“Can I hug you?” she asks brokenly.
“Since when did you become so sentimental?”
She chuckles and wipes under her eyes once again. “Ollie and the London air have wreaked havoc on my once lifeless heart.”
“Sounds like an unbeatable combination if I ever heard one,” I tell her. “And that would be a yes for the hug.”
We step in at the same time, and I forgot how soothing a post-emotional-breakthrough hug could be. It goes on for several moments until I speak again.
“So, not that I’m not thrilled about your lone appearance, but is Ollie here with you, too?”
Juliette steps back then with a devoted smile on her face. The one that fully demonstrates how Ollie has us all whipped.
“Unfortunately, he’s not,” she answers. “I took him with me on a flight to Ireland one weekend, and he didn’t like it at all. This trip was significantly farther, so I’m letting Isabelle watch him while I’m here. I’m sure she’ll have him waiting for me in a custom pantsuit upon my arrival.”
I cheese deliriously hard at the thought of it. “He would make any outfit look amazing.”
“I’ll agree with you on that. Speaking of which, I’m going to head out and give Isabelle a call. I’m only here for four days, so how about we grab lunch the day after tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” I tell her. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do,” she agrees, looking over my shoulder and noticing Liam as he slowly approaches us. “But right now, I think there’s someone more important that you should be talking to.”
I roll my eyes, and she gives my shoulder an obliging pat. “Have a lovely evening, Winnie.”
I shake my head and watch as she disappears out the theater door with a wave. I always thought I knew her better than I knew myself, but I see now that I was wrong. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the person she is now. The person that she should have been all along.
“I wanted to tell you she was here the minute I saw you,” Liam says as he moves to stand beside me, “but Juliette made me promise to wait until you and I spoke for a bit. Are you very impressed with my immense willpower?
“Thoroughly impressed,” I answer, turning to face him.
“Impressed enough to have dinner with me?”
He looks anxious and unbearably handsome. I wait to reply even though I make my mind up instantly. “I’m impressed enough to let you come with me to the after-party I’m going to.”
An uncomfortable wince crosses his face. “Oh, god. The mysterious date to the lady of the hour in a room full of people waiting to talk to her? Do you know how many hellos that’s going to be for me?”
“Probably a lot, but I promise to protect you.”
“Oh, will you? You’re usually the first in line to ramp up my anxiety.”
“Well,” I say, “maybe I’ll take a different approach this time. Plus, how awkward can it be, since my husband is going to be there, too?”
Liam’s eyes go cartoonishly wide, and it’s my least convincing performance to date when I almost immediately start smiling.
“I honestly hate you,” he mutters with a sigh.
I step forward and give him a playful push. “That will be the last time I trick you for the rest of night.”
“I think we both know that that’s a bold-faced lie.”
“Possibly. Does that give you second thoughts about me?”
“Not at all,” he answers. “Because in our time apart, I’ve come to realize that you are more than worth every stomach-turning, sweat-inducing, stress-elevating episode you charm me into. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I stand there in silence until I speak in a completely awed and steady voice. “That is hands down the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I’m glad,” Liam says with a grin, reaching his hand out towards me. “So, what do you think? Are you ready to get this show on the road?”
