaver you are.”

Liam smiled softly. “No need to thank me. I’m always happy to help out a damsel in distress.”

I hated that he could call me that and that it actually applied and made sense. The last thing I wanted was to be dependent on someone else.

“Do you need anything? Soap? Toothbrush?” Liam asked.

“Some soap and shampoo would be great if you have it.” I set my stuff down on the floor at the foot of the bed.

Being in this pristine room made me realize just how dirty I was. I hadn’t had the opportunity or motivation to shower since leaving Grayson. “Is it okay if I use your shower?”

Liam nodded. “Of course. Can I get you some ibuprofen too?”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Besides the fact that you have a black eye and keep holding the side of your neck like someone stabbed you in your carotid?”

My face heated. I hadn’t realized I had been that bad at hiding the fact that I was in pain.

“Um, okay,” I said. “Thanks.”

“Any time,” Liam replied as he walked to the door.

“Hey, Liam?” I asked him right before he left.

He turned to me.

“I’m Belle, by the way.”

His lips turned up. “It’s nice to meet you, Belle.”