Free Thirty-Eight Days by Len Webster

attached . Come on, Liam! You haven't had sex in ages, and I know because you haven't brought a girl home in weeks. And don't give me that shit about how you go back to theirs. I know you. You don't like to stay over," Maggie explained. Clara couldn't help but listen, her eyes moving to their reflection.
    "Maggie, I told you. I'm not interested in being your fuck buddy. That's not what I want, so drop it!" Liam replied, disinterested.
    Clara couldn't believe what she was hearing. Liam was turning down a desperate woman, practically begging him to be in her bed.
    “I don't believe you, Liam." Maggie raised her eyebrow. It was probably the only time she was ever getting a no from a guy. 
    “Believe me, I'm not interested in you or anyone. So don't even try," he replied with conviction.
    "Who is she?" she pried, twiddling her apricot locks between her fingers.
    "What do you mean?" he asked. Clara removed her glare from their reflection and looked towards them. She wanted to know what Maggie meant, too.
    "You would only ever say no to sex if you were interested in actually being in a relationship with someone. And you don't want to slim your chances at that relationship," Maggie said as she made eye contact with Clara. She watched as Maggie's eyes reflected with understanding. Liam followed Maggie's curious gaze and his landed on Clara's.
    "Clara," he said out loud. He never broke their eye contact when he spoke. "I'll see you later, Maggie," Liam said as he stepped away from her.
    "Don't bother. I actually understand, Liam," Maggie called out. She nodded to Clara and walked back to the elevator.
    Clara wasn't sure what to say. She was as confused as Liam was over Maggie's comments. Liam made his way towards her and she started to scrunch the pamphlet between her fingers.
    "Hi," she managed to say when he was a foot or so in front of her. His concerned eyes inspected her.
    "What's wrong?" he asked as a frown started to form. Liam searched her eyes for something, but she looked away.
    "Nothing," she replied, forcing the best smile she could muster.
    "Don't lie to me. Please don't, because you're killing me with that sad look right now," Liam said softly.
    She looked at a pamphlet on the desk, desperately trying to distract herself from Liam's questioning glare.
    "Clara, look at me, please." His voice was saddened and strained. She couldn't stand to see him like this.
    Clara let out a heavy sigh. "Why do you bother with me, Liam?" she asked with more pain in her voice than she intended.
    Liam gently placed a hand on her face and then another. It was intimate and the way his eyes fixated on hers made her look deep into his hazel ones. "Why do I bother, Clara?" he asked, surprised.
    She simply nodded in his hands. A brittle smile etched his face.
    "Because it kills me to see you like this, seeing you so sad. I don't want to see you this sad. I want to make you happy. That’s why I bother, Clara. You are worth every bother."
    Clara tensed, her face filled with surprise. It wasn't just flirting. Liam had never said anything so deep and intimate. It was more than she was ever expecting.
    "You don't mean that, Liam," she assured him as a soft smile touched her lips. The pulse in his wrist made contact with her skin. Something stirred inside of her. He was starting to get to her. Her heart expanded and fluttered at the same time. The feeling was unusual to her.
    "I do, Clara. With every bone in me, I do," he confessed, and his forehead rested on hers. Liam closed his eyes, and she was shocked. He didn't try to kiss her; instead, he just comforted her.
    He didn't push her to act on his confession, and she liked that. She just let them stay like this; she shouldn't have, but she did. She closed her eyes and let Liam hold her. Clara forgot what it was like to be embraced in such a way. She missed the closeness and intimacy Liam offered.
    The ding from the elevator made her aware thatsomeone was watching, but she didn't care. Liam's hand