Page 57 of The Love Chase

Liam cleared his throat, his cheeks slightly pink again. “So, Bridget said she has a dress and everything for you, and you can get changed at the venue on Saturday.”

I couldn’t suppress the full-body cringe at the thought of his manager choosing an outfit for me. I had no doubt it would be something flashy or revealing—something I wouldn’t be comfortable in.

“I know it’s not your scene, but—”

I put a finger to his lips to silence him. “I said don’t worry about me.” I pasted on my best attempt at a smile, though my legs were feeling wobbly. “It’ll be great.”

Liam let out a breath, visibly relieved, but as I watched him head back over to the couch and pick up his guitar once more, I couldn’t help but think: Famous last words.

Emma

Saturday came way too quickly. I didn’t know if it was the three days I spent driving all over Iowa and Missouri chasing storms, or if it was not seeing Liam except for my brief morning coffee, but the time passed too fast, and now I was in LA for his gig, sitting in a dressing room with my name on the door—what the heck—trying not to wring the skin from my hands as Bridget’s makeup artist dolled me up as she called it.

Like I had expected, Bridget had stuffed me into a dress I never would have chosen in a million years. Sure, it was my color with the hunter green satin, but with the way the dress hugged my body, the slight cowl neck dipping down a little too low for my comfort, it was a wonder the wee little straps could hold the dress up at all. It was stunning, but it wasn’t for me. I would’ve chosen a simple sheath dress with a cute pattern, or better yet—jeans.

Give me pants and I would’ve rocked them in a pair of heels. Put me in a satin clingy dress? Watch me crash and burn. I dreaded to think what Liam would say when he saw me. Outside of our wedding day, I couldn’t recall a time he’d ever seen me wear a fancy dress. I’d only ever worn the occasional sundress. It wasn’t that I disliked them; they just weren’t practical when I was sitting in a truck chasing after tornadoes.

I mean, could you imagine me getting out of the car in the middle of a thunderstorm to take pictures? The wind would send a dress right over my head. I snorted and rolled my eyes at the thought, and the makeup artist paused, giving me a look.

I gave her a sheepish smile even as a trickle of sweat slid down my back.

Stop sweating, Emma! It’ll ruin this monstrosity of a dress!

I thought my wedding dress had been a monstrosity, but it had nothing on this one.

She went back to work slathering a mysterious substance onto my face. When she finally finished, I literally felt like I was wearing some sort of mask—as if she had erased everything that made me me.

With only a satisfied grunt, the makeup artist packed up her stuff and left the room, leaving me alone with only the sound of my heart pulsing in my ears. I couldn’t bring myself to look in the mirror. I didn’t want to see this version of Emma that Bridget had forced me to become. I understood that Liam had an image to uphold, and I needed to fit the part, but…it was harder than I expected.

Why wasn’t Meridel Emma enough? Why did I have to become this Emma?

A knock on the door sounded, cutting my pathetic thoughts short.

“Come in,” I called, turning so that my face was hidden. Why was I so embarrassed to be seen like this?

“Hey,” Liam said as he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Hey,” I replied, keeping my back to him. I was still sitting down, my hair covering my shoulders. My heart raced at the thought of turning around and seeing the look on Liam’s face when he saw me. It wasn’t that I was afraid that he wouldn’t like it—I was afraid that he would and that made me feel like normal Emma wasn’t enough for him.

If he was suddenly attracted to me when I was dolled up but never had been in our two decades of friendship with me in my natural state…I hated how icky that would make me feel.

“Why are you facing the wall?” he asked, and I felt him standing behind my chair. There was a trace of humor in his voice.

“Oh, you know, just seeing if I can disappear into it.”

Warm hands slid over my shoulders, and a flood of Liam’s cologne enveloped me.

“Come on, it won’t be that bad.” He chuckled. “Tonight will be over before you know it.”

With a sigh, I pressed my trembling hands into my sides, stood, and turned to face him.

For a moment, Liam froze, his eyes wide as he took in first the dress, then the makeup. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and it was driving me crazy, sending my insecurity through the roof. Then he stooped a little to look me directly in the eye.

“What’s on your face?” Liam asked me, and heat flooded my cheeks.

I ducked my head, avoiding his gaze. “What are you talking about?”

He put a finger under my chin so he could look at me. “The makeup.” There was a slight growl to his voice, and if it weren’t for my embarrassment, I might have thought it was sexy.

---