Page 41 of Becoming Cinderella

“Hey Siri,” I yell through the door once it stops ringing, moving to try to position myself against the crack in the door like that will help it hear me better. “Call Anna.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.” I hear her muffled voice say through the door.

“Does your Siri have a British accent?”

I shush Liam as I call out to Siri once more. “Call Anna!”

“Calling Anna, mobile.” I hear Siri say. I jump to my feet and Liam follows.

“Hello,” Anna answers.

“Anna! Anna, its Carter! I’m locked in a closet at the store!”

I’m shouting, pressing my ear to the door to try to hear what she says.

“You’re what? Locked in the closet?”

“Yes! Please come let us out!”

“Okay, I’m coming. I’ll be there in fifteen, hang tight.”

As if I have a choice.

I hear the phone call disconnect and I launch myself into Liam’s arms, excited our rescue is on the way.

He wraps his arms tightly around me as I wrap my own around the back of his neck.

“You did it!” He lifts me off my feet and I squeal with delight.

I notice at the same time Liam does that he’s still holding me and he quickly sets me down. It’s suddenly very warm in the closet and I really need Anna to get here soon before this closet turns into a full-on sauna.

About fifteen minutes later, at least I’m guessing since I don’t have my phone, Anna comes to let us free. Her gaze shifts between Liam and I judgingly, like we’re two middle schoolers who were caught making out in the school library.

“Hi Anna, thanks for coming to our rescue.” I step past her and pick up my phone to see if my parents have tried to message me.

“Hi, Anna, is it? I’m Liam.” Liam shakes her hand as he works his charm. “I’m real sorry about ruining your evening. This is all my fault. I showed up unexpectedly after Carter’s shift and was going to help her clean up, when we got locked in here getting the needed supplies.” He gives Anna a smile he reserves for the red carpet.

Anna surprisingly doesn’t fall for it, because instead of turning to mush like most would, she just eyes the doorknob.

The muscles in my shoulders tense, knowing we’re about to get busted for switching out the knobs. Anna doesn’t say anything about it though, so maybe Liam’s charm did sort of work?

Liam and I follow Anna out of the store but I sit in my car, trying to wrap my mind around the events of tonight. I was disappointed about things falling apart with Jared and that the evening didn’t go originally as planned. But now, I’m glad it didn’t. I think I’ve reached a new level of friendship with Liam. I was able to break down some of his walls, like he broke down some of mine.

Honestly, it’s a little scary to be this comfortable and this open with someone. And I’m not sure if it makes it harder, or easier, knowing he will be leaving soon.

Later that night I’m on my bed staring at one of the posters of Liam. I can’t stop thinking about the things he said in the closet earlier. Somewhere over the past few weeks Liam has gone from A-Lister Liam Taylor to just Liam. It seems weird now to have photos of someone I consider a friend all over my wall, at least in this capacity. I have at least seven different posters as well as printed out photos and tacked up movie ticket stubs that have been collected over the years. I pull off the ticket stubs from the wall and tuck them into my nightstand drawer before I put the posters in a pile on the floor before I take them to the outside garbage.

Chapter Eleven

“Well, if it isn’t the girl who gets locked in closets with Hollywood’s finest.” Jared walks out of the dressing rooms with his hands full of clothes to put back when I arrive to work.

“You heard?” I’m not surprised he’s heard, but I was hoping he hadn’t. It just means there will be more convincing Jared that there’s nothing happening between Liam and I. Jared follows me to behind the counter.

“You bet I did. Anna said she found you and Liam locked in the closet together.” Jared props an elbow on the counter and leans against it. “What exactly were you and Liam doing in a closet?” He gives me a mischievous smile as he leans in slightly towards me.

“Stop,” I push his shoulder back. “It wasn’t anything like that.” I can’t exactly tell him what it was like though. That the plan was originally for me and Jared to get locked in the closet together.

“Am I allowed to ask what’s going on between you and Liam? You know, and not receive a brush off?”

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