The small whisper left my lips, and he returned the sentiment.
“Isabella.”
Then, before we both just gave in to our need to kiss each other, Liam twirled me away. My laughter filled the air as we danced in the street together, my whole neighborhood watching. When the song ended, Liam brought my hand to his lips and bowed as if to thank me. The onlookers burst into applause. I had never felt happier.
Liam was not Marco. He wasn’t poor. He didn’t have the family connection I did. He wasn’t even Italian. But, as the crowd and my family shouted encouragingly at us, I realized none of that mattered. He had just won the heart of my whole little world. Everyone came over to be introduced to my new boyfriend, and as they all voiced their opinion, my eyes were drawn toward a lone figure leaning against one of the streetlamps. Marco.
He was staring at Liam and I started to worry that he was going to try to pick another fight. Or worse, tell him about the kiss before I could. Instead, he met my gaze. I could swear I saw tears in his eyes before he turned and walked away. Beside me, Liam squeezed my hand, having noticed the exchange.
“Are you okay?”
I leaned my head against his arm and nodded. It was the truth. Marco was just a memory now and, not to steal from you, Taylor, but since the moment I had left the auto shop that afternoon, I had actually forgotten he had existed. He held no hold over any of me. I actually felt a bit sorry for him. I would never regret being with him. He was my first love. More than that, without him, I wouldn’t have found the love of my life. No matter what happened, Liam and I wouldn’t have fallen for each other if it weren’t for Marco. I could never regret anything that led me here. Deep down, though, I knew Marco would always regret me.
“Liam, I am perfect.”
Chapter 27
Week12–Sunday
Liam
I picked Isabella up at nine the following morning. She was not a great morning person, most likely because of her sleeping arrangement, but I had stopped at the coffee shop on the way so I could caffeinate her quickly.
We finally took that drive on the coast I had wanted to take her on since the first day we had hung out. Between the coffee and the sea breeze in her face, Isabella was finally awake and happy. My plan was to stay at the beach for a while, but my new girlfriend shook her head.
“I want you all to myself, Liam. Can we just stay at your place today?”
She didn’t have to ask twice. I had already turned the car to head back to my house. Isabella had on shorts, and I could barely keep my hands off her thighs. I loved her legs. On the drive back to my place, though, I came to a realization. Although my body was yearning to move fast, I knew that we needed to take things slow. I’ve done nothing but move fast my whole life, and it ruined me. I wasn’t going to do anything to ruin my life with Isabella.
“Did you know she was going to be here?”
I was pulled out of my thought about not giving in to my hormones when I noticed Cassidy sitting outside my house. She was in the skimpiest outfit I had ever seen her in, and I actually felt a bit sorry for her. When all was said and done, I had messed her life up too. More amends for me to make.
“No.”
As I walked around the car to open the door for Isabella, Cassidy moved toward us, and I could see the gleam in her eye.
“Well, aren’t you two out bright and early.”
“What do you want, Cassidy?”
She started to twirl her hair and smiled.
“Oh, nothing, really. I just… well, I left my skirt here yesterday, in your bedroom, when I was changing. So, I came over this morning to grab it and accidentally knocked this folder off the table.”
She had been holding her hand behind her back and finally moved it to reveal my history assignment. I could feel myself tense. Nothing good was about to happen. I tried to step forward.
“Thanks for picking it up for me. Also, you know you are not allowed in the house when I’m out. How exactly did you manage that?”
Cassidy rolled her eyes.
“I still have my key. If you really wanted to keep me away, you should have changed your locks. Anyway, I just… found it curious, this assignment.”
Her eyes looked toward Isabella.
“I’m sorry to break the news to you, dear, but I looked at all the stuff you have written about Liam, and he’s clearly been lying to you. About everything. His favorite restaurant is not that silly Thai food place. It’s this Mediterranean restaurant near the beach. His favorite color is really green. Oh, and his favorite place in the whole world is certainly not that hotel atrium. It’s this club near the school that we use fake IDs to get into. He likes it there because they serve us minors and have private rooms to, well… you know… do private things in.”
My heart started racing. I shook my head.
