Page 45 of A Simple Reminder

I turn and give her a look—a mix of disbelief and exasperation, eyebrows raised and lips pursed, challenging her suggestion without saying a word. It should be enough, but with Adeline, you never know.

“He’s hot,” she says matter-of-factly, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe. “Like, really hot.”

I roll my eyes, trying to brush it off. I know he’s hot. I know it all too well.

She walks up to me, smiling. “He’s also super nice. And fun,” she adds, nudging me with her elbow.

“If he’s so great, then why aren’t you dating him?” The words slip out before I can stop them, and as soon as they do, I feel a strange tugging sensation in my chest. I might be over him, I think, but if something were to happen between them. I don’t think I could handle it. He can date whoever he likes, as long as they're out of my sight.

Adeline bursts out laughing. “Ew, girl, he’s like a brother!” She shakes her head. “No Game of Thrones relationships here.”

I try to smile, but the relief that washes over me is so strong it almost knocks me off balance.

Adeline slips behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a warm, comforting hug. “Sorry, I’m not gonna push,” she murmurs into my ear. “I just want to see you with someone who would treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” If she only knew.

I turn around in her arms, meeting her eyes with a soft smile. “I want that for you too, you know. You deserve someone that would worship the ground you walk on.”

Adeline rolls her eyes but grins. “So does my mum. She called me this morning, going on about how her cousin’s daughter—who’s five years younger than me, by the way—is already engaged, and how most of my cousins have kids and I don’t.”

She plops down dramatically on my bed, sighing. “I’m the family’s wild card, according to my aunt.”

I laugh, sitting down beside her. “Well, the wild card’s always the most interesting ones in the deck.”

Adeline is the most genuine woman I know. She always looks tough on the outside, taking all the comments thrown at her with grace. However, I know deep down it has started to affect her. A word repeated enough times can become a shadow in your mind, eventually dimming your own light and making you question your worth. Especially when it comes from the people you love the most. They don’t do it out of malice. On the contrary, it’s out of love. It just isn’t done the right way.

“Right?” she answers, nudging me with her elbow. Hiding her discomfort and hurt behind a smile as always.

My sweet, sweet Adeline.

Before I can respond, a sound from outside catches my attention. who’s knocking on the door?

When I open it, I’m met with the last person I expected to see tonight.

Liam is crouched down, carefully placing something on the ground—the vase from the shop, the one I didn’t buy because it was too expensive. He stands up slowly, his eyes traveling from the vase to me. I can see the moment he really takes me in. His gaze is warm, appreciative, and when he finally speaks, his voice is husky. “Wow.”

“Liam?” I ask, my own voice a little breathless. Most likely because I’m caught off guard seeing him in front of my door. “What are you doing here?”

“You look beautiful,” he says, ignoring my question.

“Thank you.” I can feel my cheeks heating up, in a few seconds he’ll know what his proximity still does to me. “Did I forget something I was supposed to do today? I promise, Jared and I are almost done with the terrace project.”

“No, no.” He shakes his head quickly, too quickly. “I just wanted to drop this off. They mistakenly delivered it to my place.”

I raise an eyebrow, glancing down at the vase. “To your place? Is-Is it for me?”

“Yeah,” he says, almost shyly, “for your forget-me-nots.”

“Liam, you didn’t have to?—”

Before I can finish, Adeline appears at the door, still in her cozy loungewear, looking between us with a knowing smile. “Is that Liam I hear?” she asks, her tone teasing.

Liam shifts awkwardly, offering her a smile. “Hey, Addie.”

“This is so weird. We werejusttalking about you. Maybe manifestation works,” she says, her voice playful yet pointed. Liam's eyes flicker to me, a question in his eyes. Before I can react, Adeline laughs, throwing her head back slightly. “One million dollars, one million dollars, one million dollars would be great,” she continues, her tone shifting to mock seriousness as she throws her wishes into the universe.

Liam chuckles, the tension easing from his shoulders as he joins in the joke. “Let me know if that works out for you. I have some wishes too,” he replies, moving his eyes to meet mine, his smile now more genuine, warming up the room.

I have some wishes too.

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