I woke up to Liam playing with my hair, his fingers threading through it, and one of his arms wrapped tightly around me.

It was funny how fast one could get used to good things. I was already familiar with Liam's heat, and the feeling of his lean body pressed to mine. Too many things remained a mystery. Yet, I liked everything I learned about him.

I was wondering what we were to each other- more than friends, less than lovers. Liam didn't want to push, taking careful steps to get closer to me. The question was, why?

There was the attraction, the desire, but those things alone weren't enough to say we were together. We weren't, and for once, I didn't want to rush. I wanted to take it slow and get to know the real him. The fear of making another mistake made me cautious. If only I had been careful before.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," I heard Liam say.

He remembered, although I only mentioned it once.

"Thank you," I said, turning around to face him.

Liam inched forward and pressed a kiss to my cheek. Then, he kissed me below my ear, pulling me to him.

"I know it's early, but I wanted to have breakfast with you while Tim is still sleeping. What do you say?" Liam asked, running his thumb along my jaw.

"Okay. I'm going to get ready."

"We have forty minutes." Pecking my cheek, Liam threw the comforter off him and rolled out of bed. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Not wasting a minute, I rushed to my bathroom. A quick shower later, I stood in front of the closet, unable to decide what to wear. Scolding myself for wasting time, I took a beautiful gray dress I'd only worn once from the hanger.

There was no time for makeup. I had to settle for some mascara and blush before going to the kitchen.

Liam was there, making coffee in one of his usual button-downs. An éclair lay on a platter. Liam didn't usually eat them.

"Your coffee." Liam handed me a mug. "And the éclair is for you, too."

"You didn't have to."

"Just accept it." He rolled his eyes. "I don't do things I don't want to do, okay? Besides, you have to celebrate that you're a big girl now."

I swatted at Liam's chest, making him laugh. "Thanks for the reminder, dad."

Liam's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Aye? Didn't you call me daddy? If my memory serves me right, you wanted me to spank you. Since it's your birthday, I might."

"Oh, my God." I covered my flushed cheeks with my palms. "I'm not into that. Are you?"

Liam crossed the little distance between us and hugged me, kissing my temple, my cheek, and then my neck. "No," he murmured against my skin. "But I can think of many other ways to make you feel good that don't involve pain. If I'm honest with you, I wouldn't be able to do anything that could hurt you."

I rested my cheek against Liam's chest and wrapped my arms around him without thinking. It was the first time I'd done something like that. Relief flooded me when he didn't push me away but tightened his grip on me instead.

"I have something for you," he said, reaching into his pocket.

A small box was in his hand, wrapped in red tissue paper with a tiny bow on top of it.

"I hope you like it."

Carefully, I untied the knot and unwrapped the gift. Having opened the box, I saw the contents of it. A tiny camera on a golden chain lay on the cushion. A stone replaced its lens, glimmering in the morning light that seeped into our kitchen.

"It's perfect," I whispered. Resting the box on the table, I covered my mouth with my shaky hand and darted to the bathroom.

Sobs raked through me as soon as I closed the door and leaned against it.

Memories of my birthday last year filled my mind, a sequence of faded images that I couldn't get rid of - Ava wishing me a happy birthday, telling me my boyfriend should have cared enough to remember and Gia's reassurance that it was normal for guys to forget when Paul appeared at my doorstep and said that a friend of his was throwing a party in my honor.

That guy didn't even know my name. I wasn't important enough to be introduced to my boyfriend's buddies. The party was just a party like many others, and I got pissed at Ava when she almost begged me not to go. He was my boyfriend, and he remembered. Late, and he didn't give me anything, but he remembered.

I wished Liam had been my first- my true first. I wished I'd made better choices and believed that I deserved to be loved or at least respected.

"Open the door."

Liam's quiet voice made me wipe the tears off my cheeks and come out of my hiding spot.

"What did I do?" Liam asked. "Is it about the gift? If you don't like it, it's no big deal; we can change it-"

"The gift is perfect. Thank you." I placed my hand on his jaw.

"Then what's wrong?"

Tim saved me, then, appearing in the doorway dressed in his PJs with a box wrapped in pink paper.

"Happy birthday, Sky." He grinned, rushing to me and thrusting the gift in my hands after giving me a quick hug.

Liam chuckled when I got rid of the packaging and revealed a Barbie.

"Do you like it?" Tim asked, looking at me as if he expected me to say no.

"I love it. It's perfect." I hugged the boy, ruffling his hair.

Liam was biting his lip, looking down at his feet, but I could see he was trying to suppress a laugh.

"You'd better like the doll, roomie," he said when Tim rushed to his room to get ready, and Liam and I headed to the kitchen. "We spent an hour in the shop because the little dude wanted to find a doll with eyes like yours and drove the staff crazy."

I sniffled, clutching the box in my hands.

"Fuck, I just keep screwing up today." Liam wrapped me in his arms and ran his warm hand down my back, sighing.

Tim walked into the kitchen, then, and the three of us ate breakfast at the table, chatting and laughing.

"Do you want me to put it on you?" Liam asked when Tim went to his room to grab his backpack.

"Please." I nodded, moving my hair to the side and exposing my neck. Liam's warm lips were on my skin before the cold metal of the chain touched it. Turning me around, Liam encased me in an embrace.

"You are beautiful and smart, and I'm lucky to have met you. I don't know why you cried, but you shouldn't do it today. This day is about laughter and happiness and doing things that make you feel good."

Liam pressed his cheek to the side of my head and rubbed my back. I relaxed in his arms. My traitorous mind took me to the previous night, and Liam's bed, and his kisses-

"I'm sorry!" A chair scraped along the tiled floor, and Ellie squealed, breaking us apart.

"Hey," we said in unison.

"Tim and I have to go. Bye, girls." Liam gave Ellie a small smile and rushed out of the kitchen. The front door after him and his brother closed in barely a minute.

"Happy birthday to you!" Ellie sang, drawing her arms around me.

"Thank you!" I smiled. "Before you ask: it was nothing, just a birthday hug. We're not making a big deal out of it, okay?"

Ellie knew nothing about us, and I was afraid to tell her. I knew she wouldn't judge me, but she would ask me The Question: were we together? I had no idea.

"Okay. May all your wishes come true!" Ellie grinned, handing me a package.

"What's that? You've already given me the dress, silly."

"These are your birthday gifts; the dress was just a present. Can't I spoil my best friend?"

The first thing I took out of the gift bag was a jewelry set, then some chocolate from Martinique and some natural hair and body oils.

"You got me tons of things!" I hugged my friend. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. What time do your classes finish today? I thought we could have lunch together," said Ellie.

"Let's make it dinner somewhere with the guys and Tim because I'm not done till almost six. And speaking of classes, we've got to run - my Econ is in half an hour, and I can't fail again."

"You're going to tell me about that hug, Skylar."

"In your sweet dreams, Elizabeth." I giggled as we headed downstairs.

It was a sunny day, but the cold air was here to stay. I shivered, regretting having put on the barely-there tights.

"By the way, did Liam get you anything?"

Ellie's question caught me off guard. "Yeah. This." I stopped walking and tugged the dress down so that Ellie could see the necklace. Her excited squeal made an old lady swivel her head and focus her curious eyes on us.

"Hush, Elizabeth!" I scolded my friend.

"The necklace and the hug. Are you sure you're friends? This gift says otherwise."

I rolled my eyes. "I like photography, and Liam knows it. It's nothing."

"He could have given you a photo frame." Ellie shrugged. "Or something small, not a freaking jewel."

"I have to run to Econ, matchmaker." I pecked Ellie's cheek. "See you in the evening."

"You're not getting rid of me that easily," said Ellie. "Text me the location and the name of the restaurant you choose."

I waved goodbye to my best friend and rushed to my class.

My mood took a nosedive once again when I got another bad grade in Econ. I couldn't blame anyone but myself. I didn't study enough, dealing with my drama instead of focusing on my classes. My parents would call me later to congratulate me on my birthday, and I would have to lie, saying that my studies went well.

As soon as the morning lectures were over, I grabbed my stuff and decided to head outside and treat myself to a pastry. I had time until I had to go to my afternoon classes.

"I hate Econ," said Diane when the two of us exited the university building. "Do you have any plans now?"

I opened my mouth, but Diane giggled, pointing at something ahead of us. "Forget that I asked, your boyfriend is here. Good taste in guys, girl. Have fun. See you in the next round of torture in the afternoon," my classmate said, walking away.

Puzzled, I scanned the area for whoever Diane meant.

My eyes spotted Liam immediately. How could they not? In his office clothes and a black coat, he stood out from the university crowd.

I rushed to him with a grin on my face. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Liam kissed my cheek. "I thought we could have lunch together."

"But you only have an hour for lunch."

Shrugging, Liam took my hand in his and laced his fingers with mine. "I said I needed to take care of something. It's nothing. We do overtime almost daily."

"If you say so..."

Laughing, Liam kissed my cheek. "Such a good girl. Big girl, too, as of today. Am I right?"

"Stop." I covered his mouth with my palm. "Dad."

"I might reconsider the whole spanking thing," said Liam, removing my hand. "Who knows, maybe we would both like it."

I giggled. "Maybe."

"Fuck the lunch. We're going home now." Liam quickened his step and headed toward the car park without letting go of my hand.

"Hey! I was joking!"

Laughing, Liam took his car keys out of his pocket. "I know. I was just wondering if the good girl next to me wanted to be bad just for me."

I blushed, biting my lip. "How about tonight?"

Liam halted next to his car with his hand on the driver's door. "Tonight?"

"Maybe I want to be bad for you. After we have dinner with our friends."

"Sweetheart, you know I'm kidding, right?"

"I know, but I'm not. Last night was amazing. What if I want it again? It's my birthday."

Liam smiled. "Get in the car. We'll talk in the restaurant."

***

"If you don't make up your mind, I'll order some steak tartare for you," said Liam.

I perused the menu, unable to decide. Liam's closeness and our earlier conversation made my stomach flutter.

What the hell was I thinking? How was I supposed to be a bad girl if we hadn't even kissed?

"Sweetheart, I'm hungry," Liam complained. "Steak in one, two..."

Giggling, I closed the menu. "I know."

When the waiter stopped at our table, both Liam and I ordered some meat and a salad to share.

"Can I ask you something?" said Liam when we started to eat the tasty lunch.

"Of course."

"Okay, so I've been to Aiden's apartment, and they have stuff decorating it - pictures, plants. Ours looks a bit empty. I know you like photography; I thought you'd hang some photos on the walls."

"I wasn't in a good place when I moved in," I said, taking a sip of my wine. "Besides, I spent all my savings and couldn't afford to buy stuff like that. Now that my tuition is more expensive, I cannot splurge, either."

Liam frowned. "I see. But you like that stuff."

"Who doesn't?" I smiled.

"Well, guys don't usually care, but because we don't know shit about decoration and design. I'm sure Ellie chose half of the stuff they have if not all of it."

"Maybe. She loves plants."

"What about you?"

"I love candles and cushions. Framed pictures are great, too."

Liam smiled. "Noted."

***

After lunch, Liam and I wandered around the area. He held my hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb and lifting it to his lips every now and then.

It wasn't what friends did; neither were his kisses on my cheek and his tight hugs, but I was too afraid to ask him what we were and ruin things between us.

"Do you want to sit there for a little while?" Liam nodded toward the garden close to the Palais Royal.

"Sure."

We sat down in a secluded spot on one of the benches facing a flowerbed. Some flowers still bloomed, and I regretted not having my camera on me.

"What is the birthday girl thinking about?" asked Liam.

"The place is beautiful. I should've brought my camera."

"You're beautiful, too," Liam whispered, kissing my cheek. "Come here."

Circling my waist with his arm, Liam pulled me onto his lap.

"I don't want you to sit on the cold bench. And I wanted you close."

"Why?" I whispered, covering his hand on my knee with mine.

"Because I like you, Sky," Liam said, pressing his lips to the tender skin below my ear. "And right now I regret being an adult and having a job, because I need to go back to the office soon, but we'll go somewhere else first. Ready?"

So...friends? Liam has grown some, huh?