Page 35 of How to Write a Rom-Com

When I hang up with Josie, I head outside to collect the mail. Part of my “rent”, as Anne calls it, is collecting Al and Mella’s mail and forwarding anything urgent. The sun is setting over the mountains, and of course, I take my phone out to snap a picture. No photo will ever do it justice, though. And every time I do it, I think of Liam, and hisOutsidersreference.We all see the same sunset.

The sky seems to have so many more colors here than it does in the city. Of course, I realize that doesn’t make a lot of sense, since it is the same sky. But I can see so much more of it here. My favorite is when it looks like it does tonight, with layers of colors, one on top of another. Red is closest to the mountains, then orange on top of it, yellow blush on top of that, and purple-pink clouds scattered across the top.

I start to go back into the house when I hear a deep “woof” behind me. I turn and see Blue galloping over like the clumsiest horse I’ve ever seen. I can’t help but giggle. “Hey, buddy!” I squeal, squatting down to pet him. When he nudges me with his big head, it knocks me off balance, and my butt hits the gravel with a thud. “Oh my goodness,” I mumble as he licks my face. I laugh until I’m out of breath and I’m finally able to sit up and calm him down. “How are you today? How are you?” I say, my voice pretending like I’m talking to a baby instead of a dog.

“Blue!” I hear Liam call in the distance, but Blue makes no move to listen. I’m scratching his neck behind his ear, and he’s moaning in response.

“I think you’re wanted elsewhere, my friend,” I say, standing up. “Let’s go find Liam. Come on.” I pat my leg and Blue follows, brushing against my thigh every few steps. I walk around the side of Liam’s house and spot him on the dock. He’s looking around for Blue, and seems aggravated when he sees him with me.

Liam claps his hands for Blue to come to him. Blue looks up at me and appears to smirk. We walk toward the dock together. Liam takes a step off of the dock once Blue starts to approach him. I see Brett on the dock behind him, zipping a cooler shut and throwing it over his shoulder.

Liam puts his hands on his hips, looking at Blue knowingly. He’s in one of his long-sleeved shirts, much like what he wore on the boat that day, and a pair of board shorts. There are three fishing lines leaning off the dock.

“Hey, sorry he bothered you,” he says, patting Blue’s back.

“Don’t be silly, Blue could never bother me,” I say, sitting down on the grass. Blue comes back over to me to continue his rubdown. He collapses beside me and flips onto his back, lifting his leg up so I can rub his belly. Liam can’t help but smile.

“You’re going to lose your free rein privileges, B,” Liam tells him. Blue looks up at him lazily, barely able to keep his eyes open.

“Hey, Lucy, nice to see you again,” Brett says, coming up beside Liam.

“You too,” I say with a shy smile. Brett is the kind of handsome that can be a shock to the system. His voice is deep and strong, and his smile could make anyone blush.

“I’m off to feed the missus,” Brett says, clapping his hand across Liam’s back.

“You’re married?” I ask, not quite able to keep the surprise out of my voice.

“Newly, yeah. Just under a year.” Brett flashes his hand at me, where a black ring adorns his finger. I try to lower my eyebrows and hide the expression on my face. Elle will be so disappointed in this development. Brett has been her favorite character in my stories as of late.

“See you soon, bud,” Liam says, giving Brett a fist bump. Brett and I exchange small waves as he walks away.

Liam and I exchange glances for a moment, and I suppose one of us should say “How are you?” or something of the like, but neither of us can seem to work up the courage. He finally breaks away to look back at his fishing poles. “Want to join?” he asks.

“Sorry, join what?” I say, looking between him and the dock.

“Fishing,” he says, in a tone that makes it sound like it should be obvious.

“Hah, um yeah, I don’t think I’m the fishing type of girl,” I reply. I know Liam probably wants to make a comment about how “city girl” that sounded, so I beat him to it. “Have I mentioned I’m from Manhattan?”

“An island surrounded by water in which fish live?” he asks, squinting his eyes and pursing his lips in a jokingly condescending manner.

“Excuse me, sir, I don’t like your tone,” I say, waving my finger at him.

“Prove me wrong then,” he says, holding out his hand.

Why my mind flashes to the 2005Pride and Prejudicehand flex, I have no idea. But I take his hand anyway, which he immediately drops after he pulls me to my feet.

I don’t really think of myself as a “girly girl,” or one who has no concept of how to hold a football. I’m not judgmental of girls who are, but I don’t know if that is how I would describe myself. I’m willing to get my hands dirty, I’m up for a day on the boat, tubing in murky lake water, and whatnot, but a twenty-minute session on the elliptical is my maximum. I’m not delicate, but I’m not a go-getter, nature girl. I’m not about to go rock climbing or anything, but I can usually handle myself. Usually.

But I don’t think I’ve ever looked as awkward as I do when Liam hands me a fishing pole.

“Here, I’ll hook the bait on the end,” Liam says, handing me the pole and guiding me to hold the line swinging off it.

I hold the thin wire he hands me and slide my fingers down to the end with the hook. But of course, my fingers slip and I prick myself with said hook.

“Ouch!”

“Tell me you did not just poke yourself with the hook,” Liam says, not turning around from his supplies.

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