Page 49 of Sizzle

“What the fuck could they say, baby? That I’m dating a woman who taught here for one year a decade ago? It’s not forbidden, it’s not wrong. Nothing ever happened between us until you moved back to town and I was thirty-two years old. Stop being so damn scared and let me be with you.”

If I let him take me back out there, if I let him touch me in front of people, everything I’ve been terrified of could come true. Or … or we could finally be a real couple, not hiding in the shadows.

With shaky breaths and a resolve to leap and not look, I walk back out, feeling Liam’s presence behind me, then beside me.

He threads his fingers in mine, and I expect the world to shift on its axis. I expect that the residents of Hope Crest will start yelling shame at me, that someone will snap a picture to upload to social media with a caption that will call me all sorts of ugly accusations. I assume that I’ll be labeled as a horrible person or that they’ll protect their lovable Ashton kid.

But none of that happens. No one even glances at us. No, I walk across the room hand in hand with the man I’m falling deeper and deeper in love with.

“Hey, guys.” Alana gives me a warm smile as everyone greets us with hugs and offers to buy a round.

“Who is watching the baby tonight?” I ask Cass, pleasantly surprised she and Patrick came out.

“Leona. I swear, if that woman could kidnap her granddaughter, she might.” But the way she says it, I can tell she’s thrilled to have an involved family in her daughter’s life.

“I saw her flipping through photo albums with the baby the other day, as if Rebecca would be able to even comprehend what was going on.” Liam chuckles.

Patrick wraps his wife up in a hug as they sit side by side, practically pulling her onto his lap. “She wants to pass on our legacy, and we get a kid-free night alone in our house. I’m all for that.”

He nuzzles his face into Cassandra’s neck, and I can tell he’s whispering something not appropriate for public consumption by the way she blushes.

Liam and I take seats on the couch opposite them as Warren and Alana pull over some more armchairs. Eventually, Wilson shows up, and he, Cass, and I get into a discussion about the greatest running Broadway plays while the rest of the men talk about the latest youth football fields the town is installing.

We’re all in a really good mood, drinking casually, and every so often, I feel the press of Liam’s lips on my cheek, neck, or hand. It makes me feel cherished and special in this bar full of people. Each time he does it, my stomach flutters with the love we finally admitted to having for each other.

“Look at Evan trying to score.” Patrick chuckles, nodding his head in the direction of their younger brother.

“Ah, to be young and cocky and irresponsible.” Wilson sighs dramatically like he misses his youth, even though we’re all still young by many standards.

“I wouldn’t want to be in his position on any day,” Liam says confidently as he snakes an arm around my waist. “This is the best seat in the house.”

Alana nearly jokes on her glass of wine. “I’m sorry, did the master of monosyllabic just make what equates to a diehard romantic speech for him?”

“You know, sis, I think he did.” Patrick’s sly smile earns him a middle finger flipped up by Liam.

Joking aside, it feels like a breath of fresh air to be able to be out in public with him like this and admit these feelings to those closest to us.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” I let him know before trying to push off the couch.

“With me?” Liam winks as if I’m trying to do something other than pee in there.

“Not this time, Casanova.” I roll my eyes.

As I leave the group, I hear them start to razz Warren about the newest company holding he discovered after inheriting his late, and very wealthy, adopted father’s business last year.

The bathroom is empty as I pee and readjust my clothes, but a woman sidles up next to me as I wash my hands in the sink, and our eyes connect in the mirror. I give a small smile, just polite public restroom etiquette, then reach for a paper towel off the counter.

“Wait a second, did you teach at Hope Crest by chance?”

Her innocent question makes my stomach drop. “Um, yes.”

She flutters her eyelashes. “Oh my God, you’re Miss Murphy! I had you senior year for math!”

My hands begin to sweat, and a cold bile drips down my throat. I don’t know why I’m freaking out internally, it’s not like most people in this town didn’t know my grandmother or that I taught here. But it’s something about her mannerisms that’s triggering me.

“Well, it’s nice to see you again.” I manage to smile and get the words out without sounding like I’m having a total meltdown.

“Oh, now I get why Liam wasn’t interested in me.” Her short chuckle is haughty and sarcastic. “He’s into cougars.”

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