Page 25 of The Love Chase

Helllppp

The number of text messages I’d sent Maya was probably excessive, but she was still on her honeymoon with her husband, Oliver, and I didn’t want to bug her with an actual phone call. So, a bajillion text messages it was.

I was sprawled on Jameson’s couch, Luna lounging on the floor by my feet, the faint scent of this morning’s coffee still lingering in the air. Jameson was at work, and Elsie was at the local coffee shop working on her next book, so I had the house to myself. After a couple years of roommates and couch hopping, I was beyond ready to have my own place. If I married Liam and Bridget paid me, I’d be able to afford an apartment of my own and get out of Jameson’s way.

Don’t be silly, Emma. If you’re marrying Liam, don’t you think that means you’ll have to move in with him?

At the thought, my stomach roiled. Live with Liam? Years ago, the thought of being so close to him would have made me excited. After we graduated high school, there had been a time where we considered getting an apartment together so he could get out of his parent’s house, but it never happened. That was probably for the best because there was no way I would’ve been able to keep my feelings for Liam hidden if we’d been roommates.

Now the thought of sharing the same house only filled me with dread. Sure, I still knew the small little things about him, but overall, he’d become a stranger to me now. It was easier to stay angry at him than risk getting close again only to be abandoned. It was hard enough the first time. I didn’t wish to repeat the experience.

My phone pinged a moment later, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Maya

Who am I beating up for you?

I snorted. I loved Maya. We had grown close after her parents abandoned her. There wasn’t a single person on earth that knew me as well as she did—well, maybe my brother, Jameson, but he didn’t count right now. I wasn’t about to call him and tell him I was considering signing my life over to marry Liam.

I winced at the thought of telling him. Jameson had always liked Liam, and he had told me he didn’t believe Liam had changed into the person the tabloids made him sound like, but I still had a hard time believing my brother would be okay with me fake marrying my best friend regardless.

Maya was brave and loud and strong, and I loved her fiercely. She’d totally beat someone up for me—no questions asked. That’s the kind of friend she was.

Me

You’ve missed a lot these last two weeks.

You’re not allowed to leave the country again.

Maya

Sorry to inconvenience you with my honeymoon :P

Who am I beating up?

Me

*sigh* It’s Liam.

Maya

Oooh. What has the bad boy done this time?

I braced myself as I typed out the letters that spelled my fate.

Me

So, um.

His manager came up with a plan to fix said bad boy reputation.

Maya

Oh, this should be good.

I huffed a laugh. Just you wait, Maya.

Me

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