Flames Of Passion In Los Angeles

*Liam POV*

I prepare Ana my promised tea, along with some light breakfast since she just got sick. Once I cooked the breakfast, I lay it out onto the big dining table before taking my place and waiting for Ana. She should be here any minute now...

I look down at my plate, admiring all the beautiful patterns and shapes printed on the ceramic dish.

My attention was abruptly caught by someone running down the stairs, and someone - of course - being Ana.

"Careful, don't fall!" I warn her. Even though I can't see her face, I can feel the eye roll that she gave me.

Finally, she enters the kitchen.

"Sorry, it took me so long...". I can see her cheeks slightly reddened, which I can only assume is from her rush.

"No, don't worry about it. Are you feeling better now?". Even I can hear how concerned I sound about Ana, making me slightly cringe.

" I... I am fine, now..." she replies. "I will speculate it is only the jet lag...".

"You have never experienced jet lag, have you?".

She shakes her head.

"Well... I can reassure you, it will go away within a day or two, a week max.".

"Yay..." she cheers... sarcastically, resulting in me in snickering.

"Come, sit. I have your tea and breakfast here and after that, we can make out way over to the hospital, okay?".

She just nods. I watch her as she walks towards the dining chair opposite to me before pulling it out and taking her seat.

"Thank you... Liam.".

My eyes are still on her. "Why?..." I ask her, amused.

"Because of this... because you let me stay here... I don't know what I would have done if I was to go back to James's and be there alone. That is why I am thankful... to you...". I could tell that she meant every word she said, it made me happy that I got to help her, in a way.

"Well... you are very welcome. Besides, we are now technically considered family, right?".

I can see her smiling. " Not just yet, Liam... not just yet.".

I look at her as she looks at me.

I clear my throat before speaking. "As I said, your tea is here along with some breakfast...".

" Thank you...".

"No problem..." I reply. "Enjoy!" I add, gesturing with my hands.

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*Ana POV*

After breakfast, both Liam and I get ready before making our way to his car.

I wanted to talk to him about what happened last night... but I couldn't... I am hoping that I can, at least... start up a miniature discussion about it while in the car.

"Are we ready?" I hear Liam's voice beside me right before he powers up the engine of the car.

"Yes, " I nod my head.

"Okay... let's go.". Slowly, we begin moving.

Should I ask him? Should I talk to him about it... I mean, of course, I do... but is now the right time?...

"Why are you so quiet? Usually, you would be... loud, talking...".

"So the teasing is back again, is it?".

He turns before looking into my eyes. "You bet...".

I look away as a small smile grows on my face.

"But now really, are you okay?".

I nod, I can't even look at him because... because I am lying to him. I am not okay. What is James finds out that I have been mingling with his brother? He will leave me, leave me for good.

"You really think that I'd fall for that?..." his voice is so soft... forgiving.

I turn to him. "Part of me thought so... yes...".

"Okay..." he begins before slowing down and stopping at a traffic light. "Tell me... what is so bad that you don't want me to be a part of or just don't want me to know?".

I look at him before breaking into a small giggle. "If it was only that easy...".

"Think of it like this. I can't help you if I don't know what it's about.".

I take a deep breath. If now is not the best time, then I don't know when it will be...

" So... yesterday..." I begin.

"Yes?... Is this about that kiss?... because if it is, I think I did say my sorry and I did say that I will not hit on you ever again...".

"O-Okay..." I mutter out. "It's not that...". Okay, here come nothing.

"Just say it, you are getting me concerned...".

"Why me?" I ask.

"Why you? What are you on about?" he asks me back, confused.

"Why do you love me?".

Silence.

I see him nod slightly as he smirks to himself.

"So you heard me..." he begins, before turning to me. "Did you?".

"Yes..." I reply. I feel myself going slightly numb.

He just smirks.

"Do you love me?..." I am eager to know his answer. "Do you?...".

" What will you do if I say, 'yes, yes I do'?".

I roll my eyes. "I don't know, slap you... hit you?..." I reply.

"Then do it...".

" Why?..." I ask him, tears acc.u.mulating in my eyes.

"Do it... hit me and just get this over with...".

I feel more and more tears acc.u.mulating in my eyes right before... drop... one rolls down my face and onto my jeans.

"So you do love me...".

Silence...

"How could I not, Ana? Tell me... how could I not love you?". I can tell that he is regretting all the kisses, all the cuddles, the whispers... it is because of all of that that he fell for me... and I sure as hell fell for him too.

"Do yourself a favour and get over me... Forget me... because all I will bring you is pain. Just... forget me...". I know what he will say...

"Forget? Me to forget a woman like you?... Do you know how rare it is to find a person like you? I'd rather have no-one than to not have you. Do you understand?".

I understand... I nod to show him that I understand.

I understand because I know how it feels when you find love at a wrong place, at a wrong time.

"I am going to admit it... I am jealous...". His words echo in my head.

"Jealous of what?".

"Jealous of him... James. Jealous that I didn't meet you before he did. Jealous that I didn't share my first kiss with you before he did.Jealous that I didn't make you mine before he did.".

His words cause more tears to roll down my face as he pressed the gas pedal down, speeding the car up.

"You shouldn't be jealous of him..." I reply.

"Yeah... I know I shouldn't. I should be happy that he found someone loving in his life. That he found someone that cares about him in his life. That he found you...".

"You know, you give me too much credit. You are saying too many kind things. I don't deserve half of them.".

"No... No, you don't..." He replies.

I look at him in slight surprise that he agreed with me.

"You deserve so much more... you know that?... I am just confused and angry that I can't show you what I see. The person that I see sitting beside me.".

I wait for a second. I wait for all of this to sink in.

"Why do you feel like this about me?" I ask.

"Because... because it just feels right... I know it is wrong what I am doing to you and my brother, but it just feels so right to be around you, to love you.".

"You made me feel something I haven't felt in a very long time. You made me feel and remember how love really feels. The last time I felt like this was when I was with Grace. When we were happy and together..." he adds.

"I am sorry... you two looked like a great couple...".

"Yeah... Yeah, I know...".

Minutes later, we arrive at the medical centre.

"Here we are..." Liam says, turning off the engine before getting out of the car. I get out of the car before following him towards the entrance of the medical centre.

Upon pushing open and walking into the centre, I instantly get hit by the strong doctor smell, that smell caused my stomach to flip and turn once again.

"Are you okay?" I hear Liam's voice in front of me.

I nod to try and reassure him, but it does not happen...

"No, you are not good at all...".

Just then.

"Ana... Liam, hey!!" We get greeted by Grace. When I hug her, her perfume causes my nausea to intense to another level.

"Toilet..." is what I manage to blurt out. When I look up at them both, they had their eyes wide open before Grace began to lead me somewhere... the toilets I hope.

We arrive within seconds. Just in time. I feel my stomach goop rise once again.

"Here they are... call me if you need anything!".

I rush inside, running into a stall before bending over the bowl, letting my stomach goop shoot out my mouth. Well... there goes my breakfast.

I quickly get cleaned up before meeting Liam and Grace outside the bathroom. They do look cute together...

"Are you better now?" Grace asks.

I nod my head, I genuinely do feel better.

"Grace and I were just talking, I think it will be the best for her to do a quick checkup on you, okay?".

"But what about all the other patients?" I ask.

"I don't have any, well I didn't have any until now... please follow me.".

"H-how much do I have to pay you?" I inquire Grace.

"Don't worry Ana. I got this, I'll pay, " Liam tells me.

"Are you sure Liam?".

"Positive".

"Okay, let's go, " Grace looks back at us with a big smile before leading up to a room when she will do the checkup.

I am settled in a room, smaller than I expected, but I sit on the examination bed, waiting for Grace.

"Sorry, I had to do something, okay, so let's get the check-up started.".

Grace checks my breathing, ears, mouth. I go into a bathroom to urinate in a cup before returning the cup to Grace.

A sudden knock interrupted us. Liam.

"Hope you don't mind me being here, I'll be quiet.".

I look over towards Grace who nods as she looks at her instruments. Next, she walks over to a countertop. Her body covers the view of what she is doing, but within a minute she is done.

"Everything is fine, the jet lag is the one and really the only factor why you are feeling sick. Rest, rest, rest! I promise you, you will feel so much better.".

I nod.

"Grace, thank you so much. I owe you a coffee..." I tell her.

"No, you don't, " Liam says, dominantly.

"Why is that so?".

"Because I said I was going to pay, Ana...".

" I still owe her from yesterday, the hot chocolate.".

"I'll pay for that too..." he replies.

I roll my eyes. "So I can't spend money on anything, can I?".

"You don't even have any Ameican Dollars... I am assuming...".

Oh, ohhh okay, I'll show him. Telling me how I don't have any money.

I reach for my wallet, but once I open it... He is correct...

I hear him chuckle in victory.

"So... you two are now fighting because of money?".

We both look at Grace who is looking at us, waiting for an answer. She rolls her eyes seconds later.

"Come on you two, get out...".

"But what about the money?".

"It was a basic check-up, don't worry about it. Besides, you could repay us with that coffee, Liam. Eh?".

He raises his eyebrow before heading out the door.

Grace leads us to James's room. Once we reach his room, I look through the big, glass window and I see him, lying on the bed, still asleep.

She opens the door for us, allowing Liam and me in.

"Again, I am so sorry that this happened..." she tells us before giving us a small hug.

"If you need me, I'll be at the reception, " she adds.

"Thank you, Grace... Thank you so much...". I can see a smile form on her lips as she continues looking at me.

"I just like helping people, that's all..." she replies. "Anyway, I'll see you guys in a bit.".

Once Grace leaves the room we turn our attention to James. When we reach his bed, I take a seat on the chair that is left to the bed and Liam sits on the chair to the right.

The moment my eyes land on James's face, in that instant, I forget everything around me. I now only see him.

I keep on looking at him, admiring his masculine features on his face. His shaven face looks so soft, so touchable. Needless to say, I want to hug him again...

Suddenly, I see him move, but slightly, that was right before he opened his eyes.

I can't help but smile as I am relieved that he is alive, that he didn't leave me...

When his eyes land on mine, he gives me that familiar feeling that I haven't felt in what seemed like ages. My insides begin twisting and turning as I welcome the familiar feeling.

"Hey..." I gently whisper to him, c.a.r.e.s.sing his soft, shaved cheek. It is all I need to make my heart flutter...

"Hey..." he replies with a smile growing on his face. He then takes my hand before pressing my hand on his lips and kissing it.

I bend down towards him, kissing his forehead before giving him a gentle hug.

"Promise me you will never do that again..." I tell him, not being able to withdraw the tears. "... I thought you were going to leave me...".

James gently shakes his head, "you know I am never going to leave you... but I promise... I love you, Ana...".

He looks up into my eyes as I look down into his. I give his left cheek a quick smooch before sitting back up.

I look at Liam, who is looking at me before dropping his eyes down to James.

"Hey, baby brother.".

"Liam?...".

Liam smiles at him.

"That's me, the one and only...".