Page 48 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“I think,” I said carefully. “But that’s why I don’t want her to know. I don’t want things to change how she sees me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think that will happen. She’s seen a side of you that not many women have seen—either from you choosing to have it that way, or them not being willing to see past the celebrity. I think the person she knows you to be now, is the way she’ll always see you.”

I gave her a skeptical look. I wasn’t sure that was a chance I wanted to take.

Amy smiled kindly. “I just think she should know, Josh. I’m saying this as a girl. Have you thought about what happens when the summer’s over?”

“Nothing happens,” I said. “I’m off to Florida, and she’s starting a new job.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, giving me a slightly exhausted look. “I mean, what happens when Liv leaves here? Were you planning on keeping in touch with her? What happens when she goes off to work? When she makes a bunch of new friends? When they take her out? Go to parties? To the movies?” Understanding started creeping in. “How do you think she’s going to feel when she realizes who you are, Josh?”

I frowned. How had I not thought about this before now?

She smiled and reached out to squeeze my arm. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do, honey, but I think you should know there’s a possibility she could feel lied to in some way if you don’t tell her. Like you were keeping that part of yourself away from her.”

Hanging my head, I sighed. Why did shit have to be so fucking hard? I knew she was right. It was something I’d been trying to ignore since I’d discovered Liv had no clue who I was. But obviously, my need to have her like me as a person clouded my sense of what was right for her. I was being selfish.

“Just think about it,” she said, patting my arm. “I just wanted you to see it from another angle.”

“Thanks, Ames. I appreciate it. This is seriously weird for me. I honestly don’t know what I’m doing. I should be staying away from her, but I just can’t make myself. It’s crazy.”

She smiled and shrugged like it didn’t matter. “It’s called fate, Josh. There’s a reason you two are being thrown together. You don’t need to know what that reason is right now. You just need to go with it and see where it takes you.”

Inhaling deeply, I gave her a withering look. “I’ll try.”

Standing, she let out a light laugh. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to see how the loves of my life are doing.”

As she disappeared inside, I glanced out to the ocean and thought over her words. Liv was the kindest person I knew. When I thought about how deserving she was of everything good, I knew Amy was right. I was being selfish. Liv deserved to know.

Picking up my cell, I tapped out a quick message.

Good morning beautiful

Her reply came back almost immediately.

Good morning!

I sighed. There was no time like the present.

Want to join me for breakfast?

When all I got back from her was an emoticon of a thinking face, I chuckled, but then she sent another message straight after.

I guess it depends what you’re offering

I laughed. I could even imagine her teasing expression as she said it.

Meet me down on the beach in 5 minutes and I’ll show you

I sipped on the last of my coffee as I waited for her response. It took longer than it should have, making me sweat a little, but when it finally came through, I smiled.

Okay

Jumping up, I strode into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of the savory pastries from the fridge and threw them in the microwave. While they were heating, I tossed a bottle of juice in a bag, along with a couple of plastic cups. When it was all ready to go, I scooped up the bag and made my way down the trail to the beach.

Liv was halfway to my house by the time I got down to the sand, so I kept going until I met her. She smiled brilliantly as she stopped before me. “Here I am. You can wow me now.”

Dropping the bag to the ground, I took her face in my hands and kissed her slow. “Good enough?”

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