Page 103 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Will you join me?”

“I will.” He presses a kiss to my lips as he goes to leave. “As soon as I clean up my office.”

Chapter thirty-two

— CARDIGAN BY TAYLOR SWIFT

“Wait, you guys kissedweeks ago, and I’m only hearing about this now? What the fuck?” my sister snarks, throwing a middle finger to us on the other side of FaceTime.

“I’m sorry! I never knew the right time to tell you with all the wedding stuff.”

Teags is still laughing as my sister’s jaw drops further open than it was before.

“Liv, I’ll spill all the details at some point, okay? But help me get ready. It’s the last fake date in my contract, and I cannot wait for today to be over so Vince and I can be a real couple.”

“Are you guys not a real couple?” Teags asks.

“Yes and no. We have to hide right now, but in a few weeks, we won’t have to anymore.” I smile, excited that I can finally show off my relationship to the world. Myrealrelationship. I’m not jumping right into it since Vince and I decided to keep us mostly private for the time being.

I can still post pictures without his face or maybe a soft launch to the world a few times. I just have to be careful about any noticeable features. But for the next few weeks, our romance is just ours, and I’m thankful something is going according to my timeline for once.

“I’m happy for you, Bree. You’ve got that glow about you, and it’s nice to see you happy again.” My sister sniffles across the line, and Teags nods her head in agreement.

“Before Liv makes us all cry, show us the outfit, hottie,” Teags says, and I laugh as I run into my closet and change.

My hair’s already done. I decided to straighten it today, and I threw my favorite light pink bow to tie back my hair. My usual jewelry sits on my fingers and neck, and as I slide on one of my favorite floral print sundresses and a pair of sandals, I feel a little more like myself.

I grab my phone from my vanity before I set it up so my girls can see the full outfit.

“Damn, sis! I love that dress,” my sister smiles.

“Normally, I hate the color pink, but you look beautiful in it, so I guess by proxy, I like it,” Teags says, and I laugh. Her hating colors other than black will never cease to amaze me.

“Thanks, guys, but—” Two knocks on my door halt my words as Vince strides into my room, wearing his usual—an all-black ensemble.

“See, now Vince’s outfit is something I could see myself in. He’s got it down,” Teags says as I see Vince’s face twist in confusion.

“Hi, Vince!” my sister practically shouts.

“Liv. Teags. Nice to kind of see you guys,” Vince says, waving toward my phone before he locks eyes with me. “We have to get going, angel.”

“Oh my God, is that his nickname for you?” my sister says as my cheeks heat up.

“I’ve got to go, guys. I’ll text you later,” I say as I hurry to end the call. “I just have to get my purse…”

My words trail off as Vince lifts the purse I was going to bring and throws it around his shoulder. “Already grabbed it. Is everything you need in it? Sunglasses? Lip gloss? Tylenol for when Alex eventually annoys you?”

I smack his arm lightly. “You look absolutely adorable with my purse around your arm.”

“It’s part of my boyfriend duties. You’re never allowed to carry anything again as long as I’m around,” he says as he wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my temple. “Let’s go, baby. I don't want us to be late.”

I cock my head at him. “You mean you want this to be over as soon as possible so we can finally be together without Alex hanging over our heads?”

Vince surprises me with a kiss, and I melt into him before we walk down the stairs to the car.

The car slows toa stop in front of a small coffee shop, and before I get out, cameras are flashing. Deja vu hits me square in the chest as I think back to the first fake date we had. It’s crazy to think about all that’s happened since April. Now it’s August, and so much has changed.

Connie promised that only the photographers we wanted here would be here, but the sidewalk is lined with what looks like at least twenty-five photographers, even more spectators across the street.

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