Page 22 of The Love Chase

Next week. I’d be married to my best friend by next week.

Liam sighed, running a hand through his carefully styled hair before putting his face in his hands.

After another moment he looked up and said, “You don’t have to do this, Em. I’ll talk to her and find another way. I don’t want you involved in this mess.”

I shook my head. “It sounds like it’s a done deal to me. She acted as if I already agreed.”

He sighed again. “Nothing has been signed. You can still back out.”

“Maybe I don’t want to back out,” I retorted, and he blinked at me several times.

“Trust me, Em. You don’t want fame and flashing cameras and—”

“You have no idea what I want, Liam. None.” The words were quiet, but I might as well have yelled them with how they sliced through the room.

Liam’s chest heaved once, his lips pressing together as the beat of silence between us expanded. Though there weren’t many people in the restaurant, it felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see how this unfolded.

“And whose fault is that?” he finally snapped. It was the first time I ever remembered Liam raising his voice or being visibly angry with me. It only stoked my own anger more.

“Yours,” I bit out, and he froze, eyes going wide like he hadn’t expected me to stand up for myself. The old Emma had a hard time speaking her mind, but I wasn’t the same girl I used to be. A lot had changed in two years.

“It’s your fault, Liam. You left. You stopped communicating with me. You.” My heart was pounding, and I was vaguely aware of a few people staring at us. We weren’t exactly trying to keep our voices down.

I never imagined that I’d be yelling at Liam Walker when I finally saw him again. But this whole thing had reminded me of how hurt I was when he chose to leave me behind to chase his dreams, and how much I had missed him.

He couldn’t just come back and pretend like everything was the same as it used to be. No. He had changed, and I certainly had changed.

I wasn’t the same Emma Beck anymore, and he wasn’t the same Liam Walker.

He was a stranger to me now.

I hated it.

I missed my best friend.

The backs of my eyes burned, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the tears away. I could cry later. I didn’t want this version of Liam—this so-called womanizer—to see me crack. That would open a can of worms that I would never be ready to open with him.

Liam stared at me, the muscle in his jaw working again, but he remained quiet. He couldn’t argue with what I said. He knew I was right.

We didn’t know each other anymore—not really.

I slurped up the last of Liam’s Cherry Coke, not even realizing how familiar that gesture was until I was finished. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes.

I shoved my purse over my head and stood. What did I even say to him? See you later, fiancé? Meet me at the altar?

Ick. No.

Instead of embarrassing myself with whatever was sitting on my tongue ready to be spewed, I gave an awkward wave instead, muttering, “Bye, Liam.”

As I stalked out of Dina’s, part of me expected Liam to chase after me like he used to. That’s what he always did when he sensed I was upset, and had never shied away, like most guys, from feelings talk. He’d always let me get things off my chest. The old Liam would’ve come after me, gently pulling me into his arms until I cracked and spilled my heart out.

But as I stepped out into the sunshine, no one was behind me.

Liam let me go, and I had a horrible sinking sensation in my stomach that I truly didn’t know this Liam at all.

Liam

Ishould’ve gone after her.

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