“Me too.”
Chapter 5
Liam
I made the mistake of looking up when the bell above the coffee shop door sounded. For the past couple of hours, I had been ignoring it, but for some reason, this time my eyes glanced at the person walking in. Why had I forgotten who had introduced me to this coffee shop to begin with?
It could have been worse. It could have been Cassidy. But Hilary was bad enough. Awful, actually. Cassidy was my ex-girlfriend and Hilary was Cassidy’s best friend. They were both straight out of the movieMean Girls.They shared everything. Including me some nights. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t want to remember the guy I was back then. More than that, I didn’t want Isabella to know the guy I was back then.
There was no back way out of here, and I knew Hilary had already seen me. She was alone, so she would be getting her coffee to go, but she would come over while she was waiting for her order. I had to do something to stop it. Something she wouldn’t interrupt. Isabella was looking at me, waiting to find out what my favorite ride at an amusement park was, and a plan hit me. A brilliant but terrible plan.
“I’m really sorry for what I am about to do, Isabella, and I beg you in advance to forgive me, but I promise you, I cannot see an alternate option.”
She looked at me, confused, and I continued to speak as I started inching closer to her. My nearness startled her, but I continued. I lifted my hand and touched her cheek.
“Have you ever had a moment when the whole world seems to be conspiring against you and you just wanted to find some way to avoid it all from toppling down on you?”
She nodded. Isabella seemed completely confused, but also, I could tell she was listening and she understood me. I slid my other hand around her waist and settled it on her back.
“I’m sorry, but right now, this is my way. And I really need your help. For just a few minutes, please pretend to adore me.”
Then, before she could stop me, I pressed my lips to hers. To my surprise, she didn’t fight me. She didn’t pull away and punch me. Really, she didn’t do anything. Isabella just let me kiss her. Then, suddenly, she started kissing back. I felt her fingers slip into my hair and her other hand settling against my chest, gripping my shirt softly.
I know you think I should be saying there were fireworks and birds chirping, and now suddenly, I would start falling in love with Isabella. But there wasn’t. This wasn’t a moment where the girl and the guy who barely know each other share a kiss and realize that they were meant to be. But it was nice. As kisses went. I waited to hear the bell ring again before I pulled away. Still holding her, I glanced around the room and confirmed Hilary was gone.
“May I ask what that was about?”
Isabella pulled away, seemingly unaffected by the whole situation, except for her curiosity. I blinked at her.
“You’re not mad? Or in love with me?”
She actually burst out laughing. I mean, I know I just said the whole thing about us not suddenly falling in love, but still. I had an ego.
“It was just a kiss. Wasn’t like you were getting all gropy. And you looked completely panicked. If we are going to be friends, and kissing me was the only way to calm you down, it seemed an easy price to pay.”
My eyes searched hers, and she whispered, “Because, in your world, everything has a cost, right? I assume that kiss was your way to pay back that girl who had just noticed us? Is she your ex?”
Isabella wasn’t looking at me with any sort of judgment. It didn’t seem to be her way. All she wanted was an explanation, and I did owe her that much. But not here. If I knew Hilary—and I did—she had already told Cassidy to come to the coffee shop to check out the girl I was kissing.
“I will do my best to explain things, but not here. Hilary was the sidekick of the real villain in my story. And the real villain is probably on her way. Sadly, she would make you pay the price for kissing me and I’m not willing to put you through that.”
Isabella didn’t argue, and we just packed up our things. I paid the bill, and we settled back into the car. I looked at the clock; it was only half past five. I still had more time than I thought with my new friend and suddenly wanted every minute of it.
“What do you like to eat, other than Italian?”
She was still waiting for my explanation, but I knew she trusted that she would get it. Until then, she would be patient.
“Anything. If we are going for dinner, take me to your favorite place. Well, unless you’re afraid whomever we are running from will show up there.”
I smiled. Cassidy hated my favorite restaurant. It was as safe a place as any. Isabella turned her attention back to the wind and seemed content to enjoy the ride in silence. Mrs. Rogers really had sent me a savior.
Eventually we pulled into the parking lot and Isabella looked at me in surprise. The restaurant was what rich folks called a hole in the wall. It was a dive, really. Tiny and old, it was worn-looking, and most people probably assumed the roof would collapse at any minute.
“This is your favorite restaurant?”
I nodded.
“Yes, and before we go in, I need to know two things. First, do you have any, like… food things? Like, are you vegetarian or allergic to anything? Also, how are you with spicy things?”
