So That Happened: A Romantic Comedy, page 24
But, oh well.
If it’s with Liam, I’m there.
36
LIAM
A couple years ago, if my brother had told me he wanted to get married, I would’ve laughed.
And if he insisted it were true, I would’ve had no choice but to assume that he’d lost a bet or that it was all part of some elaborate prank.
But then, I saw him with Mindy, and everything changed.
Changed to the point that my older brother—the former ultimate bro, ladies’ man, and party boy—made the announcement that he was permanently forgoing the lothario lifestyle. And then, subsequently decided that he was going to take this step without indulging in a bachelor party.
My jaw dropped so hard that it almost fell off when he vetoed my (albeit very reluctant) suggestion of a bachelor weekend in Vegas (too loud, busy, and dirty for my tastes. But, I’m the best man, so if Luke wanted to go, I would’ve made the sacrifice).
Luke also didn’t want to rent a limo and go down to Panama City Beach or Daytona, thank goodness. Or even have a boys’ night out at home in Atlanta. He’d had enough of those over the years, he said.
The one thing he did want?
Ax throwing.
Yup. You heard me right. He wanted to go chuck sharp blades at targets on the wall like we were lumberjacks.
I was mildly surprised. I didn’t think Luke had ever even been to a forest, never mind cut down a tree. He’s a city boy, through and through.
But he was set on his decision. Apparently, Mindy has a thing for lumberjacks—which was something I obviously asked zero follow-up questions about.
This is why, four hours after pulling up to the most gorgeous, picturesque guest ranch you could ever imagine, I’m spending my Friday night in a field with a bunch of grown men. Throwing things.
Even more unbelievably, everyone seems to be enjoying this. It’s a warm, balmy evening, and the dusky air is sweet and heavy. There’s about twenty of us, standing on a huge lawn adorned with targets. In the distance, the sun dips below the rolling hills, pouring a golden hue on everything.
For an athletic guy, Luke is surprisingly awful at the activity—though that may be the four shots of tequila. I chuckle as he winds up and chucks the ax so haphazardly that one of his buddies yells “Duck!” and falls to the ground in a stop-drop-n-roll motion.
In contrast, the guy on my left wields his ax over his head and fires with ease. It spins through the air in a graceful arc before sticking dead in the wooden target. He lets out a “Whoop!” and punches the air.
A dark-haired man stands behind him, sipping his beer and looking on in amusement. “Easy there, Conor. Don’t throw your back out, old man.”
The ax-throwing guy smirks. “Your sister already threw my back out last night.”
“Gross, dude!”
A lot of shoving follows that comment, and I smile as I look away.
I love how these guys can casually laugh and joke about their relationships in public—even if the joke is just that one of them is apparently sleeping with the other’s sister (though he’s wearing a wedding ring, so I assume it’s serious).
Annie and I have been keeping things between us on the down low, at her request, until we see where things go. I was a little surprised when she asked… I was prepared to go straight to Luke to work out a solution for our company HR. But, I guess, for now, it makes sense. I’m just glad to be away from the office this weekend so we can be out in public together.
Soon—once the funding’s in place and Annie feels more comfortable—we can take next steps at work. Or I hope we can take next steps…
And now my mind is squarely on a certain auburn-haired spitfire. What she would say if she could see me right now…
Probably a lot of inappropriate lumberjack jokes.
I turn back to my target and fire the ax. It moves quickly, like a bullet, before piercing the heart of the target.
Bullseye.
“Nice one, man!” The dark-haired guy gives me an appreciative nod. Behind him, the guy he called Conor is still steadfastly pounding ax after ax into the target.
“Thanks.” I stick out my hand. “Liam.”
“Aiden.” He grins. “You must be Luke’s brother.”
“I am.” I raise an eyebrow. “Not sure that’s a great association at this minute.”
Aiden chuckles and we both turn to take in my drunkypants brother stumbling and wielding axes willy-nilly.
How does this ranch have the insurance to allow drunk people to throw weapons?
“He’s so happy,” Aiden says with a small, nostalgic smile. “I used to think that Luke and I would be single forever. That everyone else would get married, and we’d still be hitting up the bar every Friday night. It’s funny how things change.” He pauses. Sighs happily. “It’s good how things change.”
“Agreed,” I say immediately, surprising myself. But I mean it. I used to be so averse to change, so rigid in my perfectly scheduled routine. Always making sure I was meeting all my responsibilities and being there for everyone else. I never stopped to consider if I was truly happy.
Then Annie came along and colored outside all my carefully drawn lines.
And I’ve loved every minute of it.
Loved how she makes me feel. How I see I make her feel.
Aiden seems to read my energy because he leans in. “You seeing anyone?”
I nod, and the motion is surprisingly comfortable given how long it’s been since I said yes to this question. “Yeah, it’s pretty new, but she’s incredible.”
Aiden smiles down at his ringed left hand. “I know the feeling, bro.”
“LIAM!” Luke’s shriek has us both jerking our heads upwards.
My brother is running toward me, waggling his phone in the air.
“LIAM, CHECK THIS OUT!”
I smile apologetically at Aiden. “Um, better go. The groom needs my assistance.”
Aiden chuckles and claps me on the shoulder. “Good to meet you, dude.”
“Likewise.”
I dart through the cluster of people until I reach Luke. “What’s up?”
He shoves his phone in my face. “It’s down to us and one other company!”
“What?” I almost drop the phone I’m so surprised. “When did you…?”
“Email just came through. Check it out.”
My heart picks up speed as Luke slings a delighted arm around my shoulders, shaking me and cheering as I read.
It’s true. It’s all come down to two companies. The funding from Wiseman’s company is almost within our grip.
We just need to beat out… Financify.
Huh.
The app sounds familiar; where have I heard of it? After two beers, I’m not as quick on recall as usual.
The email has a link to a profile on both companies. I click on Financify’s.
And come face to face with a picture of Justin Manson.
Annie’s ex-boyfriend from the airport hotel. And also the Director of Analytics and Growth at Financify.
My body tenses so hard, I almost drop the phone again.
Of course… Financify was where Annie used to work. This job title must’ve been the promotion Annie was working for.
“Whoa, buddy. You drunk or something?” Luke, the one out of the two of us who is actually drunk, tipsily reaches for his phone. “Aren’t you excited?”
I blink hard a couple times. “That’s Annie’s ex. Justin.”
Luke’s eyebrows raise in surprise. He looks at the photo on his screen again and smirks. “This guy?! You’re way better looking than this guy.”
Despite myself, I laugh. “You’re just saying that because we look so alike.”
“‘Course I am. Consider yourself lucky that you took after me in the looks department. And Annie’s ex or no Annie’s ex, it doesn’t matter. We could be up against Bill Gates or Elon Musk, for all I care. We’ve earned this. We deserve that funding, and we’re getting that funding. Okay?”
I feel myself relax, feel the tension slide away.
Luke’s right. It doesn’t matter who we’re up against. And it certainly doesn’t matter who Annie dated in the past. It’s irrelevant.
What matters is now. Things change.
And, like that Aiden guy said, it’s good that things change.
Having Annie in my life is the best change that’s occurred for me in years.
I glance at the now-dark sky and smile. “Hey Lukey, I’ll be right back.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re so obvious, you know that?”
“How do you mean?”
Luke holds up a hand. Though with the swaying, his palm smacks unceremoniously into my chest. “Leave. And don’t come back.”
“Excuse me?”
“I know you’d rather go see Annie.” He winks. “I’d rather you go see Annie.”
And then, because people change and things change, I give my brother an impromptu hug.
For a moment, he freezes. A hugger, I am not.
But after he recovers from the shock, he hugs me back with a fierceness that warms my heart.
37
ANNIE
“Wowee,” I say aloud as I flop on the massive bed in my room on the third floor of the ranch house.
Truly, I’ve never seen anything like this. I have no idea if other ranches are posh, but this one sure is. The room Liam booked for me is positively palatial, with a plush, four-poster bed, a vintage chandelier and two overflowing vasefuls of freshly-cut wildflowers on the dresser. I feel like a tiny human ant standing in the middle of the room.
But the best part is the large, cushioned bay window seat overlooking the stately home’s gardens—complete with a weeping willow with a rope swing tied to one extended limb—and the paddocks where the horses graze. AKA, the nicest place in the world to curl up and read a good book. Which I plan to do first thing tomorrow morning.
Right now, I’m so tired, all I want to do is be in bed.
When Liam and I arrived at the venue earlier this afternoon, we went straight to the meet-and-greet welcome barbecue with the friends and family of the bride and groom (except Liam’s folks—I have yet to meet them). It was so wonderful to meet so many people who know and love Liam—hear his aunt Tracey recount stories of his T-ball days, laugh with his childhood neighbor about the time Liam tried to adopt a duckling he found in the pond at the local park.
It was beyond lovely to see Liam smiling and relaxed and happy. He put his arm around me every time he introduced me to someone—always as his date, never as his employee. I can’t even begin to describe the warm, glowing feeling when he did that. Like this was all just… right.
Eventually—too soon—Liam was off to throw an ax or something (it sounded sexy enough that I wanted to spy, but I was told it was strictly boys-only). So, I decided to put this amazing room to full use (seriously, the man spoiled me. He insisted that all guests have a room this nice, but I’m not sure I believe him. It would be so Liam to act like he didn’t go the extra mile).
So here I am, one eucalyptus steam shower later, wearing the fluffiest bathrobe I’ve ever seen in my life. My plan is to veg on the bed all night watching reruns of the Kardashians with the Diet Coke and peanut M&M’s from my travel snack bag.
I pull the huge comforter over my lap and shove a fistful of chocolate candies into my mouth, chewing as I flip through the channels.
I shuffle slightly, putting an extra pillow behind me, then pulling it away.
Roll onto my belly. Then back. Eat more M&M’s, swap them out for Haribos.
Which makes me think about the night at the airport hotel with Liam.
I smile fondly at the memory of dodgy carpets and a single, doll-sized bed. Of a t-shirt that didn’t belong to me but is now folded in my top dresser drawer at home.
Then, it hits me: I’d rather be there than here. I’d trade this five-star luxury experience for a run-down budget airport hotel.
Because there, I was with Liam. And being in Liam’s arms beats out every other luxury I can imagine.
I miss him, I realize. Selfishly wish I could have him to myself tonight.
I chew thoughtfully on another few gummies, looking at my phone. I could text him to let him know I’m thinking about him… but, I don’t want to interrupt his boys’ night. He’s probably too busy having fun to think about me. And the thought of him out there having a good time makes me happy, too.
Knock, knock!
I startle at the thud on my door, sharp and insistent.
I’m not expecting anyone. Maybe they have the wrong room?
But it comes again, louder this time.
I slide off the bed and pad toward the door, tightening my robe as I go. I throw open the door and see…
Liam.
Specifically, a flushed, mussed-haired Liam, who looks beer-tipsy and sparkly-eyed and sinfully gorgeous in a lumberjack flannel shirt.
I blink, stunned. It’s like my thoughts summoned him. Magic!
“Can’t stay, gotta get back to Luke’s party.” He props himself in the doorframe, catching his breath. He’s got a light glow to him, like he’s radiating freaking gorgeousness.
I’m still trying to keep up, half-wondering if this is real or imagined. “Huh?”
“I ran all the way here,” he explains with a grin. “I wanted to tell you that I was thinking about you. And I missed you. And to give you this.”
He grabs my waist and tugs me toward him.
He kisses me. Hard.
I melt into him, winding my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as he kisses me breathless, claiming my mouth and my heart, all at once.
He pulls back all too quickly, and gives me a devastating smile. “That’s better.”
And before I can say a single word, he turns on his heel and takes off, running down the hallway and toward the stairs.
I’m speechless. Rooted to the spot as my fingers move to touch my sensitive, swollen lips.
I feel like Juliet after a stolen moment with her Romeo.
Stepping back into my room, I cross straight over to that beautiful bay window and curl up on the seat. Above, the stars are a sparkling canvas, lighting up the sky enough so that I spy Liam running across the gardens, making his way back to Luke’s party.
At one point, he glances over his shoulder toward the ranch house, and he smiles.
38
ANNIE
I lean back and rest my toweled head against the wooden wall of the sauna, sighing happily. “Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Of course,” Mindy replies, like it’s the most natural thing in the world for me—a woman she met just a couple weeks ago—to be here with her on the afternoon before her wedding day.
Lana Mae shoots me a glimmering, dark-eyed look that reminds me so much of her brother, I have to look away. “We didn’t have a hidden agenda to pump you for Liam gossip. Not at all.”
“Nope, not one bit.” Mindy giggles and adjusts her skimpy bikini bottom. “But, now that you’re here, you could tell us a few things. You know, if you want to.”
I laugh. These girls remind me of Prisha with their easy banter and teasing. It’s clear that the sisters-in-law-to-be are very close.
“Yeah. Like, how on earth did this all come to pass?” Lana Mae asks, her voice pitchy with excitement. “I was away for work for two weeks, and when I came back, I might as well have been gone for two years—hang on.”
She interrupts her own tirade to unscrew the lid of her water and take a long drink.
“Much better.” She smacks her lips. “I don’t handle extended heat very well.”
“Ten more minutes.” Mindy pats her own toweled head. “Then the hair masks can be rinsed off.”
They both swivel expectant eyes back to me.
“So?” Lana prompts. “You spent the night in a hotel?”
I’ve also been vaguely struggling with the heat, but now, I’m grateful for it. Surely my cheeks are already as flushed as they can get?
I drop my gaze to my hands. “We did… I thought he was a grumpy a-hole. And I’m sure he thought I was clinically insane.”
Lana snorts. “Classic Liam.”
I have to admit that I’m happy to be able to talk about Liam and me. It’s so unlike our hush hush behavior at the office.
I describe the crazy debacle that was the night in the hotel, followed by the shocking realization that the man I shared a bed with (I left out the intimate cuddle-fest, of course) turned out to be my new boss. I explain that, bit by bit, I realized how different he is from the man I assumed he was. I tell them briefly about our first kiss, leaving out all the sizzling details because, eager as Lana looks right now, she’s still Liam’s little sister.
When I’m done, Mindy smirks. “So, it’s serious.”
“Oh… no. I don’t know. I mean, I’m just here as his wedding date.”
“Liam doesn’t do wedding dates,” Lana Mae says. “You’re definitely not just that.”
That now-familiar warm feeling fills my chest. I know Liam’s focus is his company, his family. Know that he hasn’t dated in a long time because of these priorities.
And yet, I’m here with him. That says it all really, doesn’t it?
“When did you feel it?” Mindy asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“It?”
“You know, the ‘it’ factor. The moment when you realize you don’t just want to jump his bones because your attraction is burning so bright, it’s about to set your whole house on fire. It’s the moment where, underneath all the flirting and sexual tension and butterflies, you realize with a sudden clarity that you feel so much more than that.”
I don’t even have to pause: the exact second she’s talking about hits me square in the heart.
That kiss last night. The one that said more than a hundred words could.
“Annie?” Mindy prompts with a wicked grin. “Looks like you know the moment, huh? Or are you daydreaming about all the sexy making out you two have been doing?”
