Page 10 of How to Write a Rom-Com

“I amsosorry,” I mumble, covering my face with my hands. “I have this habit of not thinking before I speak. Or more accurately, my thoughts and words form at the same time. It’s hard to separate them sometimes.” I’m babbling so fast that I’m sure this will go down as one of the worst meet-cutes in history. “I’m working on it,” I finally say.

Liam smiles. Only one corner of his mouth picks up but his whole face changes. It makes me smile as well.

“That’s all right. To answer your question, no, no ex-wife, no kids. No criminal history. Excellent chef. Best in town.”

“Very humble too, I see.”

“Ha ha!” He laughs loudly. The sound reverberates in my chest. “I have to get back to work, but it was a pleasure to meet you, Lucy...”

“Bowen.”

“Lucy Bowen.” He repeats with a somewhat bigger smile. “I’ll see you around.”

As he begins to walk away, he puts two fingers between his lips and whistles. I follow his gaze to his house. A large black and brown German Shepherd emerges from the backyard and, in three long strides, runs to Liam’s side.

“And who’s this?” I ask, smiling at the dog.

“This is Blue,” Liam says, patting the dog’s side.

“Friendly?”

“Massively. He’s a big goofball.”

I take a few steps and squat down to the dog’s level. I outstretch my hand and let him give it a proper sniff. When he gently bumps it with his nose, I pet him under his neck and he licks my face.

“Oh, sorry!” Liam says, reaching for Blue.

“Don’t be,” I say, standing up. “I love dogs. I wish I could have one, but it doesn’t really mesh with city living, you know?”

He studies me for a moment, and the look on his face transforms again. His eyes look…concerned? Like he’s trying to place me? I wonder if I have the same look of suspicion on my face.

But how can I look at Liam and not think,really? This is the first guy I meet on this small-town adventure? The literal poster child for what a small-town romance protagonist should look like?

Serendipity like that doesn’t just happen to me.

And this isn’t actually a small-town rom-com.

Liam snaps at Blue and the dog quickly ditches my pets and looks at his owner. “Up, up,” he commands, pointing to the car. Blue smoothly jumps into the passenger side of the truck.

“See you around,” I say.

I wave as he jumps into his white Jeep Wrangler and takes off down the road. Way to make a first impression, Lucy.

Chapter Four

Just as I make it to the front door, my phone rings. It’s Elle.

“Are you with Anne right now?” I answer the phone with a snap.

“Well, hello to you too. And no. It’s Memorial Day. I like my job, but not enough to spend a day off with my boss.”

“Oh right,” I mumble. I toss the house keys onto a small table in the front entrance and drag my suitcase in as I nestle the phone between my shoulder and my ear.

“What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter? Well, I’ll tell you! Our boss is a sociopath, that’s what.”

“What did she do now?”

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