by Katie McCoy
Her eyes widened. “Oh yes, of course,” she said, patting herself down and pulling out her phone once again. She frowned at the screen. “Yes, something to eat.”
“I can come back later,” I told her.
“No!” she almost yelled.
I stared at her.
“Adriana,” I said slowly. “What is going on?”
She looked nervous, and then I got nervous. “Is something wrong?”
Then, Nico came in through the front door and Adriana sagged with relief. “Good?” she asked her husband.
“Good,” he responded, and he headed back to the kitchen.
Adriana turned to me with a smile. “You can go now,” she told me brightly.
I blinked, not sure what the hell had just happened. “I thought you wanted me to try something,” I said lamely.
Adriana shook her head, grinning. “Not now,” she informed me. “You come back later, OK?”
“Are you sure?” I asked, but she was already grabbing me by the arms.
“Yes, yes,” she said, turning me towards the door and actually giving me a gentle shove in its direction. “You go now. Come back later.”
I glanced back at her as I walked the rest of the way to the door. She smiled and waved at me, wiggling her fingers. I shook my head, wondering if I was on some hidden camera reality show.
I unlocked the door to the lobby of my building and headed to the elevator to discover that—like usual—it was out of order. I trudged up the stairs, getting more and more tired with each step. I knew I was being dramatic—after all, I had just spent the morning being pampered and spoiled—but my sadness over my breakup with Liam had set back in, and I was feeling tired and heartbroken and just wanted to be left alone for a while.
When I got to my door, there was a note on it. With a single, long-stemmed red rose.
I stopped. What was this? Some kind of gift from the girls to cheer me up?
I inhaled the sweet smell of the rose before opening the card.
Please meet me on the roof, it said.
My heart leapt, but I told myself it was impossible. Liam was in New York. We had broken up. Just because I wanted this note to be from Liam, just because I wanted it to be him on the roof, didn’t mean that it would be.
But who else could it be?
My heart pounding, I headed towards the roof. Three flights of stairs later, I pushed open the roof door and stepped outside. The sun was just beginning to set—the last warm breezes of summer floating across the rooftop and ruffling the hem of my dress. The sky was pink and blue, and it was so clear that I could see Lake Michigan.
Then I saw him.
22
Juliet
Liam. Looking so good it hurt, on the middle of my rooftop. Except it didn’t look like the roof anymore. It was lit up by what looked like a hundred candles, strung with tiny lanterns that twinkled in the dusk. It was magical, like we were in another world. One that was just for the two of us. Spread across the ground were hundreds of rose petals, creating a path that led right to Liam.
I stepped towards him, still trying to take all of it in. I wasn’t even sure I could trust my eyes—how was this possible? Was he really here?
As I got closer, I realized that there was a table covered with all of my favorite dishes from Adriana and Nico’s restaurant. No wonder Adriana had been acting so weird—she and Nico had been working with Liam to get the whole thing set up!
I still couldn’t believe what was happening. Still couldn’t trust that it was real.
Finally, I reached him, and in order to prove that this was reality, I reached out and pinched Liam’s arm.
“Ow,” he said, smiling as he rubbed his arm.
“Sorry,” I said, feeling breathless—and not just from the climb. “I had to check.”
“Check what?”
“That you were really here.” I swallowed, feeling it all rush back to me: the hurt, the betrayal, the heartache.
His smile faded a little, and I saw the regret in his eyes. “I’m really here,” he assured me.
“But why?”
“I missed you,” he said.
The simple statement made my heart leap with hope, but I didn’t allow myself to show it. Because it wasn’t enough. Not after what he had put me through.
“I missed you too,” I confessed. “But that’s not good enough.”
He nodded. “I know,” he told me. “I really fucked up, didn’t I?”
I didn’t say anything, because I was worried what I might say. Because I didn’t know how I felt about him standing in front of me. Especially if I didn’t know what his intentions were. Was he here just for the weekend? Or was this something else?
“What do you want?” I asked him, my voice twisting with emotion. “Because you don’t even seem to know. So if you’re just here because you feel guilty, or think you should apologize, then I don’t know what to say.”
Liam looked ashamed, hanging his head, his hair slipping down onto his forehead. It was then that I realized it wasn’t as perfect and neat as it usually was. In fact, it looked like he had been running his hands through it. That made me more hopeful than anything else.
“I was a moron,” he finally said, meeting my eyes. “And it took me moving to New York to realize exactly how much of an idiot I had been.” He took a deep breath. “For a really long time, I had my eyes focused on the future. On the perfect job, the perfect life. The perfect girl. But I fucked up. Because I was so focused on looking ahead of me, that I didn’t take the time to stop and see what was right in front of me. What I had, by some miracle, managed to find without even trying.”
I clutched the rose tighter to my chest.
“I got to New York—started my new job—and I thought everything would be great. I had everything that I wanted . . .” Liam shook his head. “But I was miserable. Because I had everything except you. And I know it took me a while to figure out, and I’m sorry for that, but I realized I can’t be without you, Juliet. I need you in my life.”
He came towards me and took my hands, and despite everything, I felt that spark again. That damn sexy, undeniable spark between us. And I could see that Liam still felt it too.
“But what does that mean?” I gulped, my head spinning. “You want to do long distance? But Liam, you know that won’t work. I’d miss you too much, and we’d both get busy, and—”
“I quit.”
My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open. “What?” I barely managed.
“The New York job,” he said. “I quit.”
“But, why? How?” I stammered. “It was your dream job.”
“I thought it was,” he told me. “But I was wrong. My dream . . . it was all wrong. The money, the job, they don’t mean anything without the right people in my life. Without you.”
I was stunned, still trying to process everything he was saying. “What are you saying?” I finally was able to ask. “This doesn’t make any sense!”
“I know.” Liam gave me a heart-stopping grin. “But I don’t care. I’m following my instincts for once. And the truth is, I’m crazy about you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back.”
His words slowly sank in. I gaped at him in disbelief. The expression on Liam’s face was one of hope—but nervousness, as well.
“Can you forgive me?” he asked, his eyes full of emotion. “I know I messed up,” he told me. “I was wrong. And I’m so, so sorry.”
I wanted to believe him. Everything in me ached to throw myself in his arms, but something held me back. “How can I trust that this is real?” I asked. “Because this is what you do—you’re hot and then you’re cold. You open up and then push me away. One moment you want to be exclusive, the next, you’re moving to New York.”
He looked ashamed. “You’re right. I haven’t given you much of a reason to trust me, but I’m asking you to trust me now.”
“How?” I asked, my heart twisting in my chest. “How do I know that you won’t ge
t cold feet again? That you won’t run off to some other state if things get too intense? Because you broke my heart, Liam,” I told him, putting everything out on the table. “You broke my heart when you left. And I don’t think I can bear for you to break it again.”
“Juliet.” Liam came towards me, his hands on my arms. “I made a mistake. I made so many mistakes. But if you can believe anything I say, believe this—my eyes are open now. I spent my life trying to stay in control, but I see now I don’t want to be that guy, so obsessed with plans and ambition that he lets the best thing in his life slip away. I know exactly what I want. You.”
Tears started streaming down my face. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe him so badly.
“I love you,” Liam said tenderly. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been falling in love with you since the moment we met.”
Everything seemed to stop. I looked up at him, through my tears, not sure if I had heard him correctly.
“I love you,” he said again, his gaze steady, his words unwavering. “And I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together.”
I couldn’t believe it.
“I love you too,” I said, through my tears.
He smiled at me—that gorgeous, toothy grin of his—and I just melted. Still crying, but now with tears of happiness, I threw myself into his arms and did what I had been wanting to do since I saw him—I kissed him.
He kissed me back, his hands tangled in my hair, his mouth hot and sexy and familiar against mine. It was like coming home.
This was what I’d missed so badly. This was why I couldn’t get him off my mind. Because Liam was one of the best men I’d ever known, and I knew I could trust him to be a man of his word.
“I have something to ask you,” Liam said between kisses.
I nodded, still planting kisses all over his face.
“Will you dance with me?” he asked.
Then he pulled out his phone, and “Amazed” by Lonestar started playing out of the speakers he had set up on the roof. It was the song that had been playing in Rascals the night we met. The first song we danced to.
Liam held out his hand and I took it, melting into his arms. “I love you,” he told me again, and it was just as sweet this time.
I was pretty sure I’d never get tired of him saying it.
“How did you manage to make all this happen?” I asked, breathless, as he swung me around the beautiful, secretive setup he had created for us up on my roof.
His hand was on my lower back, holding me close.
“I had a lot of help,” he told me. “Nico and Adriana helped—though it took a lot of convincing.” He looked at me. “They are very, very protective of you.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said, looking around. “It’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“You deserve it.”
I flushed.
“So what now?” I asked slowly, the song still playing in the background. “What did your job say when you quit?”
“It wasn’t pretty,” Liam admitted. “But I think they understood. I’m talking to the Chicago office to see if we can work something out, but even if we can’t, I know I’ll find a job I like just as much here. Besides—maybe it’s time for me to spread my wings a little. Take a risk or two.”
“What?” I teased. “I didn’t hear you right. Liam . . . taking a risk?”
He smiled good-naturedly. “It must be infectious. You know, you inspired me,” he continued. “The way you’ve found yourself outside of dance. You’re building a whole new life, and that takes guts.”
I blushed even deeper. “I’m proud of you,” I told him. “It’s not easy to give up something you love.”
“I didn’t,” he said simply. “If I had stayed, then I would have been giving up something I love. I would have been giving up you. But in the end, the decision to come back was easy. Because I didn’t want to be without you.”
We danced under the stars, kissing and talking about the future. Everything was perfect.
23
Juliet
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Things were going amazingly. I continued to volunteer at Hayley’s after-school program, and I absolutely adored my students. I was working fewer shifts at Rascals but taking classes to get my teaching certification. And Liam had been by my side the entire time, supporting all the decisions I was making and all the risks I was taking.
There was a lot to celebrate that night. The boys closed Rascals so we could all have a private night, not just to officially cheer Liam’s return, but to also congratulate Emerson and Alex on their engagement.
Her enormous diamond ring nearly blinding everyone, Alex kept insisting that she’d had no idea it was coming.
“I don’t buy it,” Hayley was telling her future sister-in-law. “Everyone knows that Emerson has the world’s worst poker face.”
“That is true,” Dante interjected, and everyone laughed. “What?” He looked surprised, making it clear that he hadn’t been trying to tell a joke. “It’s true.”
“It is true,” Alex acquiesced. “But I was still totally clueless.”
“You thought he wanted to go to the ATM where you guys met for no reason?” Kelsey asked, which got another roar of laughter.
“I didn’t even realize it was that ATM until we were there and he was down on one knee,” Alex protested. “I just thought he needed to stop for cash.”
I had heard the story about how they had met, and thought it was very romantic. Kind of crazy and unexpected, but wasn’t that at the heart of all romance anyways? And I couldn’t really comment on it, since Liam and I had met in an equally crazy and unexpected way.
“The ring is beautiful,” I told her, examining it once more.
“Thank you,” Alex said, her face glowing with happiness. Or maybe it was just from the reflection of her enormous rock. Emerson had done a damn good job with the oval-cut diamond. It suited Alex perfectly.
“How long have you all known?” Alex wanted to know.
“A while,” Hayley said. “I went with him to pick out the ring weeks ago.”
“Excuse me,” Emerson interrupted. “You did not pick out the ring,” he corrected. “I picked the ring. I knew exactly what Alex would want. You were there because you asked to be there.”
Hayley flushed. “OK, yeah, I wanted to be there. So sue me if I was excited about my only brother getting married.”
“Your only brother?” Chase put a hand to his chest as if insulted. “What are the rest of us, chopped liver?”
Everyone laughed.
“Fine.” Hayley rolled her eyes. “I guess I consider you my brother too.”
“All of us, I hope,” Sawyer added.
Hayley didn’t say anything, and I saw her gaze shift towards Dante, who was saying nothing, just drinking his beer, as silent and brooding as always.
“There are obviously plenty of surrogate brothers to go around,” I interjected, hoping to draw the attention away from Hayley.
It worked, and I got a thankful look from Hayley. I winked at her in response.
“Why do I feel like you girls all have some sort of secret, silent language that allows you to communicate from across the room?” Liam asked, draping his arm over my shoulder.
He was wearing my favorite suit of his—the gray one with the checkered pocket square. I had been thinking of slipping some more colorful tie options into his closet lately, but for now, I was satisfied with the occasional pop of a pattern. At least he had stopped making sure his hair was perfect all the time. Once he heard that I liked it a little ruffled, he stopped being so particular with it. Or he just got tired of trying to keep me from messing with it.
He was so handsome it was hard not to stare at him.
“Because we do have a secret, silent language,” I told him, turning to face him, pulling his suit lapels so he’d come in for a kiss.
What started out as a simple, friendly kiss quickly evolved into something more in
tense.
“Get a room!” Sawyer shouted as it got more heated.
We broke apart, breathing heavily. I blushed as everyone cheered.
“Not my fault that you’re jealous,” Liam told his best friend.
“I’m not jealous. Not everyone wants to be in relationship. Some of us are perfectly happy to be single,” Sawyer argued, before turning to me. “No offense.”
I held up my hands. “None taken.”
“I am perfectly content with the way my life is right now,” Sawyer continued.
“I can’t wait to see the girl that makes you change your mind about that,” Liam commented, putting his arm around me.
Sawyer scoffed. “Don’t hold your breath,” he said. “I like having fun.”
“Relationships are fun,” Chase said, wiggling his eyebrows at his girlfriend. “They’re lots of fun.”
“So is being single,” Sawyer countered. “Different fun every night.”
“Yeah, but that gets boring,” Emerson interjected.
“Speak for yourself,” Dante added, and I saw Hayley wilt once again.
“Look, not all of us are made for relationships,” Sawyer added, shrugging. “I’m perfectly happy with the way things are. No mess, no fuss, no drama.”
“Just you wait,” Liam told him, smirking. “You’re going to get knocked on your ass by some woman, and you’re not even going to know what hit you.”
“And the rest of us will be waiting to point and laugh at you when it does,” Hayley teased him.
“It won’t,” he argued.
Everyone laughed.
“Who wants to lay claim on being the first to say I told you so when it happens?” Chase asked, and then started taking bets, much to Sawyer’s obvious annoyance.
“Let’s get out of here,” Liam leaned down and whispered in my ear.
“We can’t leave,” I told him, even though I was desperate to be alone with him. “Everyone is still celebrating. It would be rude.”
Liam thought for a moment. “Would it be rude to sneak out for just a couple of minutes?” He had a naughty look in his eyes.