Page 24 of My Knight Before Christmas
I sat in my spot, putting my feet up on the white coffee table. “You saw how it ended. What else do you want to know?”
“You two kissed a reeeaaally long time.” Amy grinned.
I threw a blue pin-striped cushion at her. “Why’d you watch so long?” She dodged the pillow easily with her arm.
My roommates chuckled. “I could feel the heat you two were sparking. If we lived in a forest, you’d have started a fire,” Anna said.
My cheeks heated as I remembered Liam’s lips on mine. The way he took charge of the kiss, backing me up against the wall. The way his fists clenched around my hips. Even the sweet, closed lipped kiss he gifted me before leaving for the night. I might not make it until Friday night when we planned to see each other again.
“It was… “ I grinned like the love-sick girl I was. “I’m going to sound so cheesy saying this, but knee-buckling, mind-blowing, passionate goodness.”
“So, I’m right,” Anna challenged. “You and Liam are back together?”
I nodded once. “We are.”
Amy looked at me. “Was it his kiss?” She wiggled her brows suggestively.
I chuckled. “No, not just that.” I fiddled with the edge of a white throw blanket draped over the arm of the couch. “He told me what happened the last three months. He was open, unlike any other man I’ve met. We can talk about anything and everything and on the rare occasions it’s quiet, it’s comfortable. Also, it’s like he sees me for me. He’s complimentary and I can feel his sincerity like it’s visceral. And yeah, his kisses are potent.”
Amy reverently said, “I’m really happy for you.”
I smiled. “Thanks. I am too.” I stood. “Speaking of happiness, I’m going to head to bed since I need to be up so early. I’m going to surprise Liam with dessert tomorrow after work. Friday is too far away.”
“Do you think you’re coming on a little strong?” Anna asked.
Amy looked at Anna then at me, then tilted her head toward Anna. “She has a point. You just went out.”
Possibly. But I got the feeling Liam wouldn’t mind if I came bearing gifts so soon after our date. “He’ll tell me if I am. Besides, when we’re all together for game night, I won’t be able to kiss him whenever I want. I’m storing up for the drought.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Get out of here, you love-drunk-woman.”
“Gladly.”
In record-breaking speed, I dashed home to change out of my work clothes before heading to myboyfriend’shouse (I said it twenty times today and it never got old). I pulled in alongside a red car in the driveway of his townhome. Did Liam get another car? Did I misremember his house? I searched our old text thread and found I indeed came to the correct address.
Grabbing the white bakery box filled with two brownies, two eclairs, and two chocolate chip cookies, I made my way to Liam’s front door.
Anna’s words echoed in my mind. What if he didn’t want me here? What if this surprise reeked of desperation? I stopped halfway from my Accord to his porch.
What was I thinking? Oh right. That I wanted Liam’s mouth on mine. And just like the sugar addict I was, I’d found my new substance. This couldn’t be healthy. Could it?
Stop second guessing everything.
I found my courage buried deep under the riverbed of my doubts and strode to Liam’s white door and rang the bell. While waiting for him to answer, I spun the opposite direction, staring at the school across the street. A mother stood behind her toddler, pushing her in a swing. Her giggle of delight carried on the breeze. A sharp pang of want hit me in the chest. One day, I wanted that. To have children. Would it be with Liam? Would a mini Avery and Liam be in my future?
The noise of the door opening caused me to spin rapidly. I almost dropped the box of baked goods, but caught it just in time to come face to face with a woman. A drop-dead, auburn-haired goddess. I stumbled back a step. “Oh. Uh, is Liam Knight here?” I again second guessed if I arrived at the wrong place. It felt a little too Dorothy-esque. I was not in Lampton, Connecticut anymore. I had landed in a nightmare.
She pouted. “No, he’s not. He just started a huge new project at work and will be late. Is that a delivery for him?” She reached out to take the box from me.
Who was she? Another woman he was dating? Was he playing me? I had a hard time picturing Liam cheating on me, but it had happened before with my ex. Was I too naive and missed all the signs? This was why I shouldn’t have said yes so quickly to dating Liam again. He was just like my aunt and uncle after all. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the tears trying to form as I stood there confused and unsure. “Yeah.” I shoved the box into her hands. “Thanks.” I bolted to my car, fishing my keys out of my purse as I went.
“Wait,” the Goddess hollered. “Who are these from?”
I flung my car door open and responded as I got in. “Liam will know.” I sped off as if a tornado were approaching and I had to find shelter. My insides were all twisted up. Why would Liam ask to be my girlfriend if he was dating someone else? My heart shattered. Why would the universe put us together only to rip me apart again?
With tears in my eyes, I pulled over to the side of the road. I rested my head against the steering wheel, letting the pain course through me. Sobs racked my body. My cheeks were completely wet. What was wrong with me that I missed all the signs of a cheating scumbag? I had to give it to Liam. He had me completely fooled.
Needing peace only provided by my favorite place, I drove to the beach. Once there, I grabbed the blanket I kept in my trunk and wound my way close to the shore-line. I plopped down in the sand, watching the rhythmic waves, waiting for them to work their calming magic on my sore heart. Except peace never came. I could only think about the night before when Liam held me on the beach. He ruined my heart and my favorite place on earth. The jerk.
