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MAE
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THIS WEEKEND’S BEEN one of the best experiences of my life—the exact opposite of what I expected. And it’s all because of Liam and his sister. They accepted me without judgment. Even when I turned quiet, they didn’t push or prod. They kept chatting while occasionally asking me a question, patiently trying to draw me out of myself.
Until I almost felt like my old self. Like the girl who used to voice her opinion without fear. Like the woman who believed her opinion mattered.
Laura’s the only one who’s made me feel that way in a long time, and with her abroad for months out of the year, it’s easy to retreat into my shell when she’s gone.
“I knew the reunion would be good for you.” Laura finishes my makeup with a last swipe of mascara and grins. “Two days with Liam—”
“And Nicole,” I add, knowing she helped a lot with easing the awkwardness I felt around her brother.
“And Nicole,” Laura stresses. “And you’re practically glowing. He’s obviously having a good effect on you, and y’all haven’t even fucked yet.”
“Laura!”
“What? I told you when we got here: you’re having a dirty fling. Are you telling me you haven’t thought about that sexy man naked and doing all sorts of naughty things to you?”
My cheeks redden under the blush she’s already applied. No, I can’t deny my dreams for the past two nights haven’t been full of Liam.
Accurately reading my expression, Laura nods in satisfaction. “That’s what I thought. Good thing I made you buy this dress for the dance; he’s going to lose his shit when he sees you.”
Spying my reflection in the bathroom mirror, nervous anticipation floods my veins. The burgundy dress is fairly modest with its simple scoop neck and wide straps that lets me wear the supportive bra I need without fear of it showing, but it flatters my curves and the lace overlay with sleeves helps me feel not so exposed.
Hopefully, Liam likes it.
Throughout the weekend, he’s peppered our conversations with compliments—commenting on how pretty I looked or praising a witty remark. Boosting my confidence while not going overboard with declarations like when we met at the cocktail party.
A part of me still wonders what a gorgeous guy like him wants with me, but I’m determined to live this weekend as if I’m the heroine in one of the many romance novels I’ve read. Maybe it’ll be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.
Or maybe I’ll land myself a happily ever after.
***
LOUD MUSIC BOOMS OFF the gym walls as Liam and I enter with Nicole and Laura, who quickly desert us with conspiratorial winks—like they coordinated this entire scenario rather than meeting for the first time five minutes ago when the four of us met up outside.
“Glad to see we both have meddling loved ones.” Liam’s arm hovers over my waist, guiding us to the outer edges of the crowd. He looks like a younger James Bond minus the bowtie with his perfectly tailored black suit showcasing his muscular physique.
“Yeah, they mean well, even if they’re way too obvious with their intentions.” The entire drive here, Laura kept a running dialogue of how to seduce Liam away from the dance, where to sneak off to for the best sex on campus.
Clearly, she had more fun than even I knew about when she attended Trinity, because she held a plethora of knowledge. Studying Liam again, a shiver of anticipation ignites in my blood.
He's so damn attractive. Patient and kind. And he wants me—the quiet bookworm with curves to spare.
I brushed off Laura’s suggestions earlier, but maybe I should reconsider. There’s something very naughty about sleeping with Liam on campus, like we really are two young adults too horny to wait for a dorm bed.
“Would you like to dance?” He asks as the beginning notes of a slow ballad fill the gym, and I accept his outstretched hand with a blush, butterflies taking flight in my belly.
We sway across the dance floor like a modern-day fairytale—other couples fading into the background, our eyes focused on each other.
I’m a Cinderella, after all.
Except my moment of fantasy is ruined when another couple bumps into us.
“Oops, sorry.” The familiar voice acts as a steel rod, stiffening my spine with dread. “Oh, Mae, it’s just you. Frederick, you remember my old friend, don’t you?”
Angie’s smile resembles a shark’s grin, and I edge closer to Liam, his hand squeezing mine in comfort, obviously remembering what I said about our former friendship.
“Hard to forget the girl who tried to break us up.” Frederick’s glare could light a matchstick, but he’s not the one who concerns me—there’s no love loss between us. No, it’s Angie’s actions and words that matter. That still have the power to hurt me.
“You know I was only trying to look out for you, Ang. He cheated on you multiple times.” I don’t know why I bother rehashing my reasons. It’s not like she’ll magically realize my intentions ten years too late. Not like the pain I felt being kicked out of our friend group will dissolve with a word of understanding.
“What I know is that my husband and I have been happily married for years now, despite your insults. I think that means you owe us an apology.”
“She doesn’t owe you shit,” Liam barks, placing himself between us. “You’re the one who should apologize for being a fucking bitch.”
“Excuse me?”
“Watch what you say about my wife!”
A crowd is starting to form around us as Angie and Frederick fume in anger, and all I want to do is leave. I didn’t mean to cause a scene. I should’ve walked away.
Kept my mouth shut.
Clearing my throat, my hand tugs on Liam’s arm. “Please, let’s go. There’s no use arguing.”
He stands firm for a moment, but then he looks back and sees the stricken expression stretching my cheeks. Immediately, he softens, turning his back on Angie and Frederick. “You’re right, baby. Come on, it’s time we left.”
Releasing the breath in my lungs, I trail behind his long strides, ignoring the taunts shouted from Angie, avoiding the curious stares of onlookers.
For once, I’d like an evening to end naturally rather than me needing to escape, though a part of my heart flutters at Liam’s defense.
Almost made the showdown worth it to feel his wall of protection standing before me. The way he’d carefully placed my body behind his.
We leave the gym and walk towards Mingen, the science building next door. Liam tries a side entrance, which opens without trouble, and a random thought towards campus security materializes. This is the second place we’ve been to after hours that’s just been open to the public.
“I’m sorry about Angie. I shouldn’t have antagonized her.” Our pace slows in the quiet hall, but Liam still maintains his grip on my hand.
“Antagonized her?” A deep curse rumbles from his chest. “She’s the one who bullied you in college, and she tried bullying you in there. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Still... It would’ve been better if I’d walked away, stayed quiet, instead of reminding her about Frederick’s cheating.”
“Baby, anything you said would’ve been taken as fuel for her fire. It’s obvious she wants to hurt you anyway possible, and that’s her problem not yours,” he says. “Why don’t we forget about her, hmm? We’re alone after being surrounded by people all weekend. Isn’t there something else you’d rather do?”
Liam kisses the back of my hand, rubbing it over his lips, as he waits for my response. A spark of lust lights his dark eyes—the abrupt turnaround in mood giving me whiplash.
It’s hard to come up with an answer when my body’s tingling from his touch. When my brain’s short-circuiting due to his support.
I’d love to forget about Angie and finally have my first kiss. My first everything.
But I can’t say that out loud.
Despite the confidence he’s instilled in me this weekend, I’m still not that brave.
Plus, a stubborn part of me refuses to trust him completely. Questions when this fairytale will end.
God, I’m a mess.