Love shines in your eyes

 Carrie didn't know what Liam was waiting for. J and Stevie left soon after cake and coffee. She'd even cut him a chunk of it and put it in a to-go container. Really, she didn't want to have any of it left. She knew Holly would eat it and she didn't need it. 

"Thanks for coming," she said but wasn't sure what else she could say. After all, he did look like he'd withered some storm with J.

He was coy. She wondered how he would be toward her at the shop now. He would probably not be as funny as he used to be. She had to admit he looked handsome when he didn't smile, yet she enjoyed it when he was most animated. She wondered if he saw this in her too. It was always best to be serious, but finding someone to be silly with was good.

Of course, Stevie was the best when it came to such scenarios. She did love that he could make her laugh, no matter what. Oh, if she could find that kind of fun with Holly but she was being her perturbed self, as of late. Who was on her mind? Or was she only thinking of herself and getting ahead, somehow?

Liam nodded as if he would leave immediately, but he sighed and turned back to her, holding the boxed cake ever so carefully.

"I do need to talk to you," he whispered.

"Me?" She looked at him blankly. He was only a co-worker. What was he about to confess? She was his work-wife or something. 

"I just don't think I can talk to you here." He looked over her shoulder and saw Holly in the background.

"Oh." She guessed she could follow him outside, but she grabbed her phone and her bag as precaution. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any consequences as when J and Liam were outside.

So she followed him out into the cold October night. After all, it was almost Halloween. But no practicing trick or treaters about. 

It was then she noticed her brother's car under the streetlight. It startled her. A rush of excitement and pain filled her to the core. She wanted to turn back.

"Get in," It didn't sound like an order. Yet it felt like an automatic prompt. That she would do whatever he asked. Oh, she was sure she was an idiot just like Holly said.

But he drove away from Holly's and they went on the familiar route that she knew. Within a few minutes, she was home, her childhood home. 

Of course, not one word from Liam. She couldn't imagine why they were there, but he got out the key and unlocked the front door.

"Who are you?" She looked at him wide-eyed as if he might be a ghost, but was he of the past or the future?

"Just a friend of your brother's," Liam finally admitted.

But her brother wasn't home. She pressed her lips tight wondering what this meant.

"He's..he's gotten into some trouble," Liam told her. "I dunno if..if I can do anything. He said I could stay here and well, it is your house. You should be here."

"Oh." She smiled with relief.

"But..but I don't want you to be alone," he told her. "At least not right now." After all, he was staying in her brother's room.

Carrie kept smiling. It really felt like Christmas, but it was only Halloween.