The next few days didn't bring another surprise adventure—at least, not physically. Instead, they found themselves orbiting each other through a steady stream of pings, voice notes, and calls.
Liam [9:12 AM]:
Did you have breakfast? Or are you pretending coffee is food again?
Layla [9:14 AM]:
Coffee IS food. Don't judge my lifestyle. ☕🙃
Liam [9:15 AM]:
Your lifestyle is chaos. I'll fix it when I'm around more often.
She read that line twice. When I'm around more often. He said it so casually, like it was already a promise.
Their conversations drifted between playful and heavy. One minute, they were teasing about who texted first; the next, Liam would ask a question that made Layla freeze at the screen.
Liam [10:42 AM]:
So… have your muscles forgiven me yet? Or are you still secretly plotting revenge for the other day?
Layla laughed out loud at her desk, quickly covering her mouth before her colleague glanced over. She typed back.
Layla [10:44 AM]:
Plotting? Please. My arms were screaming for two days straight. I thought I was going to need a wheelchair just to walk around. 😅
Liam [10:46 AM]:
You exaggerate so much. 🙄
You loved every second of it. Admit it.
She bit her lip. He wasn't entirely wrong.
Layla [10:48 AM]:
Loved the stars, yes. Loved the random "hey let's make Layla face her fears" activities? Not so much.
Liam [10:50 AM]:
Interesting. Because you smiled the whole time. 😉
So… would you do it again?
The question made her pause. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Would she? The thrill of it, the laughter, the way he looked at her when she thought she'd fail but didn't—it had been intoxicating. But what if she let herself sink too far?
Layla [10:55 AM]:
Maybe… if you promise no more death-trap climbing walls.
Liam [10:56 AM]:
Deal. Next time, it'll be something better.
Layla [10:57 AM]:
Define better. Because your definition of fun is questionable.
Liam [10:59 AM]:
Better as in… something that makes you forget the world for a while. That's what you need, isn't it?
She froze, rereading the message. How did he always know exactly where to press? He wasn't just teasing her anymore—he was looking past the surface, straight into the things she didn't say out loud.
Her reply was slower this time.
Layla [11:05 AM]:
Sometimes forgetting the world isn't as easy as it sounds, Liam.
Liam [11:06 AM]:
That's why you need the right person to help.
She stared at the screen, her heart thudding in her chest. A part of her wanted to type back something sharp, to remind him she wasn't a damsel waiting to be saved. But another part… the part that still felt the warmth of his hand steadying her on the boat, the sound of his voice under the stars… that part whispered, maybe he's right.
By evening, their phones buzzed again.
Liam [6:12 PM]:
Survived the day? Or did your boss finally bury you under a mountain of files?
Layla [6:14 PM]:
Barely survived. I think I've earned a trophy for pretending to look busy while slowly dying inside. 🏆
Liam [6:15 PM]:
I'd actually design you a trophy for that. 😂
"World Champion of looking serious while scrolling her phone."
Layla [6:16 PM]:
Excuse you! I was working. I only checked my phone… occasionally.
Liam [6:18 PM]:
Occasionally = every 5 minutes when you hoped I'd text. 😉
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling at the screen.
Layla [6:20 PM]:
What about you, Mr. Serious? How was your meeting today?
Liam [6:22 PM]:
Long. Draining. The kind that makes you question your life choices.
Layla [6:23 PM]:
So basically the usual?
Liam [6:24 PM]:
Exactly. But you know what got me through it?
Layla [6:25 PM]:
Coffee?
Liam [6:26 PM]:
Your texts.
She stopped, her thumb frozen mid-scroll. He said it so casually, like it was obvious, but it felt heavy in her chest.
Layla [6:29 PM]:
Smooth. Very smooth. Do you practice these lines somewhere?
Liam [6:31 PM]:
Nope. You just inspire them.
Her heart thudded at the words. She quickly set her phone aside, staring at the wall as if it could calm her racing pulse. He was good at this—too good.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again.
Liam [6:40 PM]:
So… when are we planning our next adventure? Or do I have to kidnap you from work?
Layla [6:42 PM]:
Work owns me. You'll have to negotiate with them first.
Liam [6:43 PM]:
Fine. I'll show up with a briefcase and demand "temporary custody of Layla."
She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone.
Suddenly, Liam got curious about Layla's past and decided to secretly make findings.
Liam [7:44 PM]:
What scared you most in your last relationship?
Her fingers hovered. She almost ignored it. Almost.
Layla [7:50 PM]:
Being someone's option. Never their choice.
For a long moment, no reply came. Then—
Liam [7:58 PM]:
I don't play games like that, Layla. If I want someone… it's all in. No half measures.
Her chest tightened. Words like that were dangerous. Too heavy. Too much like something she'd want to believe.
Late at night, they slipped into voice calls, the kind that stretched past midnight, when the world was quiet and walls came down.
"Your laugh is ridiculous," Liam teased one night.
Layla gasped. "Excuse me?"
"It is," he said, chuckling softly. "It bubbles out of you like you're trying to hide it, but you can't. And it's… addictive."
She went quiet. No one had ever said it like that before.
"You're trouble, Liam," she whispered.
"And you're worth it," he replied, without hesitation.
By the time night fell, Layla was curled up on her bed, lights dimmed, scrolling through their earlier chats with a soft smile. Her phone buzzed again.
Liam [10:14 PM]:
Still awake? Or has work knocked you out already?
Layla [10:15 PM]:
I'm awake. Just tired. My brain's still running marathons though.
Liam [10:16 PM]:
Perfect. Then let me distract you.
Can I call?
She hesitated for a moment, staring at the screen. Voice calls had become easier, but video… that was different.
Layla [10:17 PM]:
Voice only.
Seconds later, her phone rang. She picked up.
"Hey you," Liam's voice came through, deep and slightly husky, like the night itself had wrapped around it.
"Hey," she whispered back, suddenly aware of how soft her voice sounded.
They talked about their day again—his endless meetings, her chaotic deadlines, the little things that annoyed them. And then silence fell for a moment, a comfortable kind.
"You sound tired," Liam murmured.
"I am," she admitted. "But talking to you helps."
Another pause. She could almost hear his smile through the line.
"Layla…" he said softly, "What if we switch to video? Just for a little while."
She groaned. "Liam…"
"Come on," he coaxed. "I want to see that face you keep hiding."
After a beat, she sighed. "Fine. But just a short while."
The screen flickered, and suddenly his face appeared—sharp jawline, faint stubble, hair falling carelessly over his forehead. He was lounging against his headboard, looking annoyingly good in the simplest T-shirt.
"Wow," he said almost instantly, leaning closer to the screen. "You're even more beautiful than I remembered."
Layla rolled her eyes, but her cheeks betrayed her with warmth. "Smooth talker."
He chuckled. "I mean it. You could pass for my mum's younger self. Honestly, it's like looking at a photocopy—just… prettier."
She laughed nervously. "So now I look like your mum?"
"Don't twist it," he teased, eyes gleaming. "I said prettier. Much prettier."
The way he looked at her made her stomach flip. Then, casually, he leaned back and said, "Stand up."
"What?"
"Stand up," he repeated with a grin. "Give me a 360° spin. Let me see all of you."
Layla's eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you think I'd just… twirl in front of my camera after you've seen me physically?"
"Because," he said smoothly, "you already know I want to. And deep down, you want me to see."
She shook her head, laughing nervously. "You're crazy." You're always just unimaginable Liam.
"Maybe," Liam said, voice dropping lower. "But you're smiling. Which means you're thinking about it."
She bit her lip, avoiding the camera for a moment. Something about the way he said it—confident but not forceful, teasing but sincere—made her pulse quicken.
"No spinning tonight," she finally said, her voice softer.
"Alright," he murmured, leaning forward until his face filled the screen. "But one day, Layla. One day, you won't even think twice."
The silence stretched, heavy with something unspoken, Layla was feeling comfortable with Liam and Liam was becoming more flirtatious, until she quickly ended the call, pretending it was late.
Her phone buzzed again.
Liam [11:32 PM]:
Goodnight, trouble. Sweet dreams of me. 😉
She smiled in the dark, whispering to herself before falling asleep, "Dangerous man."
After couple of minutes when Liam noticed she'd gone offline, he left her a message that words couldn't say.
Liam [12:45 AM]:
Hey Layla, I need to tell you something that's been sitting on my heart. Every time I think of you, there's this calm that comes over me, like I've found a place where I can just be myself. You make me feel secure in a way I can't explain, and it's rare to find that in someone. I'd really love the chance to explore this connection with you, to date you, and to build something real together. The thought of us sharing moments, laughter, and even the little secrets of life excites me more than I can put into words. You're someone I don't want to just admire from a distance—I want to walk closer with you.
Something tells me it could be the start of something beautiful… and maybe even a little dangerous in the best way 😉.
Liam left the message in shock, not knowing what Layla might feel when she sees it.