Liam didn't expect it, but he hugged her back, burying her face against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back slowly, it was the kind of hug that made them forget almost everything around them.
*****
Some days passed, the decision they made was being normal like nothing happened between them and they did that and they became friends little by little as they started to spend some time now and then.
This day Nova was in her break, the hum of the coffee machine was the only sound in the break room as Nova poured her third cup of the day, the dark liquid filled the mug slowly, the rich aroma rising to meet herm she closed her eyes briefly, savoring the comfort it brought, coffee didn't judge her, didn't ask questions... it was simple and reliable, unlike her chaotic thoughts.
The door creaked open behind her. "You know," Liam's voice drawled from the doorway, "they say too much caffeine makes people jittery."
Nova exhaled a slow breath before turning her head slightly, meeting his amused gaze, he stood leaning casually against the doorframe, his hands tucked into his jeans pockets, the faintest smirk on his lips.
"Is that your subtle way of saying I'm already jittery?" she replied, her tone dry but not unfriendly.
He pushed off the doorframe and sauntered in, his presence instantly filling the small space.
"I'm just looking out for you, maybe switch it up a little... water, tea, a decaf if you're feeling wild."
She turned fully, her mug cradled in her hands like a lifeline. "First of all," she began, her eyes narrowing playfully, "tea is just sad water pretending to be coffee and second, if I switch to decaf, I might actually fall asleep standing up."
Liam chuckled, leaning against the counter beside her. "Touché, but don't come crying to me when you're buzzing through meetings later, if you start talking faster than my drum solos, we'll know why."
Nova took a deliberate sip, her lips quirking into a smirk over the rim of her mug. "I'll take my chances," she said her tone light but firm.
For a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the playful banter lingering in the air. But Nova could feel the weight of his gaze on her, and it made her acutely aware of everything, the way her fingers tightened around her cup, the warmth of the coffee seeping into her palms, the quiet hum of the machine.
She glanced at him, trying to keep her voice casual. "Don't you have a press event to get ready for?"
Liam grinned, tilting his head slightly. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
Nova rolled her eyes, turning back to the counter to grab the creamer. "You're the one who came in here to critique my caffeine choices… if I wanted advice I'd ask someone who drinks more than green smoothies."
He laughed a deep, genuine sound that made her chest tighten. "Okay, fair enough, out for the record, I don't drink green smoothies, they're disgusting."
"That's probably the smartest thing you've said all week," she shot back, her smirk returning.
As she moved to leave, mug in hand, Liam reached out, brushing his fingers against her arm lightly.
"Hey," he said softly.
She froze, her breath hitching at the unexpected contact.
"I meant it, you know," he continued, his voice quieter now. "I was just looking out for you."
Nova swallowed hard, pulling her arm away gently but firmly. "I don't need looking after, Liam," she said, her tone steady but guarded.
He watched her leave, the teasing smile fading from his face as the door swung shut behind her. Left alone in the break room, Liam ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. 'Why did she have to make everything so difficult?' And why couldn't he stop himself from wanting to be near her anyway?
Their friendship continue to be better in Liam's dressing room, it was a mess. Jackets, shirts, and even a stray pair of boots lay scattered across the couch and floor, the rack of clothes in front of him looked daunting, and his frustration was palpable as he tossed yet another shirt onto the growing pile of rejects.
He muttered under his breath, "How is it possible to own these many clothes and have nothing to wear?"
"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, you know."
Liam turned sharply, startled, to find Nova leaning casually against the doorway. She had her arms crossed, her lips curled into an amused smirk.
"You okay in here, or do we need to call in reinforcements?" she teased, tilting her head toward the chaos behind him.
He sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "Nova, I'm desperate, this is what rock-bottom looks like."
Her laugh was soft, but it filled the room like music. "Looks more like a wardrobe exploded." She stepped inside, surveying the mess. "What's going on?"
"Press junket," he said, waving vaguely at the pile of clothes. "Casual but polished, cool but approachable, basically, I'm supposed to look perfect without looking like I tried."
Nova rolled her eyes. "Ah, the impossible standard, no wonder you're spiraling."
"Help me," he pleaded his tone mock-serious. "You're my only hope."
She chuckled and moved toward the rack. "Fine, But if I save you, you owe me coffee for a week."
"Deal," he said quickly.
Nova began flipping through the options, her fingers skimming over fabrics with practiced ease.
"You're overthinking it," she said without looking at him. "You're Liam, people already think you're cool, you just have to show up and breathe."
"Easy for you to say," he muttered, leaning against the wall.
She plucked a sleek black jacket with subtle silver detailing from the rack and held it up.
"This, pair it with a plain white shirt and dark trouser, effortlessly cool without looking like you spent hours deciding."
Liam studied the jacket, and then looked at her. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" she asked, smirking.
"Make me feel like you've got everything figured out while I'm over here drowning in indecision."
Nova's smirk softened into something gentler, but she didn't let the moment linger.
"Years of practice," she said breezily. "Now, try it on so I can see if I've worked a miracle."
He slipped the jacket on turning to face the full-length mirror it fit perfectly, the subtle sheen of the silver catching the light in a way that was both understated and striking.
"Okay," he admitted. "You're good." She crossed her arms, a satisfied glint in her eyes. "Told you, coffee for a week."
"Fine, fine," he said, turning to face her. "You're officially my stylist now."
Nova laughed, shaking her head. "You couldn't afford me."
Liam chuckled, but his gaze lingered on her a moment too long. She was standing so close, her presence steadying yet disarming at the same time.
He cleared his throat and turned back to the mirror. "Thanks, Nova," he said softly.
Her teasing smile faltered for a fraction of a second, replaced by something almost unreadable.
She quickly recovered. "Anytime," she said, stepping back toward the door, as she reached the threshold, she glanced back. "Oh, and don't forget... you owe me coffee."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, flashing her grin.
"And hurry up, we gotta do the magic on that handsome face" She yelled as her voice disappeared.
But as the door swung shut behind her, the grin faded. Liam found himself staring at the empty space where she'd stood, his thoughts swirling with questions he wasn't ready to answer.
A little bit later after she was done with Liam's makeup, Nova was meticulously organizing Liam's clothes, muttering to herself as she hung up the last of his jackets, she couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of her thoughts, 'What if we dated? Living in the same apartment...' She shook her head, amused at her imagination running wild.
But her light mood shattered when the door suddenly opened, Nova froze, her hand still gripping a hanger, as Eva stepped into the room.
"Well, this is... unexpected," Eva said, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe, her tone was light, but her narrowed eyes gave away her suspicion.
"I was just organizing," Nova said quickly, stepping back from the rack.
Eva's lips curved into a tight smile. "Organizing? That's sweet of you, above and beyond, really."
Nova stiffened, unsure how to respond. "I thought Liam might appreciate coming back to a tidy space after a long day."
Eva tilted her head, studying Nova. "You're very thoughtful, but you know, Liam's been handling his own fucking messes for years, he doesn't usually need... help."
Nova clenched her fists, keeping her tone polite. "It's just part of the job."
Eva stepped closer, her smile never reaching her eyes. "I'm sure it is, but a little advice... don't get too comfortable, Liam's world is... complicated, and people who don't belong tend to get hurt."
The words hung in the air like a warning. Nova held her ground, refusing to let Eva see how much the comment stung.
"Thanks for the advice," Nova said coolly. "I'll keep that in mind."
Eva gave her one last lingering look before turning on her heel and walking out, leaving Nova alone with her racing thoughts.