Page 13 of Nothing Like the Movies

I needed to calm down.

I needed air.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.”

—You’ve Got Mail

Wes

“I think she went outside.”

I followed Wade out the patio door and onto the huge balcony as he tried finding Campbell Someone. Apparently she lived here and he was slightly obsessed with her, so since I had nothing better to do, I accompanied him on his search.

It might prove amusing, watching Brooks drool all over himself.

“Is that her?” I asked, nodding my head in the direction of a tall blonde in a very short dress. There reallywerea lot of girls at the party; no wonder he’d been foaming at the mouth to get here.

“No,” Wade said, “but maybe Liz knows. Come on.”

I barely had time to register the name “Liz” when I saw her.

Oh. My. God.

There she is.

Libby, holy shit.

She was standing there by herself on the balcony, looking like everything I’d ever wanted. The sights and sounds of the party—of the world—disappeared as my eyes drank her in, desperate and needy after being deprived of the sight of her for way too long.

God, was it weird that I felt a little choked up? My throat was tight as I tried taking a deep breath, but it felt impossible.

Because there she was.

Finally.

She’s here. Liz is within reach, holy shit.

And how was it possible that she’d gotten prettier? It felt like years—and also minutes—since I’d last touched her, and I clenched all ten of my fingers, a little dizzy from the power of my want.

She was wearing a black dress that looked amazing on her, but it didn’t matter. The dress was unnecessary, like her clothes weren’t important anymore, which was a weird thing to think, but they didn’t matter.

Clothes were merely a distraction.

Because her skin—face, arms, perfect legs—had a glow now, like she been in residence with the warm rays of the California sun twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.Which makes sense since she hasn’t been home in two years.With her long, loose braid and slick, nude lips, Libby was a summer siren whose magic had nothing to do with what she was wearing.

She fucking glowed, I swear to God, and the words Blake Rose was singing through the speakers as Wade and I approached made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Me and you

We’re supposed to be together—

“Hey, Buxxie, where’s your roomie?” Wade asked, walking right up to her and pulling on her braid.

“What?” Liz blinked and looked confused as she gave him a vague smile, like he’d pulled her back from a million miles away.

And then she saw me.

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