I pursed my lips and gave him a little nod as if to tell him, “that’s right.” He chuckled and moved to stand. It was strange what his absence did to me. Even though he was still in the room, he was no longer right next to me. His hand was no longer holding mine.
For some asinine reason, I missed him. I wanted him close.
I cleared my throat and shoved those thoughts to the back of my mind. Entertaining that desire would lead to mistakes. And mistakes were why I was in this situation. I was done with making mistakes. I needed to create a stable world for Samuel.
Liam’s gaze drifted over to my son before he glanced back at me. “Why don’t you hang out here with little man. He’s passed out, which is probably a good thing. I’ll head back out there and finish up.”
I shifted my weight to stand. “Okay, I’ll?—”
“Sabrina.” Liam’s voice was low and commanding. “Stay here.” I parted my lips to protest, but he hurried to add, “That’s an order.”
I pursed my lips and glared at him. I was his assistant. He was paying me to be there for him. Samuel was asleep, and he was a sound sleeper. I could stand far enough away from the stage so he’d stay asleep but close enough to be of assistance if Liam needed me.
Liam had his hand out and his eyebrows raised as if waiting for confirmation. So I sighed and collapsed back against the couch.
“Fine,” I grumbled, making sure that he understood from my tone and the look on my face that I was not happy with what he was asking me to do.
Liam’s expression was smug. “Good.” He glanced around. “I’ll come back for you when we’re done.” He started making his way to the door.
I parted my lips to protest once again.
“It’s an order!” he called over his shoulder while pointing his finger toward the ceiling.
I glared at him, but that didn’t stop him or cause him to change his mind. Instead, he closed the door behind him and left me alone in his dressing room.
For the next five minutes, I stared hard at the door in front of me. I wanted to get up and march out there. I wanted to prove to him that I could be both a mom and his assistant. I wanted to go out there and prove to everyone in that auditorium that I could do it all. That Sabrina Orion didn’t need help.
But I was also obedient, and I knew Liam wanted me here. Plus, Samuel was completely passed out. The last thing I ever wanted to do was wake a sleeping baby.
My body began to relax into the plush couch, and my eyes slowly drifted closed. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out when I was startled awake by knocking on the door. I glanced around, trying to get my bearings before I called out a weak, “Come in.”
I waited as the handle turned and the door slowly opened. A girl I’d never seen before with jet black hair and rainbow-rimmed glasses appeared. She was carrying a set of headphones. “Sabrina?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yep,” I said as I cleared my throat and scooted myself up so I was sitting. Samuel squeaked and wiggled but didn’t wake. “That’s me,” I said, turning my attention back to her.
She looked relieved. “Great.” She pushed further into the room with her hand extended, holding out the headphones. “Liam wanted”—her gaze dropped to Samuel, and her voice instantly dropped in volume as her cheeks turned pink—“me to give these to you.” She was whispering now. “I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head as I reached out and took the headphones from her. “It’s okay,” I said before I frowned. “These are for?”
She nodded toward Samuel. “The baby, I’m guessing. They’re noise canceling.”
“Ah.” I felt stupid for having to ask. I glanced at Samuel and then to the headphones. “He had you get these?” I was trying not to feel offended. Picking things up for Liam—even if it was inevitably for me—was my job. It was a hit to my pride that he was asking someone else to run his errands.
“I’m in the sound booth. We have lots.”
Well, that was better. It made me feel a little less useless. I set them down on the cushion next to me. “Thanks.”
She gave me a soft smile and a quick nod before she slipped out of the room.
I was fully awake now, and my mind was reeling. I knew I shouldn’t let it bother me. I knew that Liam was just trying to help. But it made me feel not only useless, but like I was a hinderance for him. I interrupted his rehearsals. I caused him to ask other people for help. I was supposed to make his life easier, not harder.
I grabbed my phone and swiped it on. I was going to spend the rest of Samuel’s nap researching Liam. I was going to be the best darn assistant there was.
I no longer just wanted to…I had to.
11
LIAM
