Page 89 of Seeking Stars
He sat on one of the bar stools. Her space was a lot smaller than his; it didn't have a proper dining area, just the island-slash-breakfast bar and a living room. He watched Ana and Ely as they worked in complete harmony, the kind of ease of movement that came from knowing each other for so long.
"So, tell me, Liam," Ely said. "What's your favorite thing about Ana?"
"Ely…" Ana warned, handing him a mug.
"C'mon. I have to play the best friend role. I'm not going to threaten him or anything— maybe just a little— and I do want to hear him gush about you."
"You can go ahead, Ely. I expected this." He sighed and took a sip of his coffee, eyes fixed on Ana's best friend. "My favorite thing is the long conversations we have. How introspective she is. That I feel I can open up to her and that that's gonna be okay."
Ely's eyes softened and she smiled for an instant, before the teasing gleam returned to her eyes. "Fair. I like that you had such an immediate answer. She's amazing that way."
Liam checked in on Ana, who bit her lip as she stole glances at him and her best friend, but returned to Ely when she continued with her questions.
"What about that ass, though?"
Liam laughed and Ana groaned. She put down her head and focused on shredding cheese.
"That too," he said. "Her thighs make me weak. And I live for her smile."
Ely grinned at him. She grabbed a red pepper with one hand and a big knife with the other. She cut the top of the fruit in one swift motion.
"Ana, I think he's going to do just fine." Ely casually pointed the knife in his direction for a few seconds, before cutting the pepper in two. "Aren't you?"
"I'm going to do my best."
"And you're doing your worst, Ely," Ana added. Ana filled her mug with coffee and drank half of it at once.
"Oh, stop it. This is all pretty standard best friend behavior."
"Are you actually uncomfortable?" Liam asked Ana.
"Yeah, she is," Ely answered. Ana cracked some eggs into a bowl as Ely finished chopping the pepper. "So I will only say one more thing. For all of your good looks, for what it's worth, I'm sure that's not her favorite thing about you."
To his surprise, it was Ana that said, "What doyouthink is my favorite thing about him?"
She added milk, spices, cheese, and the results of Ely's work to the bowl, and mixed it all together.
"Part of me wants to joke and say his clear stamina," Ely replied, cleaning the knife slowly and putting it away. Ana and Liam laughed. "But I'll answer the question. I think your favorite thing about him is that you can talk to him for hours, and that he's somehow getting you to try new things, take some risks."
Ana gazed at him, studying him, a sweet smile confirming Ely's words. He smiled in response, before the curve on Ana's lips turned playful.
"And his stamina," Ana joked.
Both Ana and Ely continued to work on the food, Ana focusing on the omelet and Ely on the arepas, creating a short silence.
"I'm sure you have an opinion about me already," Liam said. "I know it's going to matter to Ana a lot, so I have to admit that I'm hoping to make a good enough impression."
"I trust you're a good guy. Ana wouldn't like you if you weren't. Just keep at it and I'll like you well enough. I do have a question for you, though."
"Hit me."
"You have a brother. Would I like him?"
Ana's laughter exploded, before she slapped Ely's shoulder.
Liam sniggered. "Physically, or as a person?"
"Uh oh, this doesn't bode well," Ely said, absentmindedly rubbing her shoulder.
