Page 10 of Love in Times of Contempt

Liam scoffed. "Tonight, actually. Ana and I are going to my parents' house for a visit. We're driving out of LA in a couple of hours."

She took a sip of water from the glass she always kept nearby, then nodded. "See how it feels, and consider asking him about his painting if you like. Only he can tell you what's going on."

"He'll just tell me to mind my own business."

"If you care enough about mending your relationship with him, then give him the opportunity to prove you wrong. At the very least, you'll be showing him you care about how he's doing, and that you're open to talking with him, if he's willing to open up."

Chapter Four

A FEW HOURS AFTER Liam's return from therapy, Ana sat in his car while he found some music to put on the stereo for their trip. The gate to his house— their house? When was she supposed to start calling it their place?— took the journey to automatically close behind them.

"So, we're gonna be living together soon." Ana adjusted her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, and Liam got the car moving in the direction of San Luis Obispo. "The house is yours, of course, but if it's going to be our home… should I start paying some of the bills? More than I have to date with food and stuff. Once I move out from my old place I won't have to keep it going, so I could relocate my bills here."

After a year in the neighborhood, Ana recognized most of the houses around, and could even spot her favorite ornamental flowers in front of some of them.

"Sure, we should look at the expenses and see what you can take over." He shoulder-checked as he changed lanes. "Just don't suggest we split expenses in the middle, okay?"

Ana snorted. "I won't suggest that because I don't think I could afford it, but I'd like to do a bit."

"We can look into that." He stole a look at her. "You won't feel weird about my money now, will you?"

"No, not really." She shrugged. "I'd like to do my part on the practical and financial aspects of being together and living together, but since you have more money, you can pay more. We can keep it proportional. I can keep my independence. I'll get a salary from Jump Cannon and my films and I can keep my own bank account; pay for what I need. Though of course you can use your money to give me expensive gifts once in a while if you'd like."

He chuckled. "Is that a suggestion?"

The views changed fast. Big, fancy houses gave way to more dense buildings, and soon Liam drove them through busy city roads.

The intermittent sound of the blinkers filled the car as they waited to turn.

Ana smiled. "I mean, couples gift things to each other, right? I might not be able to afford the kind of gifts you could give me, but I'll be giving you things, too."

The car moved again, and Liam did that thing turning the wheel with the palm of his hand that, for some reason, looked so damn hot. "I was thinking of getting you a car."

Heat disappeared, replaced by a sudden cool stillness inside of her. "A car?"

"I travel so much that we haven't had a lot of problems sharing this one, but now that your whole life will happen here, better to have two. No?"

"Uhm. Right." She gulped. "I was thinking like, earrings for a party. A car feels so… settled."

They reached one of the last traffic lights before getting on the freeway; Ana stared at the crimson glass, without blinking, until her eyes glazed over.

A few seconds had probably ticked by. Liam's voice held a careful tone. "And is that a problem?"

"No. Of course not." Ana blinked sense into herself again. "I should probably get used to stuff like that."

The light changed and they gained speed, silence between them for a minute. Something big was building in this conversation.

Liam drummed the fingers of one hand against the wheel. "What about five years from now? Ten? Will we keep separate accounts forever?"

Ana stared at him, studying his face. "Uhm… you want to make decisions about that today? We don't know if anything's gonna change in five years."

"Change like… what?" He frowned, the wrinkles at the top of his nose barely visible in his profile.

He flicked the blinkers on again as he approached the merge with the freeway.

Ana shrugged, eyes still on him. "Finances. How we separate things."

"Oh, I see." He seemed to take a deep breath. "It's just that at some point you may have rights over my stuff. Or vice versa. Might make more sense to have a joint account as well."