A weight lifted from my chest.Despite every intention, I’d let my past get in the way of my future, and I’d had no idea I’d done it.I nearly lost my friends because of it, and Irefusedto let that happen again.
“As long as you know, I truly am sorry,” I said, my voice thick with regret.“I let my own shit get in the way of our friendship for far too long.It might have only been a couple of weeks, but it felt like years to me.”
Sierra’s smile was bittersweet.“So, do you believe us now?That we’re not like your parents?”
My throat tightened, but I did understand.My parents had screwed me up in more ways than I knew, but I couldn’t take it out on my friends any longer.And by extension, I probably shouldn’t take it out on Liam anymore, either.But how did I feel about him now that I didn’t have that holding me back?I'd solved the problem with my friends, but I had a feeling my issues with Liam were barely getting started.
Before I could travel down that rabbit hole any further, Dottie came by to take our order, her bubbly presence instantly lightening the mood.It was hard to be sad when Dottie was around.
Eccentric with a capital “E”, Dottie dressed in technicolour muumuus, coloured her hair bright pink, and never went anywhere without slathering on a fresh coat of her bright red lipstick first.She knew who she was, and that was it.If you didn’t like it, too bad.Next to Nana, she was the person I most aspired to be like when I got older.
“Thanks, Dottie.You’re the best.”
“Aww, Maya, darling.Did I ever mention you’re my favourite customer?”she said, pinching my cheek.“Extra French fries for you.”She heads to the kitchen yelling, “Dave!Put down extra fries for the cheeseburger on this ticket.Maya’s my favourite tonight.”She crashed through the swinging door, probably to tell Dave to add extra fries to everyone’s plates.She didn’t play favourites, despite often saying otherwise.
We chatted for the next few minutes, the seriousness of our previous conversation seemingly forgotten.I wouldn’t forget, though.I nearly destroyed these friendships, and I was so damn lucky they forgave me.Andie and Sierra were too good for me.
Sierra rested her chin on her hands and gave me a knowing look.“Now that we have that settled…” She grins.“Tell us what’s going on with Liam.”
My jaw dropped.Did they know I’d been talking to Liam?“What?”
Andie smirked.“I have it on good authority that he took care of you when you were ridiculously hungover.And I hear you’ve been texting.And spending every evening together at Nana’s.”
Sierra gasped in mock outrage.“You’ve reached thetaking care of each other when sickstage of the relationship already?And you didn’t tell us right away?”
I gawked at them.“He told you?”
“I’ll never reveal my sources.”Sierra mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key.
Andie rolled her eyes at Sierra’s antics.“I overheard Liam telling Nana about it one day when they came in for lunch.”
I cringed.Nana and I enjoyed the odd glass of wine during our evenings spent reading, but I’d never lost control in front of her.What must she think of me now?
“Oh, speaking of Liam…” Sierra whispered.“He’s on his way over now.Be cool.”
A thrill of excitement laced with dread wound through me.Cool?Has she met me?The wordcoolhad never once been associated with me.Grumpy?Yes.Intense?Sometimes.Cool?Not even once.
“Evening, ladies.”Liam flashed his perfect grin, and my stomach fluttered.
Kai, Greg, and Liam descended on us all at once, and tension rapidly filled the air, though that possibly had something to do with the laser beams shooting from Sierra’s eyes into Kai’s brain.
“Hey, Pipsqueak,” Liam said, pulling a chair up next to me.“Have any more solo parties recently?Should I find you a bucket?”
I hated that I blushed.I hated even more that my brain refused to conjure a single death threat at the nickname, especially now that I knew he liked them.And most of all?I hated that Sierra and Andie’s eyebrows wiggled like caterpillars trying to make a run for it.
Turning away from my deeply annoying best friends, I focused on Liam.“No way,” I managed despite my mounting nervousness.“But thanks again for taking care of me.”That sounded cool, right?
“It was my pleasure.”Liam shifted in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck.“Not like I enjoyed seeing you sick or anything,” he added, looking as flustered as I felt.“But it was funny listening to you ramble.Oh, and I’ve been meaning to ask, what’sRickman?You were muttering about it while you were sleeping off your special drinks.You kept talking about Rickman and something called Metatron?”He shrugged.“It’s possible I didn’t hear you correctly, though.I think you were still pretty drunk.”
Oh.Shit.This was not good.Just when I’d decided I kind of liked Liam, he had to bear witness to my greatest, and most potentially embarrassing, obsession.Had I told him why I was obsessed with Alan Rickman?I sank further down in my chair, wishing I could slide right under the table and slither away unnoticed.I hadn’t let my secret slip during the aftermath of my night of ill-advised drunkenness, had I?
“Oh my god,” Sierra snapped her head toward Liam, her eyes bright with delight.“Tell me she was not in a Rickman reverie while she was drunk.”A peal of raucous laughter burst from her.“Promise me you’ll never change, Maya.You’re the best.”
Liam’s eyebrow furrowed.“A what now?”
Sierra leaned in, eyes gleaming, and slowly enunciated, “ARickman.Reverie.”
Liam blinked.“Like a daydream?”
