“How the hell did that happen?” Micah asks.
I explain how the owner mistakenly thought that we were the couple getting married and Liam didn’t correct her so we could get free cake out of it.
“At first I thought he was just messing with me, but then I thought that maybe he was serious,” I say. “And then the owner wanted to take a pic of us kissing for her social media and we just decided to go with it and, um, well…it was really hot.”
Micah just blinks at me while Jordan smiles. “He totally has the confidence of a guy who’s a good kisser,” Jordan says.
“He really is,” I murmur. “His mouth was on mine for barely five seconds, and my head was spinning. What would a proper kiss with him do to me?”
Jordan laughs. “I think we all know.”
My face heats. I look over at Micah, who’s shaking her head. “I thought hell would freeze over before Liam won you over.”
I fold my hands in my lap and glance down. “I didn’t always hate him. In college we were friends.”
“Yeah, but then Aidan said you two kind of drifted apart,” Micah says.
“That’s not the full story.”
I tell them about the house party during junior year when I overheard Liam insult me while talking to his teammate. Both of their jaws drop.
“He said that about you?” Micah says, her tone on the edge of a shriek.
“What a dick,” Jordan mutters.
I let out a breath. “It was a long time ago. But it really hurt my feelings. It still does when I think about it.”
Micah grabs my hand. “He’s my future brother-in-law, but he’s a jerk for that.”
Jordan nods as she aims a sad look at me. “I don’t know Liam as well as you guys do. He’s always been nice to me and fun to hang out with, but Micah’s right.”
I let out a breath, my shoulders sagging. “Yeah. I’m still not over it obviously. But he’s been so sweet lately. And I think I can get past what he said years ago if this sweet and kind Liam is who he really is,” I say. “Besides, it’s not fair for me to hold this against him. It happened almost ten years ago. I wouldn’t want someone to hold stuff I did a decade ago against me.”
“Yeah, that’s a fair point,” Micah says.
“Why don’t you talk to him about it?” Jordan says.
I shake my head. “It was so long ago. I’d sound like a weirdo if I brought it up. I bet he doesn’t even remember it.”
“Maybe just take this slow then,” Micah says. “Enjoy flirting with him and spending time with him. See where things go.”
“You’re right. Maybe I should do that.”
The shop assistant comes back in and checks on us.
“We should probably pay for these dresses,” Jordan says.
We head to our fitting rooms, change, and take our dresses to the front of the shop. Micah pays for both of them and we thank her.
As we leave the shop, we walk down to the block to find a place to grab lunch. My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a message from Liam.
I tap on my phone screen and see that he sent me two photos. One is a screenshot of the audiobook app on his phone and one is a photo ofPersuasionin paperback.
Liam: Just got the audiobook AND the paperback of Persuasion. I’m so ready for book club
I smile down at my phone screen. Yeah, this thing with Liam is complicated. But I can’t deny that I like him. A lot.
“Wow. Look at that smile. Liam’s texting you?” Micah teases.
