Page 12 of My Knight Before Christmas
“You’re doing it already,” she warned. “Do you remember after your second date how you made me and Amy stay up until three in the morning listening to you drone on and on about how much you and Liam had in common?”
I threw my hands up in the air. “We had an uncanny amount.”
“Correction.” She bopped my nose. “You still do.”
I huffed out a breath. “I don’t like when you’re right. That’s my job.”
She laughed. “Not this time.”
The doorbell rang, interrupting Anna’s pep talk. Crazy how much I needed to hear her reassurance.
Amy’s head peeked into my bedroom doorway. “Liam’s here.” She wiggled her brows. “He’s looking pret-ty fine.”
My heart galloped in my chest at the same time butterflies flitted around in my core. Focus on the positive. Liam was back.My Liam.The one I dreamed about six out of seven nights a week.
“Excuse me?” I glared at Amy. “Keep your eyeballs to yourself. Otherwise, I’ll tell Lucas you’re checking out other men,” I threatened.
She waved off my warning, knowing I’d never do such a thing. Lucas would never believe it, either. They were #couplegoals. At first, when Amy and Lucas, and Anna and Spencer started dating, I wanted to hear about every minute of their dates. I swooned with each of them when they rehashed (in a tad too much detail) their first kisses.
Once Liam ghosted me, I threw up a little in my mouth when they snuggled on our couch. Or kissed in front of me. The worst was the way they’d look at their significant others with such love in their eyes, like the world only involved around them. How could they give themselves over so completely when at any given moment, Spencer or Lucas could change their minds about Anna and Amy? Admittedly, I wasn’t the nicest of friends. As such, Spencer and Lucas didn’t come to our house as often anymore.
Anna and Amy did it out of consideration for me, but it was way past time for me to rectify that. Regardless of my love life, they deserved all the happiness in the world. Maybe if Liam and I worked out the six of us could become close, like in the showFriends?
“Don’t keep Liam waiting.” Anna shooed me out the door.
Holding one hand to my fluttery stomach, I made my way down the hall to the front door where Liam stood. My cheeks warmed as I took in how drop-dead gorgeous he was. Amy was right, he looked fa-iinnneee.
I openly stared at his curly brown hair that was shorter on the sides and longer on top. He’d shaved his beard, making his strong facial features pop even more. His broad shoulders filled out a long-sleeved baby blue shirt that he’d pushed up his arms, showing off his muscular forearms.
My eyes slowly perused his body, all the way to his tan suede shoes peeking out beneath his jeans.
Anna stood next to me, grinning. When I hadn’t spoken in ages, still openly admiring Liam, she reached her finger up to my chin, closing my jaw. “You’re drooling, Darling.”
I elbowed her, which she laughed off.
“Hi,” I said, in complete awe of Liam. What I really wanted to tell him was how outrageously handsome he was. But I didn’t want Liam to get any ideas. The previous times I’d seen him had nothing on this version. I take that back. I was attracted to every physical thing about him. No matter what he wore, he always stole my breath. The crème de la crème? His personality. He was the complete package. Except for the trust part.
“Youare beautiful,“ Liam stated as a fact. Not, I look beautiful, but that he saw me, all of me as beautiful. That phrase right there was why he destroyed me so easily.
“Should we get out of here?” His eyes darted to Anna and Amy, surrounding me.
“Yes, itisfeeling crowded.”
“Have fun, you two,” Anna sang, while draping an arm around Amy’s shoulder. “And don’t worry, we won’t wait up!”
Amy’s soft chuckle tickled my ear as she side-hugged me. “Have fun.”
I squeezed her back before stepping toward Liam, who held the door open. I moved onto the porch with Liam following behind. He placed his hand on my lower back as we walked to his Jeep parked in the driveway. Warmth seeped into my muscles where his hand lightly rested.
Well, two things were confirmed. One, I still found Liam ridiculously attractive. Two, my body reacted to his touch in pleasant ways. This information could be the best news or the worst, depending on how tonight went.
“Sorry about my roommates,” I said. “They’re a little excited to see you again.”
He held the passenger door open for me. His brows raised. “Are they the only ones?”
I met his gaze. “No.”
He grinned, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Good.” He closed my door, going around the front of his SUV to climb into the driver’s side. “Our reservation is at five-thirty, but we have a stop to make before we eat.”
