Page 1 of The Love Chase

Emma

Two Years Ago

Asingle bead of sweat slid down my spine as we walked across the fields to say an obligatory hello to the cows and chickens like we did most days. The faint scent of manure lingered in the sweltering summer heat, and I fervently wished for a cloud to pass in front of the orange ball of heat in the sky and give me a moment of reprieve.

We stopped next to the chicken coop, a flock of chickens rushing toward us, awaiting the treats they had learned we always brought. With a quiet chuckle, I stooped down and offered my palms that were overflowing with sunflower seeds.

My best friend, Liam, crouched next to me, a small smile on his own face as he offered palms full of corn to the chickens swarming around him. Neither of us said anything—we didn’t have to. We had been friends since we were five, and our friendship had always been easy, simple. Liam and I could spend an entire day together, hardly saying a word just as easily as the nights when we had lain on the top of the hill, watching the stars soar through the sky overhead, talking for hours and sharing our craziest dreams.

When the chickens had effectively emptied our hands of treats, we stood and continued across Liam’s family farm. It had been difficult for Liam growing up here—his family tended to treat him like he was invisible—but I always loved this farm. I often imagined myself getting married here someday, though I would never dare to admit that—least of all to Liam.

It was a summer day just like any other one, with my best friend at my side, the sun slowly turning me into a red popsicle. Which was why Liam’s sudden, unexpected words shattered the silence and pierced straight through my heart.

“I’m leaving Meridel, Em.”

He stopped walking and turned to face me. His green eyes roved over my face, watching my reaction. All I could do was blink at him. Liam’s lips moved as he said something else, but I couldn’t hear it. My brain felt like it had gone deep into a tunnel, and everything else was muffled and unintelligible.

Liam’s hands went to my shoulders, squeezing gently. I ignored the drop in my stomach at his touch.

“Em?”

Leaving? How could Liam be leaving Meridel? Leaving me? Sure, I knew it was always a possibility—someday. He was an incredibly talented musician, after all. But I never imagined it would be now. I swallowed down the burning in my throat as I finally met his green gaze.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” I whispered. It was the only sound I could muster. Crossing my arms across my chest, I stepped away from his touch, wishing it would ease the fierce ache that had settled in my heart.

Liam ran a hand through his hair, his entire body vibrating with excitement. “A record label in California finally listened to the demo I sent in months ago. They loved it and offered me a deal.” His smile felt so out of place while my heart was cracking in my chest.

When I didn’t say anything, Liam’s face fell. “Come on, Em, you know this is what I’ve been working toward for years. You know this is my dream—to be a country music singer. It’s finally happening! Why aren’t you happy for me?”

It took every ounce of self-control not to wince or cringe at his words. Of course, I was happy for him. Liam deserved the world. It just had never occurred to me that him achieving his dreams meant I’d lose him in the process. The backs of my eyes burned, but I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the tears away. I could neither risk ruining our friendship by telling him how I felt, nor could I say I wasn’t happy for him when this meant so much to him.

I brushed my fingers across my forehead, trying to wipe the sweat away.

“Of course I’m happy for you,” I responded, albeit halfheartedly. “I just didn’t know you getting a record deal would mean leaving Meridel.”

Please don’t leave, Liam.

He gave me a funny look. “Well, where else am I supposed to make music?” he asked, his brows lowering over his eyes. “It’s not like Iowa is hopping with producers.”

I shrugged. “Your bedroom?”

Liam snorted, rolling his eyes. “That’s not how it works.”

“That’s how you’ve been doing it for years. Why do you need to go all the way to California?”

He sighed. “It’s part of the contract I signed, Em. I won’t be gone forever, and I’ll come back to visit as often as I can. We’ll still talk all the time, I promise.”

Though I knew he meant those words with all his heart, something about them sat like sour milk in my stomach. I didn’t know if he could keep such a promise.

Liam’s arms wrapped around me as he pulled me into a hug. Physical affection wasn’t anything new between us—we hugged all the time. And yet it didn’t stop the flutters in my stomach, didn’t stop me from feeling just a little calmer at the scent of his cedarwood cologne as I laid my head on his chest, his black T-shirt soft beneath my face. I was a tall girl, but I still only reached Liam’s neck.

And just like every time we hugged, every time he nonchalantly touched me in purely platonic ways, I couldn’t help the same thought from spinning in my head.

See me, Liam.

It was all I ever wanted, and yet he never did. I was Emma Beck, his best friend, biggest fan, and cow-tipping buddy, but never anything more. I was certain that the world would have to end for Liam to see me as anything more than a friend.

“Besides,” he continued, letting me go, entirely oblivious to my inner turmoil. “You’re heading to ISU in the fall, aren’t you? To chase your dream of being a storm chaser. You won’t be in Meridel either. You’ll be so busy with classes you won’t even have time to miss me or notice I’m gone.”

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