“Liam, you said that so brilliantly.”
I let out an embarrassed laugh. “You think so?”
“Yeah. That’s what I think too.”
“You do?”
She nods. “That’s why I like Mr. Darcy so much as a character. He’s a good guy at the core. He’s not trying to be someone he’s not. He’s not trying to pull off some super slick facade. He is who he is. He’s kind of gruff and curt, and he rubs people the wrong way, but he’s honest. And when you get to know him, you see that he’s a genuinely sweet and caring guy.”
“I liked Elizabeth a lot too. She was feisty. And she wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with Mr. Darcy.”
Kendall chuckles. “You’re so right. I love their dynamic.”
“She reminded me of you.”
“Really?”
I nod. “The way she told off Mr. Darcy made me think of the times that you’ve gone off on me.”
She laughs. “Oh, come on.”
“You both are feisty as hell, firecracker.”
Kendall shakes her head, still laughing.
“Seriously though, it was cool reading how Elizabeth went from hating Mr. Darcy to liking him. It felt like a rollercoaster ride. In a good way.”
“Classic enemies to lovers trope.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Kind of like us.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “We’re not lovers.”
I shrug a shoulder. “All you gotta do is say the word, firecracker, and we can change that real quick.”
I expect Kendall to shove my shoulder or tell me to shut up. But she doesn’t. Instead, that teasing smile plays on her lips as she holds my gaze.
“Whatever,” she says through a smile.
Excitement kicks up in my chest. Maybe she doesn’t hate the thought of us getting together…
“So. You likedPride and Prejudice. Does that mean you’d be up for reading another Jane Austen book?”
I refocus. “Yeah, definitely. What was the other one you said you liked better?Persuasion?”
“Yes. I lovePride and Prejudice, but the passion inPersuasion is unmatched. Just wait till you meet Captain Wentworth. He’s gonna make you swoon hard.”
Just then Kendall’s phone rings.
“Sorry, it’s my aunt, just a sec.”
I tell her no problem and glance up at the baseball game on the flatscreen TV while she answers.
“Hi, Auntie. What’s up?…Oh my god…”
I look over at Kendall, whose face is twisted into a worried frown.
“Okay…Okay, just…It’s okay, I’m coming home right now…I love you.”
