Page 8 of A Simple Reminder

“Disculpe, the ride is over,” a voice announces, breaking the spell we were under. The purple gondola has stopped.I quickly disentangle myself from Liam, feeling the heat of embarrassment flush my cheeks as I scramble out of the gondola, and Liam follows suit.

“We’re so sorry. So, sorry,” I mutter, unable to meet the eyes of the people in line, my cheeks undoubtedly blazingly red. Keeping my gaze fixed on the ground, I quickly make my way out of the amusement park, not bothering to check if Liam is following.

“Hey, slow down.” The sound of his voice does nothing to slow my quick pace. It’s only when his hand gently touches my arm that I stop.

“Soph, stop,” he urges, turning me around to face him. I look up to find a smirk on his face. How can he be smiling right now? It’s infuriatingly charming and yet somehow comforting. I shouldn't be surprised; after all, I've known him for over a month now, and he's always wearing that infectious smile.

So, naturally, I can't help but return it. “That was so embarrassing.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he counters lightly.

“Were you not in the same gondola as me?”

His hand reaches up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I was, and I enjoyed every second of it.”

Me, too.But I don’t say it back. The words don’t form. Instead, I stand before him, blinking, silent and unsure.

One of the things I’ve come to learn about Liam is his uncanny ability to decipher my thoughts as if he’s reading me like an open book.

Instead of pulling away, Liam takes a deliberate step closer, closing the space between us until our breaths mingle in the air.

“Wh-What are you doing?” I ask, hoping for his lips to find mine one more time.

“I’m going to kiss you again,” he murmurs, “and I’m going to enjoy it even more than the first time.”

FIVE

SOPHIE

PRESENT

I’ve never bolted out of a hotel before, but after my meeting with Liam, I suddenly morphed into an Olympic track runner. The adrenaline was pumping, and I was practically dripping with sweat by the time I hopped into the taxi. The driver shot me a look that said “What in the world were you up to?”

Trust me, I was asking myself the same question.

How is this my life?

Before Leora and Lucas’ wedding two years ago, I hadn't seen him in eight years. But truth be told, ever since I left Barcelona, he’s been the unwelcome star of my mental highlight reel. Reaching out to him crossed my mind more than once, but something always held me back. My intuition, I guess. Or fear.

We were young and reckless back then, with bright futures ahead. And yet here we are, our paths colliding for a third time. Only this time, Liam is my boss.

“I can’t believe he’s here. He didn't even text me!” Adeline says, her voice soft and a bit disappointed as she stirs the bolognese, its aroma growing more divine with each passing moment. It’s no surprise she’s bothered—Adeline and Liam hit it off immediately, their bond forming effortlessly like they’d known each other for years. Kind of funny, really, since I’m the one who truly knew him. Yet, I did everything I could to push him away the few times we had to be in the same room while visiting Lucas and Leora. And I still do.

“We should invite him over for dinner,” she suggests, and my heart stops for a millisecond.

“No!” The word escapes me faster than the snap of a finger, and Adeline’s eyes widen in surprise.

“I mean… He probably has lots to do right now. We shouldn’t bother him, maybe in a few weeks or something…” My words trail off, and my attempt to cover my initial reaction is feeble at best.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting weird?” Adeline looks at me quizzically as I scramble for an excuse. I do feel guilty for not telling her. She’s my best friend, but what can I say?By the way, I’m sorry I’ve kept a secret for ten years. Do you remember when I studied in Spain and came back heartbroken? Well, you were right. A boy was the reason for it. Surprise,that boy was Liam.

She’d kill me, probably with the wooden spoon in her hand, and then move on to kill Liam.

“No, nothing is wrong,” I finally manage to get out. “I’m just saying he’s probably busy.”

Adeline sets down the spoon and fixes me with a penetrating look. “We won’t know that if we don’t ask. It would be rude if we didn’t.”

She’s right, of course. Adeline has always had a knack for cutting through my excuses, slicing right to the heart of things. It’s one of the things I love about her—except when it’s wildly inconvenient. Like now.

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