Page 87 of Perfect Score

I shoot a startled look back up to Liam as he smiles at me when my attention is back on him.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Oh, umm, that Shelby left?” I ask, almost positive that it’s what he said.

He looks over at Brent to see what has my attention.

“Come on. Come with me for a second,” he says, pulling his hand off my back and pulling me with him.

I follow, with little other choice than to pull out of his hand, but he wants to show me something, and if this is closure, he’s giving me so that I can move on with Brent, then I’ll accept it.

He leads me off the dance floor and past the tables until we’re headed for the exit of the reception hall.

“Where are we going?” I ask behind him.

“There’s a cool courtyard in the middle of the hotel. It’s quiet and private. I thought we could take a minute to talk.”

Closure, yes, this is what we need.

We’re all still friends, and with our big friends' ski trip to Aspen in a couple of months, it would be good for all of this to be behind us.

Although, if Brent and I are dating, I should probably go to his game. I know they’re playing Las Vegas that weekend, and it will be a big game for him.

Whoa… the idea of sitting in Brent’s seats, wearing his last name on my back and cheering for him, sets off a jittery feeling of excitement low in my belly.

I want a life with him back in Seattle.

I want to be the woman in his cheering section, whether it’s hockey or a cornhole competition… or competitive eating. I don’t care, I just want to be the one.

Liam leads me farther down the hall until he takes a left turn and steps into a beautiful outdoor courtyard with trees and ferns growing inside. Several lounge chairs are placed around the small space, and I imagine this would be a great place for reading.

I look up at the night sky with twinkling stars above us. It’s a romantic spot that I wish Brent had led me to instead.

“How did you find this place?” I ask, admiring the stars above us for a moment.

Liam turns to me.

“Does it matter? I can’t stand by another second and watch us fade further apart. You being with Brent is killing me, Zoey, can’t you see that? Can’t you see what seeing you with someone else does to me?” he asks.

Is he kidding me right now?

“And how do you think I have felt for the past year knowing you’re with Shelby?”

He shakes his head as if what I'm saying doesn't matter. He wants me to think he's the victim in all of this, but he's not. “Who cares about her anymore? What matters is us.”

Is he trying to brush the woman who he left me for under the rug as if it never happened?

“Well, what you did still matters to me. Why isn’t she here anymore?” I ask, more aware that Liam didn't bring me here for closure.

“I told her that I’m still in love with you and that I can’t live a lie for the rest of my life. I need to be with the woman I truly love.”

The irony is that it’s the same thing he told me when he broke it off with me

“Liam, I…”

But before I can finish my thought, Liam lowers to one knee and pulls out my engagement ring. The same one we picked outtogether years ago and the one he proposed to me with. Also, the same one that was on Shelby’s hand up until yesterday.

I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the platinum setting is still warm from Shelby’s finger.

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