I left Sophia's office on Tuesday afternoon feeling way better than I did on Monday when I met her for the first time and told her the truth about what happened to me.

She was the only person who knew. Sophia didn't judge me and didn't ask me what everyone else would - why I stayed with my ex after what he'd done.

I had no recollection of what happened. I knew I drank that night. Paul kept on giving me alcohol to make me relax so that I would enjoy the party. He wanted us to sleep together. Alcohol would help me lose my inhibitions.

Surrounded by his friends whom I didn't know well, the odds were not in my favor. Even if I got roofied, they would deny it. They saw me drink, and I was with my boyfriend- the person who was supposed to take care of me.

Paul kept saying that I begged him for it, asked him to be rough with me, but despite his efforts, I was just as cold as that first time.

My stupid and naive self didn't question his words at first. The problem came after when I started to have panic attacks and nightmares, and his touch made my body freeze.

Paul changed his demeanor then, spending more time with me, and pretending to care about me. Now, I knew that those few dates and flowers served no other purpose than making me stop doubting his words and asking questions. Back then, I was so delusional I let myself believe he had finally realized how I deserved to be treated.

I hated myself for being so stupid that I stayed with him instead of going to the police and pressing charges. And although talking about it was excruciatingly painful, I let Sophia in and started to tell her everything because I wanted to heal and move on.

I didn't want to jeopardize my new and fragile relationship with Liam by letting my past dictate my present and future. Liam could help me, but there were things he couldn't fix.

It wasn't a situation that got better by complaining about it to my best friend over a glass of wine. Paul ruined my self-confidence and made me see intimacy as something to be afraid of. How could I not fear it when I had been sore for days after that goddamned party I wished I hadn't agreed to go to?

I behaved like a pathetic doormat who never questioned things, although the evidence was hard to ignore. Telling Sophia how stupid I'd been was even harder than admitting that my boyfriend raped me and got away with it.

Drained after my second therapy session, I lowered myself onto the couch with a mug of tea in my hands as soon as I was home. Ellie went to her first job interview in a fashion magazine, and Tim wouldn't be back until later in the afternoon.

I grabbed my phone and entered my bank application. My eyes darted to the figure next to my savings account. Soon, it would be empty. Sophia didn't charge me full price, but therapy was never cheap. I had no idea how many sessions I needed, either.

The phone vibrated in my hand. I couldn't contain the giggle when I saw the ID Roomie/Daddy flash across the screen. Liam had the audacity to change his name on my phone, making me cringe and blush the first time he called me from Marseille yesterday.

"Sweetheart."

"Hey." Heat flooded my cheeks, and my heart somersaulted in my ribcage at the sound of his voice.

"How are you? How was uni?"

"Same old. Econ was as bad as usual. What about your training?"

"I'm not done yet. We have a break until later in the afternoon. Aiden went to take a nap. We didn't sleep too much last night."

"Why?" I asked, leaning against the cushions.

"The team-building dinner I told you about."

"I remember. Is that training any good?"

Liam chuckled. "Yeah, it's great. The whole thing could be much better, though."

"Better how?"

"If you were here with me in this huge cold bed."

I took a sip of the hot liquid that did very little to cool off a different kind of heat engulfing me. "What would we do?"

"Watch some basketball on TV having a couple of beers."

"That's not too tempting, roomie-slash-daddy."

"I was kidding, sweetheart. I would take off all your clothes and cuddle you under the covers."

"That's dangerous."

"Only if you wanted it to be. I would make you tell me what you wanted until you admitted it."

"How would you do it?"

I heard Liam laugh softly. "Based on what I've learned about you, some light spanking might do the trick."

"You're unbelievable, Liam Dupont," I huffed. "I still haven't forgiven you for the change of your caller ID on my phone."

"You can change it back unless you secretly love it. Wait, what was that thing you said about me behaving like your dad-"

"Stop it!" I giggled. "You won't let me live it down now, will you?"

"Of course, I will. I just miss you, and I love hearing you laugh. I'd rather hear your soft giggles in my ear while I'm touching you, and I mean all of you."

"Liam..."

"I also love it when you say my name. Let's see how many times you'll say it when I kiss you."

"I won't be able to talk if you kiss me. My lips would be busy."

"Did I say anything about lips, sweetheart?"

"You-" I started to say, but didn't finish the sentence, alarmed by a different name that appeared on the screen.

"Liam, I'll call you back."

Not waiting for Liam's answer, I finished the call and accepted the other one, hoping nothing bad happened.

"Aunty Sam!"

"Sky, baby girl, you won't guess where I am."

Relieved, I breathed out. "On an exotic island taking pictures for another exciting project?"

My aunt laughed. "No, it's much better. I've just picked up my luggage at Charles de Gaulle, and I'm going to Marseille to see you."

"Shit," I cursed as the hot tea from my mug spilled onto my bare knee.

"Hey, don't be too excited." My aunt chuckled. "What's going on? Did you cross me off the list of your favorite people, and I didn't get a notification?"

My aunt Sam was cool, laid-back, and as bold as they came. She also had no idea that I was in Paris, the same as my parents. Her ability to see through my bullshit prevented me from telling her about my plans to transfer to uni in the capital of France. Now, I had to tell her the truth. I hoped she wouldn't be mad.

"I'm not in Marseille," I blurted out. "I'm in Paris."

After a brief pause, my aunt chirped, "Fantastic! I'll see you much sooner. Text me the address, and don't worry; I can stay at a hotel."

"Will do and no way. My roommate is on a trip this week. You will stay with me."

"Awesome, baby. I'll see you in a while."

I hung up and called Liam immediately.

"Are you okay?" he asked with worry audible in his voice.

"Yeah, my aunt Sam is in Paris, Liam. Now she knows I'm here, and I told her she could stay with us."

"Give her my room."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, sweetheart. You only have to change the bedding and take some things of mine to your room."

"What things?"

"My magazines for big boys from under the mattress and the condoms from the nightstand drawer."

"Under the mattress?"

Liam laughed. "I was kidding about that but not about the condoms. Put them somewhere else. I will only use them with you when the time comes. Oh, and I almost forgot."

"What?" I asked, heading to Liam's bedroom.

"I forgot about the daddy starter kit in my closet - a blindfold, some handcuffs, riding crops, whips-"

"Oh my God, Liam!"

"It was a joke, roomie. Or should I call you my naughty bebegorl?"

"I'm hanging up."

Liam laughed. "Please, don't. I just wanted to make you smile. Tell me later how it went with your aunt and say hi to her."

"I will. Thank you."

"Nothing to thank me for, sweetheart. I'll be thinking about you."

As soon as Liam hung up, I opened his drawer and took what he told me to take, blushing at his earlier words as I rushed to my room and shoved the condoms in my underwear drawer.

Then, it hit me.

Sam was not only my aunt but also Ellie's godmother, who was friends with Ellie's adoptive mom, Louise.

I wasn't the only one who lied about my whereabouts. Ellie didn't tell her mom about living with and being engaged to her guy.

Aunt Sam would know unless I gave my best friend a heads-up, and we found a way to hide the truth.

I picked up my phone again and pressed the call button, hoping that Ellie finished the interview and was already free.

Luckily, she answered straight away. "Skylar, you won't believe-"

"Elizabeth, you'd better come home and fast. We have a situation," I said before Ellie could utter a word. "Oh, and bring éclairs for four people."

***

Two hours later, the scene in my living room seemed to belong to one of the comedy movies of questionable quality.

Ellie and I owed it to the boy who was playing on the carpet after we'd returned from Ellie's apartment, where Tim had made sure to fill Aunty Sam in on all the essential details of my and my best friend's lives.

Now, my aunt knew that Ellie was engaged to Aiden and kept it secret. She also knew that Ellie and Aiden had been living together since September.

Tim didn't forget to point out that Liam and Aiden played basketball together and were best friends. Thanks to Liam's proud little brother, my aunt Sam knew that Liam had an eight pack.

"I have to go." Ellie glanced at her watch and got up from the couch. "My Arts teacher is in Paris. We are going to have dinner together," she said to Sam. "How long will you stay here?"

"A week." Sam looked at me. "Unless it's a problem."

"How could it be? I'm happy you will keep me company while Liam is away."

Tim's head snapped up. "Yes, Aunty Sam. Please stay. You can cuddle Sky while my brother cannot do it. Sky loves his cuddles as much as I do."

Giggling, Ellie grabbed her purse. "It's my cue to leave. You have a lot to talk about."

"Traitor, Elizabeth," I mouthed, making my friend laugh as she waved goodbye to the three of us and left the apartment.

"I'm going to play in my room, " Tim chirped and picked up the box with the constructor from the carpet before heading to his bedroom.

Aunt Sam rubbed her palms together as soon as the door behind the boy closed. "So, Liam."

"Yeah." I sighed. "Are you mad I live with a guy?"

"Mad? Why would I be? From what I've heard, he's a good guy."

"Yeah, he is," I said, blushing.

"So, what are you waiting for? Show me!"

I frowned. "What do you mean? Show you what?"

Aunt Sam rolled her eyes. "What, what, the eight pack, of course."

"I don't-"

"Didn't your aunt teach you to take photos of art whenever you see some? I don't believe you don't have any pictures on your laptop. Hurry, baby girl."

"Okay," I said, failing to hide my grin.

My aunt leaned against the back of the couch and wiggled her eyebrows as she watched me grab my laptop from the coffee table. "When do kids go to bed in this house?" she asked. "Cause I have some wine."

Thoughts? More of Sam in the next chapter.

Do you think Liam and Sam will get along?

Also, the song on top makes me think about Sky.