Page 11 of Had To Be You

“Can I sit?” I’m not sure why he asks, because he lowers his tall, muscular body down into the chair across from me before I even have a chance to answer.

“Feel free. I was just about to leave.” I push my chair back to stand when he stops me. He grasps my hand across the table, and I feel that now familiar jolt of electricity zip through me.

“Do you need to be somewhere?” he asks, flashing that cocky grin he has perfected. I shift in my chair and he releases my hand.

“Anywhere but here works for me right now.”

“No plans then. So you won’t mind staying here with me for five minutes.” He’s so bossy. Why do I like that he’s so bossy?

“Being here with you doesn’t even crack my top ten list of things I want to be doing today, Liam. But a root canal makes the list.” A muscle in his jaw twitches. A giveaway. I’m under his skin.

“A little effort here, Ellie, would be nice. I’m pretty sure the two of us are capable of a civilized conversation.”

I shrug as if I’m bored. “You think? I’m not convinced.” This man is infuriating. I know I should be trying harder to be nice for Olivia’s sake, but he makes it’s so damn difficult.

“Five minutes, Ellie. I have to get to the office anyways to catch up on reading. I can make it quick. We need to talk.” He swallows. “Okay?”

I don’t answer him. I say nothing. Instead, I lean back in my chair, fold my arms across my chest and wait to hear what he has to say. I’m sure it will be incredibly annoying.

“Thank you,” he says, then sips from his to-go cup. He rests his elbows on the small table, leaning closer. “Look, the wedding is coming up-“

I interrupt him, my eyes glaring, “I’m well aware of that.”

“So, it would be nice if we could be in the same room together. We are going to be spending a whole lot of time together.”

“I agree. Good talk. So, I think we are done here. Have a great day, Liam.” I start to push up from my chair, but he stops me again, reaching for my hand.

“Can I have my hand back?” He releases it, sitting up straighter in his chair.

His gaze is locked on mine and I refuse to look away, glaring at him like it’s some sort of petulant staring competition.

“You said five minutes, Ellie. That means I still have three and a half left. Sit.”

I’ve got to give it to him. He’s persistent and for some reason I go along with it, when getting up and walking away is what I should be doing.

“Fine. I’m listening. You have three and half minutes, and then I’m leaving.”

Liam knocks back some of his coffee. “Ellie, there are two things that can’t happen at my brother’s wedding. One, I can’t be fighting with a bridesmaid. And two, I can’t be throwing that same bridesmaid up against a wall and devouring her mouth.” I nearly fall off my seat. My heart flip-flops behind my ribcage. Then I remember that feeling this way about Liam is trouble. I need to steer this conversation to safer ground. I banter back, “Then I suggest you stay far away from the bridesmaid in question all together if you can’t handle yourself around her. Seems easy enough to me.”

“That’s the problem. I can’t help myself.” I stare at him, trying not to let my jaw drop. What did he just say? The temperature in the room skyrockets to a bazillion degrees.

“Well, you should try harder. I can’t help myself around chocolate chip cookies. I see them and I can’t say no. But they’re not good for me and after I’ve had four, I regret it.”

“I wouldn’t regret it, Ellie.” He looks me directly in the eye, pinning me with his steel-gray ones.

“Yes, you would, Liam. Trust me. I know better than anyone how regrets work.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” His voice is softer, the fight in his eyes gone. He sets down his cup and rests his large, strong hands on the table. I’m a sucker for this particular body part so my eyes dip down to sneak a glance. His nails are perfectly manicured, his fingers wide and long.

I ignore the question because I’ve already said too much. There are things he will never know about me, things I keep under lock and key from everyone in my life. Including my best friend, Olivia.

“Look Liam, the truth is you could never keep up with me,” I say, redirecting the conversation. “You work too much. You have no idea how to have fun. Do you even know the definition of spontaneous?” I sit up straighter in my chair, my willpower renewed. “You can’t plan life down to the second. You can’t expect things to go smoothly all the time. Especially if you want to be with me.” I look at him, anticipating his reaction. The tension between us so thick, it’s hard to breathe.

Liam chuckles, but something changes in his eyes. I can tell he has something to say. “Let’s get out of here, Ellie.” He reaches for my hand across the table. “Spend the day with me.”

“What happened to going into the office? I thought you said-”

“Fuck it. What’s the matter, Ellie? Don’t you know how to be spontaneous?” A wide grin spreads across his face and shows off the dimple in his left cheek. He should really smile more. My heart twists. He’s so fucking handsome.

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