Part 4

Fluffy and not super long. Thank you for reading, as per. More will follow soon ish.

The sun came up earlier than he remembered it and that was more proof that he rarely saw this bit of morning than some grander change in celestial behaviour.

Blinking away a bit of sleep, he moved over to see Carla curled up on his shoulder, a large pillow tucked between them so she'd not roll on her side - which she'd said felt like murder.

This was her last day in the hotel - a place she said she'd miss, a place he'd damn well miss too for all it allowed him to do.

He had to use the loo, he wanted to brush his teeth and get some water but he didn't feel like he could move her. She was rarely so peaceful and the week ahead couldn't be much to look forward to considering he'd just blown up her marriage by sharing his suspicions of Paul - albeit in the most pathetic and half-hearted way. And hardly a revelation apparently.

But her things were there and her place was so comfortable - it was her. He knew she'd not have the strength to fully move about - even Carla with all her conniving brilliance hadn't thought it through totally. How would Paul not figure out her pain was not from some cosmetic procedure and why the fuck hadn't he thought to come here himself by now.

He knew half the answers to everything and the totality of nothing. It was always that way for him.

She moved a little to her back and sighed. He laughed at how a sight like this years ago - when they were always together as mates and faux enemies would have undone him in the most teenage boy of ways.

Now, of course, he didn't doubt - hell, he knew - that she still had that cursed effect on him, but this week, this moment, all he could think about was making sure she was free of pain. In every way.

While there was little he could do to mitigate her "organ scrape" as she called it, he was damn sure going to try and play interference with his brother. She needed some comfort, some relative calm before the storm hit and he would make sure she got that.

He felt a bit like a daft man playing hero, but if anyone would both mock him and applaud him for it, it would be her.

She moved again and this time opened her eyes. "What time is it? And please tell me you weren't staring at me… sleeping beauty, I ain't."

He smirked and shook his head. "I am kind of freaked out by surgery, so yeah I observe a bit out of worry. Sue me."

She smiled widely and stretched gently before sitting up. "I am home tomorrow."

"I know."

"I don't want any drama Liam, you hear me. I'm not ready to fight the shitty good fight as it were… not in the state I'm in. I always thought I'd be wearing heels if I left him, you know. And I can't really handle that pressure on me back just yet."

"You always thought you'd wear heals?" He nearly laughed as he raised a brow.

"Yeah… I have outfits planned for most big events in life. Classy hot aunt for Ryan's wedding. Depending on when he gets married. I mean I won't be 70 in summat Liz MacDonald would wear but, you know… and, okay she is your mother and you love her blah blah, so I'lll spare you my 'Helen's wake outfit' - spoiler: it's red."

At this he laughed.

"And for your wedding…." She paused and half laughed. "Well…"

"My wedding to who?" He pulled a face and at that moment he was the 21 year old boy she'd known so well.

"Whom," she corrected. "Actually no it's not… actually, I dunno." She smiled. "I mean I could wear a paper bag and show up anyone who is your bride so I was thinking a beekeeping suit to be kind."

"Get your arse up and shower before I leave in case you fall."

"I won't fall, I'm fine Lee."

"Just go get ready. We'll walk downstairs for brekkie today to see how you fair."

"Yes sir," She gave a sexy salute a little too jovially and there it was. That feeling. Well, he was wrong to think he'd only feel a nursemaid even now.

"Leebugs?"

15 minutes later and he was roused from his reverie to her annoying and cute nickname for him.

She peaked out of the washroom and stuck wet an naked arm out.

"What?" He pretended not to need to clear his throat.

"I forgot the robe. The fluffy one. It's still tossed on the chair at the desk. Can you grab it and hand it to me?"

He was silent for one beat too long.

"I mean I could waltz out like this but wet floors etc…."

She made an evil grin, he knew it was just like it always was, she knew exactly what she was and wasn't saying.

Maybe for once he should be as calculated.

"You're leaving soon so it's fine. Maids won't care. Go ahead." He smirked and crossed his arms.

She exhaled and grumbled then dropped her head. "Got me. I am not ready to tease anyone even at all yet…. "

"Don't play a player, Carr."

"As if!" She smiled and made the gimme motion with her hand and he went to fetch the fluffy robe.

"I'm famished. Get ready fast will ya," he said.

"Oh aye, 'e's 'ungry….." She muttered. "I see how pity for the pitiful and poorly only lasts a few days."

Within a moment she was out in her silly robe.

"But for real - and you know I hate being real sometimes -" She stepped towards him. "Thank you, you big lummux. I don't know what I'd have done without you. Well get more peace and quiet maybe but." She winked at him and he nodded and ruffled her wet hair.

"Ta and blah blah blah...just get ready while I use the loo okay. Breakfast awaits."

Breakfast was the usual. She wasn't hungry enough but wanted bites of everything. All the better if it was off his plate. And the usual for him too, which was hungry and then listening to comments on how despite how fit he always had been dad bod lay ahead if he didn't cool it.

Some young woman at the next table shook her head when she heard Carla say that and Carla pulled a face "My bad… I forgot how sensitive literally everyone is to everything."

"You sound like an old man." He joked, sipping more coffee.

"Well it ain't like I was shaming some poor sod I didn't know. It's YOU, no matter what time and place, I reserve the right to shame you!"

She reached for his coffee and he swatted her away.

"Hot water or herbal tea only, you said yourself you didn't want more pain… "

"It's been a week, I. am. fine. Gimme."

She drank from his cup, leaving some lipstick residue and smiled. By looking at her you'd never know she was in any pain. "Feeling terrible is no excuse for looking terrible," she'd said on more than one occasion.

"Okay, well i see you are almost back in working order, so that's good."

"You can go Liam, seriously. I am all good… well not great but I am now able to manage basics. Like taking a lift (which I did on me own before by the way) and grabbing my wheely case and taking a taxi…."

"How can you pack, I know it still hurts when you bend over. I see you flinch."

"I will ask the maid for assistance. Obviously."

"No, you were going to suffer and do it yourself..., as always."

"Go. On. Now."

"I can be late for work," he said dismissively.

"You already are late. And you've missed more than a day. Please just go before Paul asks questions. I know how rubbish you are at lying. Unlike him."

"I can lie."

"Sure, love," Another sip of coffee and a roll of her eyes.

"I can lie."

"I know your life hasn't exactly been full of subterfuge and you haven't needed to and that's okay."

There were two aspects of his life she had no clue about. One was too horrible to repeat and burdon her with, the other. The other wasn't going to be said no matter how much he felt like saying it.

There'd always been that one giant secret between them and that perfect bit of tension too. Maybe when he was evasive she read it as a sulk, but he was okay with that. He had to be.

Desperation to tell her - admittedly his best friend no matter what people thought - about the worst night of his life was strong. But he would not. He would not ruin everyone's life for fake absolution from her. If she would even be able to give that.

After packing her things, she insisted on getting her own taxi. He really didn't want her going home alone but when she put her foot down, it was down and not to be moved.

So he went to work and back to his life on the cobbles. Back to being number two to his brother, back to a factory full of cackling hens and dim-witted dates he likely deserved. Back to being the frenemy brother in law to all who observed them and back to lying.

He'd miss that cozy and stupidly expensive hotel room and the strange freedom it had brought him.

Tbc.

(Ride leave them all behind song)