So That Happened: A Romantic Comedy, page 27
When I get to his room, I knock loudly.
Knock again.
Eventually, a bleary-eyed, tousle-haired Liam answers. Wearing only a pair of flannel pajama pants.
Holy freaking mother of all cannolis.
When Liam sees me, the corners of his mouth lift.
“Hey, you.” He rubs his palm over his eye. “Nice space get-up.”
Then, he sees my expression. Raises a brow. “Is everything okay?”
“Can I… come in?”
He doesn’t hesitate. He simply steps aside, holds the door open for me.
His room smells like him.
I stand there, hovering awkwardly in the middle of the space and trying not to focus too much on the grand king bed at the center.
“So.” He gives me a lopsided little smile as he comes to stand in front of me. “You’re here because…”
“I love you!” I practically shout. “I love you, Liam, and I don’t want to keep this quiet or keep things between us. I want to be with you, for real.”
Liam’s dark eyes soften, melt like chocolate. “I love you, too, Annie Jacobs. More than my words could ever say.”
He opens his arms to me and I step in. I trace the white scar on his cheek, delighting in the way he shivers at my touch. Then, I nuzzle my head onto his shoulder, press my hand to his chest, and spread my palm across his heart. His inked skin is warm, soft above hard muscle. I feel that sweet heart pulse beneath my touch.
“Did you really get a new tattoo?” I ask.
His chest vibrates as he chuckles. “No, but I’m going to have to soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… I started getting tattoos after my mom died. It was hard to talk, to communicate, so I used them to tell a story. My story.”
I move my head back so I can study the beautiful ink on his body. “And you need a new one soon because…?”
Liam smiles that devastating smile. “A whole new chapter of my story has just begun.”
Tears prick the back of my eyes, and I pull him toward me. Everything he shared with me tonight broke my heart. I’m so sad that he had to go through what he did, but so grateful for the person he is.
“I might have to get a tattoo too, then,” I say in a small voice.
He hugs me tighter. I’ve never felt as safe as I do right here, right now, in his arms.
“Do you want to stay here tonight, Annie?” he murmurs, holding onto me like he never wants to let go.
I nod.
Without another word, I climb into his bed. Without another word, he gently pulls the covers up over me, leans across to tuck me in. Then, he pushes a stray lock of hair off my forehead before sliding into bed behind me, drawing my body close and enveloping it with his.
His bare chest is hot against my back, and one of his big hands splays across my stomach as he holds me to him.
Before long, his breathing slows, gets heavy with sleep.
I, on the other hand, stay awake as long as I can, trying to savor every moment of this beautiful night.
44
LIAM
A sliver of sunlight streams through a crack in the curtains and dances over my eyes, pulling me from sleep.
I’m so warm, so comfortable… and Annie is in my arms.
I smile into her shoulder, dropping a kiss on the nape of her neck as I breathe her in. Her sweet ocean smell is a scent I would recognize anywhere, would be able to pick out of a crowd of thousands if I had to.
This is the second time I’ve held her all night, but waking up couldn’t feel more different.
She loves me. And I love her.
Before, I was filled with panic, fear and uncertainty—about her, about myself, about the entire situation. But this morning, I have the most achingly perfect sense of calm imaginable.
Crazy that her run-in with an ex-boyfriend would put in motion the most incredible series of events. Events that I wouldn’t change for the world.
I lie still a little longer, soaking in the moment.
Up until now, this thing growing between us has been a rocky road, filled with external obstacles, but that’s all about to change. We both deserve better. Both deserve a proper chance at real happiness, real love… because that’s what I’m feeling right now. Nothing but love.
I’ve heard that love can make a man do crazy things. But what I want to do, it’s not so crazy, is it? What’s crazy about stopping at nothing to be with the woman you adore?
I’m sure we can explain our relationship to Wiseman in a reasonable way. And if I have to choose between Annie and work, I choose her. I’ll always choose her. Every single time.
Forget my rules, my HR policies, my carefully written manual. Luke was right all along: I wrote it for all the wrong reasons. Placed unfair constraints on both myself and my employees in an effort to keep everything neat and orderly.
But love isn’t neat or orderly, is it?
So, the first thing I need to do when I get back to the city tomorrow is rewrite the rules.
Color outside the lines.
Stop living in fear of what might happen if I just let go.
Reluctantly, I check the time and realize I’d better get ready. My brother’s getting married today and I’ve got a best man job to do.
I shift out of my big spoon position and prop myself on my elbows. Push a stray lock of hair out of Annie’s angelic, peacefully sleeping face and lean down to kiss her goodbye.
“Screw HR policies,” I say softly. “I want to tell the world you’re mine, Annie Jacobs.”
45
ANNIE
I wake up in Liam’s bed alone.
“Mmm,” I sigh aloud, as I roll over in the warm sheets and glance at the window, where bright daylight is glowing from behind the curtains.
Goodness me, what time is it? I slept like the dead last night. Down for the count. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well. Liam’s arms are now my official favorite place to sleep. Tried and tested not once, but twice.
I grin to myself as I throw off the covers, climb out of bed, and open the curtains. The sunshine is dazzling… and remarkably high in the sky.
Shoot! I bet it’s so late, I’ll have to rush to get ready for the wedding. Liam likely left ages ago to commence his best man duties for the day.
I can’t wait to see him, standing there by Luke’s side. Looking all sexy in a tux.
Cheerily, I practically skip back to my room, where my dress for today is hanging up outside the wardrobe, ready to go.
I grab my glasses from my nightstand and shove them on my nose. Then, I grab my phone.
Four unread text messages? Since when am I this popular?
I flop on the bed and open the first.
Liam: Good morning, beautiful. Hope you slept okay. Getting ready with Luke and the guys now. I love you.
Liam: FRICK it feels good to say that.
I laugh out loud at this.
Annie: Love you too, sexy tux man.
The next message is from Prisha.
Prisha: I am going to need picture evidence of your weekend getaway to the ranch with McSwoony. Seriously. Pics or it didn’t happen. And there better be horses involved.
I laugh again. Great minds think alike. I snap a picture of the view outside my window and text it to her.
Annie: I’ve seen horses, but so far, no actual riding off into the sunset. Although Liam did promise to make that happen, so we shall see…
A reply comes in immediately.
Prisha: You are living the sexy cowgirl dream.
I snort. Close out of the message thread. With a breath sucked in through gritted teeth, I realize the last one is from Justin. What now?
Do Not Text Ever: No text back, huh? You’re obviously not too concerned about a potential HR nightmare.
My heart picks up speed as I read, then re-read his words.
I stare at the message until the screen goes fuzzy.
I was able to pass off his text last night as an attempt to stir the pot. I was able to forget about it and move on. But maybe that wasn’t the right way to deal with it… Because this looks more sinister. Way more sinister.
I mean, SITL and Financify are against each other for funding. Could he be trying to play dirty?
But I can solve this. Pretty easily, in fact. All I have to do is tell him the truth. I don’t care what he thinks of me anymore, don’t care how pathetic I’m going to look… all I care about is getting Liam and SITL out of the crosshairs of whatever this is.
Annie: Whatever you think is happening… you’ve got the wrong idea.
There. Send.
Buzz!
I drop my phone like it gave me an electric shock. Gingerly, I pick the phone back up and swipe open the screen.
Do Not Text Ever: Nice try, Annie Bananie. You checked into the same room.
I freeze, my palms so cold and clammy that I barely register the buzz as the next message comes in.
Do Not Text Ever: Sleeping with your new boss before you even start the job? Tsk tsk *winky face emoji* Honestly, I didn’t think you had it in you.
Annie: You’re wrong. That’s not what happened. I was shocked to see you and Veronica at the hotel and I reacted by pretending Liam Donovan was my boyfriend. He went along with it to be nice. I didn’t even work for him at the time.
There, the truth will set you free, or whatever they say.
Do Not Text Ever: Really though, does it matter if I’m right or wrong? Think about it. Whatever the context, checking into a hotel with a brand new employee-to-be doesn’t paint your new boyfriend in a good light. Especially with Wiseman’s interest in HR protocols.
My blood chills, dampening and cooling any residual heat from Liam’s warm bed.
The sudden coldness is icy. Sharp.
Annie: What do you want?
Do Not Text Ever: Make your boyfriend pull his bid for funding.
My heart is in my stomach and my throat is raw and scratchy when I swallow, like I’ve been eating shrapnel.
Annie: You can’t ask me to do that.
Do Not Text Ever: Well, let’s put it this way: I don’t think Wiseman plays with HR grenades ready to blow.
That weasel.
Annie: So you’re blackmailing me.
Do Not Text Ever: Oh, Bananie. It’s not blackmail. Blackmail’s personal. This is just business.
My chest is pulsing and I feel sick to my stomach. I’m disgusted with Justin. Disgusted with myself that I could’ve dated a man like that.
Because it’s not even a personal vendetta or a revenge plan. It’s all business. Cold, calculated business. People like Justin stop at nothing to get ahead in their careers. People’s feelings, reputations… they’re all fair game as long as he gets what he wants.
Do Not Text Ever: Do it this way and everyone wins. Well, I win. You just avoid a senseless HR scandal. I know you’re smart, Bananie. Be smart about this.
I feel like firing my phone at the wall. Watching it smash into the plaster and shatter into a million little insidious, vitriol-coated pieces.
But, as a pacifist with the throwing arm of an uncoordinated five-year-old, I settle for beating my fists on the duvet.
The flabby punches make me feel stupid, so I roll onto my back instead, staring blankly at the ceiling. The crown molding around the light is really pretty. Fancy. Pristine and perfect. The opposite of how I feel right now.
How could everything go wrong so quickly? Everything that felt so perfect between Liam and me last night now feels muddied by my past coming back to haunt me.
What have I done?
And, more pressingly, what am I going to do now?
46
ANNIE
It really is a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding.
Luke and Mindy are married in the mid-afternoon sunshine in an intimate outdoor ceremony under the willow tree in the ranch’s gardens. She’s radiant in white lace, and he’s glowing with pride and happiness.
The smell of honeysuckle carries through the warm breeze, and the creek gurgles approvingly in the distance as the officiant pronounces the happy couple man and wife. Luke sweeps Mindy off her feet in a showstopping kiss. And from his position at the front, heartbreakingly handsome as he looks out onto the crowd, Liam’s eyes find mine.
My heart constricts. This might be a celebration, but for me, it’s the unthinkable: I’ve gotten myself into a situation that feels horribly familiar.
Only this time, I’ve fallen in love with a man who’s an innocent bystander.
I bite my lip so hard I taste metal as Luke and Mindy descend the aisle hand in hand to a roaring standing ovation. Clap as hard as I can, palms stinging as I smack them together, trying to drown out the noise in my head.
The thoughts of the conversation I’ll have to have with Liam tonight, when the wedding’s over, flip over in my head. I don’t want to break this news to him today, on such a happy day, but I know I can’t keep him in the dark.
When you strike a match and keep it isolated, it burns out in mere seconds. Extinguished in a couple of heartbeats. But if you hold that same match to something flammable—boom!—you can create an inferno. So really, when holding a lit match, you’re actually holding the potential to set the world on fire, or to let it fizzle away to nothing.
It’s how you apply it that matters.
Right now, that match is in my hands. And when this thing goes up in flames, Liam’s going to be the one who gets burned.
That thought physically hurts.
Dinner and speeches follow the ceremony. Mindy’s maid of honor—her sister Holly—is hilarious as she regales the crowd with tales of the girls’ recent trip to Vegas. Then, Liam takes the mic.
His best man speech is impressive. Funny and heartfelt and clearly full of love. He honors their late mother, and his close bond with his older brother, and there’s not a dry eye in the house when he’s done. Even Mr. Donovan Sr., AKA my new least favorite person (well, it’s a toss-up between Justin and him. They both deserve the Nair in the shampoo treatment equally), looks vaguely moved.
By the time the last toasts are given, the cake is cut, and the band makes their way onto the stage of a fairylight-illuminated marquee, it’s already getting late. Poor little Legs, who’s stuffed to the brim with overexcitement and vanilla sponge cake, is trying to keep her drooping eyes open. She’s wilting like a wildflower in her crumpled, soda-stained, floofy dress, while Lana Mae speaks sweet words to her.
I watch Mindy and Luke hold each other as they have their first dance. They move in sync, gazes locked, bodies pressed together.
I can’t tear my eyes away from them. I’m so happy for their happiness.
A warm hand slides across my lower back, making me jump. But I recognize the confident, strong touch almost immediately. Lean into it automatically.
“Hey, you,” Liam says as he comes to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my head. “Between photos and speeches and being Luke’s errand boy all day, I feel like I’ve barely seen you.”
I twist around so I can face him. Across the room, couples are making their way onto the dance floor to join the newlyweds.
“Do you want to dance?” I’m stalling. Like a coward.
“Sure.”
Hand in hand, we make our way to the center of the swaying couples. He puts his hands on my hips, resting them on the small of my back. I wind my arms around his neck and draw him close, never wanting to let go.
“Annie, is everything okay?” Shrewd and intuitive as ever, Liam is peering down at me, concern flickering in those dark, dark eyes of his.
On this dance floor, in Liam’s arms, it should be a perfect moment. But it’s not. “Do you ever wish things could be different?”
“How so?”
“Less… complicated.”
He pauses thoughtfully, running his fingers along my spine as our bodies slowly sway together. “Yes and no. I’m glad our complications have brought us to this moment. And on that, about what you said last night, I agree. I want to come clean to Wiseman. Tell him the truth, lay it out on the table. If it causes an issue with him funding SITL, we’ll just have to handle that from there. But, honestly, if we’re upfront about it, I can’t see it being too big of a deal—it’s not like we’ve committed a crime or anything.”
Liam’s smiling now, but my palms are sweaty, and I’m beginning to feel a little seasick.
If he goes to Wiseman when we’re back in the office tomorrow, it’ll be too late. Justin will have alerted him to our supposed indiscretion at the airport hotel, and it’ll look like he’s only coming clean because he got caught.
Nobody will ever believe that we got together naturally over the course of weeks. That nothing happened between us physically before I started at SITL. That night at the hotel will look the opposite of the innocent rooming accident it was. Liam will be painted as a boss abusing his power with a new female employee, and I will look like a woman who uses my sexuality to get ahead in the workplace.
No one in their right mind would touch that kind of HR nightmare with their investment money.
Liam brushes my chin with the backs of his fingers, gently tilting it upwards so he can look at me. “Hey, don’t worry so much. Worrying is my job, remember? You’re meant to be the spontaneous, carefree one. Every relationship needs one of each, right?”
He’s so sweet, so sincere, and I’m holding back tears now. “Liam, what if us being together screws things up for your company?” I press. I need to know just how badly this is going to bruise him. “What if it all goes wrong and, because of me, you let down Luke?” I swallow. “Lose everything you’ve worked for.”
He pauses, and I see a hint of worry in his eye. It’s only there for a brief second, but I see it clearly.
“I’ll figure out another way,” he says resolutely. “We have a great userbase, there’s money coming in. It just won’t be the scale-up we were hoping for. We might have to scale back a little, but I will make it work. I know I will.”
