Page 72 of New Girl in the City
Chapter Seventeen
Liam’s sister’s name was Charlotte and she was the sweetest girl I could have imagined. She’d performed beautifully in her company’s rendition of Swan Lake. I had seen the ballet before. but it had been quite a while. I had to say that Charlotte’s interpretation was sweet, airy and heartfelt. Just like the girl.
She was grinning at me across the table and I cautioned a look at Liam to see that he was looking at his sister with the same kind of sweet smile. It was a good look on him and I was happy to be exactly where I was.
“You’re the first girlfriend I’ve ever met,” she told me, leaning across the table as if Liam wasn't there. “And I really think you’re great, so why are you dating my meatball of a brother?”
I laughed while Liam groaned sinking lower in his seat. We were at an upscale restaurant, one that was casual in vibe, but chic enough that it was worthy of celebrating Charlotte’s opening night and starring role.
“Come on, Char. Give me a break. You’re supposed to be making me look good here.”
“I am,” she insisted. “Everyone loves meatballs.”
Again I laughed, enjoying the pinched look on Liam’s face. “I told you, you’re both monsters,” he said, lifting his glass of wine to me and then taking a long drink when Charlotte stuck her tongue out at him.
“Whateverrrrr, Liam. Now back to my question, Mel. What’s bringing you my brother’s direction?”
I toyed with my wineglass and then said, “Well, your brother is pretty wonderful. He’s kind, smart, thoughtful, he puts others ahead of himself constantly. I like how I feel when I’m with him.”
Charlotte nodded and tipped her head to the side, her eyes cutting to her brother as I spoke. “Okay, those are all really wonderful reasons for you to date him. I like it. I approve of him for you.”
Again Liam let out a put-upon sigh. “Such a ball buster.”
“You raised me like this.”
He grinned. “Sure did.” Then he shook his head at his sister. “But that doesn't mean I want you to use it on me in front of the woman I love.”
I choked on my wine. Charlotte nearly did the same on the pasta she had just taken a bite of.
“What?” We both croaked out at the same time. This was news. I had never heard Liam say that word. Even though I had been thinking that word for days now I had been deathly afraid of saying it out loud.
Love. He loved me.
“You what?” Charlotte and I said in tandem.
Now Liam looked pleased at catching us both off guard. He leaned back in his chair and sipped from his wine glass. “I love her,” he said, answering his sister, before looking at me, “I love you, Mel.”
“I love you too.”
His eyes crinkled as he smiled at me, before setting his wineglass down and reaching for my hand. “I like hearing you say that.”
“Me too,” I agreed when he lifted my hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to it. “I love you,” I said again, liking the feel of it on my tongue. It felt right to say, even if it had only been weeks since we had met. It felt natural to say it out loud, and so I turned to his sister. “I love him. That’s why I’m with him.”
“Wait, is that the first time you’ve both said that?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Yes,” I answered.
Charlotte’s hands clasped together, and she pressed them to her chest with a happy smile. “You two are really cute. I love you together.” She looked at her brother with a shake of her head. “And you’re never cute, so I really love you with her. You better never let her go.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. I liked that Charlotte loved us together. I loved us together, and from the way Liam was looking at me, he loved us together.
“Hey, can I get a vote of confidence from you? I’m not stupid. Mel is forever.” He looked my way and at the slight turn of his head I reached out, cupping his cheek, leaning forward to kiss him.
“Forever is a long time,” I told him, but that only made him smile wider.
“I want you for as long as you’ll have me. Forever is just the right amount of time for me, Mel. Do you want forever with me?” he asked.
I nodded, our hands touching, fingers interlaced as we stared into each other’s eyes. “Yes, yes, yes...Forever is exactly the amount of time I want with the man I love.”
And there at the table with Charlotte we kissed again and chose to believe in forever. Which suited me just fine, because what else could a woman want with the man she loved?
Forever had a nice ring to it.
