Page 76 of The Love Chase

But being back in Meridel…with Emma…it was the first time in two years I felt like I could breathe again. I felt like I’d finally found home.

How could I leave that again?

But at the same time, how could I give up my dream?

Maybe it wasn’t such a big deal. Maybe I was making a mountain out of a mole hill. It was just a few days back in California and then I’d come back to Meridel. Right?

I’d disappoint Emma, yes, but she’d forgive me—she’d understand… Right?

Too many questions were slamming through my brain, and I couldn’t think straight.

She pulled back to look at me. “Are you okay?”

My lips were glued shut. I couldn’t get my brain to form words.

When I didn’t respond, Emma squeezed me tighter.

“It’s okay, Liam. I know the paparazzi were crazy but I’m fine and you’re fine, and we can’t let them ruin this. I told you I can handle this part of your life, so take a breath and let it go.” Her head settled against my chest again.

I blew out a long breath. Emma thought I was upset about what happened at Dina’s, but in truth, after Bridget’s phone call, I’d forgotten all about it, consumed by the fact that I’d have to disappoint my best friend—my wife.

Which was a shame because that was one of the best kisses I’d ever had.

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said after a moment, a slight tremble in her voice. That’s odd.

“Me too,” I admitted, wishing I didn’t have to have this conversation at all.

Emma leaned back to look at me and must have seen something on my face because she asked, “What’s wrong?”

I sighed, letting go of her, needing to get it out before I exploded. “Um. Bridget called.”

Emma’s face dropped into a scowl. “What does the she-devil want now?”

I couldn’t help my wince. “I forgot about a gig I have…tonight.”

“Oh. That’s not so bad. You scared me.” She lightly pinched my arm. “Am I supposed to come with you or—”

“It’s in California.”

Emma froze, blinking at me. I continued before I lost my nerve.

“It’s at a really important venue in LA, and…I have gigs every night through the weekend. She told me this morning and I completely forgot about it.”

I braced for impact, waiting for Emma to put the pieces together that I wouldn’t be going to that convention with her. I hated this. I hated that I had to hurt her. In the end, it wasn’t really that big of a deal. It wasn’t like I was telling her I wanted to divorce, but it felt like the end of the world because I knew how much it meant to her for me to come with her.

I grabbed her hand and held it in both of mine.

Something about the gesture must have clued her in because her face fell, and she pulled out of my reach.

“So you won’t be here on Saturday. For the convention.” It wasn’t a question.

A breath shuddered out of me. “Em…” Words suddenly felt like a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle without any corner pieces. I couldn’t put any coherent sentences together.

Come on, brain! Words aren’t that hard!

Emma turned around so I couldn’t see her face. “It’s fine, Liam. Don’t worry about it.”

“Emma, I—”

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