Part 3

Tanya stretched in bed, her body still feeling the afterglow of the night before, and smiled when she saw Liam across the room. He was standing by the closet, putting on a shirt. His hair was still slightly tousled, and he looked up at her with that same warm smile that had always made her feel at home.

"Good morning," she said, her voice husky from the night's lingering intensity.

"Morning," he replied, buttoning his shirt. "I'm about to make breakfast. You in a hurry to be anywhere?"

Tanya shook her head lazily. "Nope, nowhere to be. I want to enjoy this morning with you. And you said you wanted to show me something after we eat, right?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah. I think you'll like it."

They moved to the kitchen, where the smell of sizzling sausage and eggs soon filled the air. Tanya sat at the small table, watching as Liam moved around with practiced ease. She glanced around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The house hadn't changed much since the last time she'd visited years ago, back when they were just kids. It was still filled with warmth, memories, and that unmistakable sense of home she hadn't felt in a long time.

Her eyes landed on the family photos hanging on the walls and the little knick-knacks scattered around. She could almost see the younger versions of them, running around the backyard, pretending to be pirates or superheroes.

"You've kept the place nice," Tanya said, taking in the spotless countertops and dust-free shelves. "It still feels like your parents live here."

Liam chuckled as he set a plate of food down in front of her. "Yeah, I try to keep it clean. Just in case they come to visit. But they've moved to Florida now. Retired and enjoying the sun while I hold down the fort."

"That's nice of them," she said, taking a bite of her eggs. "It feels so… nostalgic here. Like a piece of our past is frozen in time."

Liam sat down across from her, nodding as he poured them each a cup of coffee. "Yeah, I've held onto a lot of the stuff from back then. I guess I like remembering the good times."

After breakfast, Liam stood up, wiping off his hands. "I'll go grab those things I wanted to show you."

Tanya watched as he disappeared up the stairs, leaving her in the quiet, sunlit kitchen. She took another look around, her eyes landing on an old baseball glove perched on a shelf in the corner, next to a framed photo of Liam and his dad at a game. A wave of emotion hit her unexpectedly—the memories of their childhood, the simplicity of those days.

Moments later, Liam returned, his arms full of dusty boxes and a couple of old photo albums balanced on top. He set them on the kitchen table, dusting off the tops with a grin.

"You remember these?" he asked, flipping open the first album.

Tanya's eyes lit up when she saw the pictures. There they were—little versions of themselves, grinning with gap-toothed smiles, playing dress-up, riding bikes, and getting into mischief. Liam had always been the one with the camera when he is not in the shot, even back then, capturing every silly, carefree moment.

"Oh my god," she breathed, her fingers tracing the edge of one photo. It was a picture of them, maybe eleven years old, sitting under a tree in the backyard, both wearing crowns made of construction paper. "I remember this! We were pretending to be royalty that day."

Liam laughed. "Yeah, and you were the queen. You bossed me around the whole time."

Tanya playfully nudged him. "Well, some things never change."

As they went through more photos, a warmth spread between them, a reminder of all the years they'd shared. The room filled with their laughter and stories, each picture sparking a memory or a joke from their childhood. Some photos were blurry or crooked, evidence of Liam's early attempts at photography. Others were carefully composed, showing glimpses of the talent he would later hone into his career.

"I can't believe you still have all these," Tanya said softly, her fingers brushing over one particularly old photo of them at the beach, Liam's arm slung casually over her shoulders.

"I couldn't throw them away," Liam said. "They're a part of who I am. And of us."

Tanya's heart skipped a beat at his words. She met his gaze, seeing the tenderness in his eyes. There was something about looking back at those memories that made everything feel… simpler. Easier. Like they could go back to those carefree days whenever they wanted, just by opening a dusty old album.

Liam smiled as he pulled out an old middle school photo of Tanya, pointing at it with a playful glint in his eyes. "Check out this picture of you from that play you were in. You were a cat fairy granting wishes."

Tanya laughed, her eyes lighting up as she remembered. "Oh my god! I totally forgot about that. That was my first big role. I was so nervous, but I loved every minute of it."

"You were perfect for it," Liam said, his voice sincere. "I took so many pictures of that play. I think I ran out of film by the end."

"Can I see more?" she asked, curiosity bubbling over. Liam handed her the box of loose polaroids, and she began flipping through them, her smile growing wider with each picture. "Wow, I forgot about all these! Look at us—we were just kids!"

Liam nodded, watching her joy with a mix of fondness and nostalgia. "Yeah. Documenting everything has always been my thing. That's why I became a photographer. I didn't want to miss a moment."

"That's so cool!" she exclaimed, her voice full of genuine excitement as she continued flipping through the stack of old photos. There were shots of them running through the park, playing dress-up, and even one where they were both covered in mud from some long-forgotten adventure.

But as Liam turned back to the photo album, his expression grew more somber. He paused on a page filled with high school photos—football games, parties, and group photos with people Tanya didn't recognize.

She noticed the shift in his mood and leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

Liam sighed, his eyes lingering on the pictures. "These are from my high school years. You're not in any of them. This was when... we drifted apart."

Tanya's smile faded, replaced by a quiet understanding. She looked down at the photos, her heart aching a little. "Yeah, we did, didn't we?"

Liam ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. "You were always into whimsical, magical stuff—fairies, princesses, all of that. But in high school, people made fun of you for it. And I... I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be popular, so I distanced myself from you. I started hanging out with the 'cool' crowd, dating Samantha, the cheerleader."

He let out a hollow laugh, but there was no humor in it. "I keep kicking myself for that. For not being there for you when I should have been. I followed the crowd, and I lost you."

Tanya's eyes welled up as she saw the guilt written all over his face. She reached out, gently placing her hand on his. "No, baby. None of that was your fault."

Liam shook his head, his voice heavy. "It feels like it was. After high school, you moved away with your parents, and I stayed here. You became this big-time influencer, living this incredible life, and I... I never thought I'd see you again."

Tanya wiped away a stray tear, her voice soft. "I didn't become an influencer right away. It took time, and a lot of it was lonely at first."

"Yeah, I know that stuff doesn't happen overnight," Liam said. "But I could have left with you. I could have been by your side. Instead, I stayed behind, chasing something that didn't even matter. I'll always be grateful that you forgave me and that we get this chance to be together now, even if it's only for a week."

Tanya cupped his cheek, her touch gentle. "Liam, I'm grateful too. We may only have a week, but that's enough. Whether it's a week, a day, or even just an hour, all that matters is that we have each other right now."

Liam leaned in and kissed her, his heart full but heavy with regret. He had always loved her, even before he knew what love truly was. But now, as the weight of the past pressed down on him, he couldn't help but wish for more time. He wished he could turn back the clock, hold on to her when he had the chance, and never let go.

But it was too late for that now. A week was all they had. And as much as he wanted to believe that it would be enough, deep down, he feared that it never could be.

After they finished putting the pictures away, they decided to take a walk around town. As they strolled through town, the sun casting a warm glow over the streets, Tanya's mind raced with memories. Every corner they turned seemed to bring back something from their past, but it wasn't until she spotted a familiar building that she paused.

"Look," she said, pointing with a wide grin. "It's the ice cream parlor where we had our first date."

Liam laughed, the sound deep and full of nostalgia. "It wasn't really a date, was it? But yeah, that was the first time we hung out alone without our parents tagging along. In a way, it kind of counts as a date." He looked at the old parlor, the sign faded but still intact, and memories began flooding back to him too. "I remember we were supposed to be doing homework—sixth grade math, I think—but instead, we ate ice cream. You had the strawberry, and I went with butter pecan."

Tanya giggled, her eyes sparkling as she relived the moment. "How could you remember something like that?"

Liam flashed her a playful grin, shrugging casually. "I remember everything, you know that." His tone was teasing, but there was something more beneath his words—a sincerity that made Tanya's heart flutter.

She gazed up at him, her voice soft. "I'm glad that you do."

Liam's face softened, a gentle warmth radiating from his expression. "That's why I love taking pictures. They capture those small moments we tend to forget. I even have photos of that day in one of those boxes of polaroids. I still look at them sometimes. I can't believe you spilled ice cream on your homework that day—you were so panicked about explaining it to your teacher."

Tanya burst into laughter, her laugh echoing through the quiet street. "Oh my god, I completely forgot about that! We ended up redoing the homework at my house, didn't we?"

"Yeah," Liam nodded, grinning at the memory. "It took us twice as long because we kept getting distracted by cartoons."

He squeezed her hand gently, pulling her a little closer. "Come on, let's make a new memory. How about we grab a cone?"

Tanya smiled, her cheeks warm with affection. "Sure, but only if I get to pick the flavors."

"Of course, you can," he said with a playful bow.

They pushed open the door to the ice cream parlor, the small bell above jingling in greeting. The place looked almost the same as it had all those years ago—the bright colors, the rows of ice cream tubs behind the counter, and the faint scent of sugar in the air. They walked up to the counter, their fingers still intertwined, ready to relive a piece of their childhood while building something new in the process.

As Tanya stared at the array of ice cream flavors in front of her, it was as if she had become a kid again. Her eyes danced over the vibrant colors, and she bit her lip, struggling to decide. Liam couldn't resist capturing the moment—her wide-eyed wonder, her childish delight. He raised his camera and snapped a few shots, the sound of the shutter catching her attention.

She pouted, turning toward him. "You better not be planning on posting any of those pictures on social media," she warned, though her tone was playful.

Liam chuckled, lowering his camera. "Nope. I promise. These memories are for us only. No one else."

Tanya let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, placing her hands on her hips dramatically. "Well, in that case, I'm getting two scoops!"

Liam grinned. "Go for it! And hey, you can pick my flavor, too."

Her eyes lit up at the challenge. "Okay, but here's the deal—you need to sit down, close your eyes, and wait for me. I'm going to feed it to you, and you have to guess what it is."

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Aren't you the cutest?"

She rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, whatever! Just go sit and wait for your surprise."

Liam threw his hands up in surrender, laughing as he headed toward a small table. "Alright, alright. I'll play along. Just don't make me wait too long!" He sat down, closing his eyes as he waited, anticipation making him smile.

Tanya carefully carried the two ice cream cones to the table, one in each hand. She stopped in front of Liam, her voice full of mischief as she said, "No peeking!" She held the ice cream close to his face, teasing him with the cold treat.

He obediently took a lick, his brow furrowing in thought. "Hmm... is it rocky road?"

She giggled, shaking her head. "Nope! Try again." She offered him another taste, watching him closely.

He savored the next lick, his lips curling into a grin. "There's definitely chocolate. Double chocolate chip?"

Tanya giggled even harder, shaking her head again. "Wrong again! One more chance."

Liam, determined, took one last taste, his eyes still shut. After a moment, he declared, "This has got to be moose tracks!"

Tanya burst into laughter, nearly dropping her own cone. "It's mint chocolate chip, silly!"

Liam cracked one eye open, grinning. "Ah, so you're trying to cool me down with some mint, huh?" His teasing made her cheeks flush, and she looked away shyly.

He gestured to her cone. "So, what flavors did you pick for yourself?"

She beamed proudly as she showed off her creation. "I got strawberry cheesecake and cookie dough!"

Liam laughed, shaking his head fondly. "That is so you."

Tanya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've always loved mixing up flavors," Liam explained with a nostalgic smile. "I remember when we were kids, you got cookie dough with pistachio. I thought it was going to be disgusting, but you made me try it, and it actually wasn't bad."

She chuckled, clearly remembering the moment. "Yeah, that was an odd mix, but it worked, didn't it?"

Liam nodded, his gaze softening. "You've always been a box of surprises."

They shared a comfortable silence as they enjoyed their ice cream, surrounded by the warmth of old memories and the excitement of making new ones.

After finishing their ice cream, Liam and Tanya left the cozy parlor and strolled through the familiar streets of their hometown. The fading light of the evening cast a warm glow on the buildings, making everything feel almost magical. As they walked, the gentle click of Liam's camera continued to follow Tanya's every move.

"Hey, stop taking so many pictures of me!" she complained, though there was a playful edge to her voice.

Liam lowered his camera, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry about that, I just can't help it. You're too cute, and I want to remember this day forever."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, pretending to be annoyed, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange. Eventually, they decided to head back to her room, their hearts still light from the day's adventures.

Back in the room, Liam sat beside her on the bed and eagerly showed her all the pictures he'd taken throughout the day. As each photo flickered on the screen, they laughed and talked about every moment. Tanya looked at him with a raised eyebrow as he cycled through the photos. "You really took a lot of pictures. But promise me again—you won't post any of these online."

Liam grinned, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I promise! I'll keep these between us. In fact, I'll make two copies—one for you to take home so you can remember this day, too."

Tanya smiled softly, feeling the weight of the day begin to settle on her. She yawned, covering her mouth. "Sorry, I'm just so sleepy. Today was... perfect."

Liam wrapped his arm around her, kissing her temple. "Don't apologize. It's been a long, wonderful day." They climbed into bed together, the room dark except for the faint glow from the streetlights outside.

As Tanya's breathing slowed and she drifted into sleep, Liam lay beside her, holding her tightly as if he could stop time. He gazed out the window, a bittersweet sigh escaping him. In the quiet of the night, the reality of her departure weighed on him again—only four more days left. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, cherishing the moment, knowing that these fleeting days were precious.

For now, they had tonight, and that was enough.