Page 10 of Accidental Attraction

Chapter Four

The rest of the week flew by, and before I knew it, it was the day of the Benefit. Lennon was with me the entire week and kept going over everything I would need to know, from where the event was being held to who was going to attend. I learned everything about every person, who their family was, and what their company did. I was still in shock at myself for memorizing all the information in under a week, as were Liam and Lennon.

Since the Benefit started at seven and it was one now, I had plenty of time to get ready. The more time passed, the more nervous I got. This was our first appearance together, and after everyone seeing our engagement photos in the paper Wednesday, I knew we were going to be swarmed by the paparazzi. The morning our photos were released in the paper, our house was swarmed by people with cameras waiting for one of us to leave. My phone started blowing up with followers and messages from random people. Some were people saying how lucky I was to be marrying Liam, and then there were others calling me names and saying I wasn’t good enough for him. By noon, I had over a thousand friend requests on Facebook and over twenty thousand followers on Instagram. It had been Lennon’s idea to get Instagram the other day. I had only posted one picture and only because Lennon made me.

I was shocked at how many people wanted to be my friend and all the messages I was receiving. I didn’t think being with Liam would be such a big ordeal. If I thought things were going to calm down, I was mistaken.

This entire week had to be the best one so far. Liam and I were getting along really well. Every night he would come home at five and help me make dinner. While we cooked we’d joke around and shoot remarks at one another. I hadn’t known Liam could be sarcastic. Just yesterday we bickered back and forth over if a tomato was a fruit or a vegetable. Of course I thought it was a fruit, but he said vegetable. Over the last few days we had gotten into a routine. We would both cook, and he would wash the dishes while I dried them. Then, afterwards, we would sit on the couch together and watch whatever was on. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I really enjoyed our time together lately. Liam was definitely a different guy than when I first met him a month ago.

I was currently in the library again, trying to finish Twilight before we left. I had to force myself to sit still instead of pacing the length of the house, nervous about tonight. I was actually enjoying the book and knew I would be reading the rest of the series in no time. It wasn’t my favorite series, but it was good.

After Liam and I had had dinner the other day, we dropped off the photos and headed to a Barnes and Noble. The moment we walked in, I immediately headed to the young teen section, loving the books there. I could have spent hours there, but having Liam with me, I didn’t want to make him wait. Of course, like every book lover, I found so many books I really wanted but didn’t have the money to buy them all. Liam saw that I wanted the entire series of The Mortal Instruments and practically forced me to let him get them for me. He literally grabbed them from my hand and went to the cash register and paid for them before I even caught up to him. Now I was hoping to finish my current series so I could start on those.

I tried concentrating on my book but my thoughts kept drifting to tonight and to next week. Liam’s mother, Lily, called me yesterday to tell me about how she had already started on the wedding plans. She wanted to get together sometime next week so we could discuss a theme, invitations, the date, and some other things. The thought of already starting on the wedding plans made my stomach knot up. Plus being alone with his mother, I was afraid I would say something I shouldn’t. I had the tendency to ramble in awkward situations.

“You’re in here again,” Liam said suddenly. I jumped in my seat and looked up. My book tumbled into my lap. I hadn’t really been paying attention to it anyways.

“Yeah, sorry, just being in here helps me feel relaxed.”

“I know exactly what you mean. I come in here when I’m not working,” he said, coming into the room and taking a seat next to me on a chair.

Over these last few days my opinion of Liam had changed. He wasn’t that cold, rude person anymore. He was nicer to me, almost attentive. Liam was starting to be the guy that Lennon kept telling me about. With him being so nice to me, something inside of me was starting to shift, and I didn’t know how to react. When we were sitting at the table eating dinner together, he would tell me stories about him, Blake, and Lennon when they were little. That made my heart and stomach flutter. I would sit there listening to him and staring at his face as he grinned at the memories. There was something so enchanting about Liam. I don’t know what it was, but it drew me in like gravity.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the Benefit?” Liam asked.

“I’m waiting for Lennon. I have strict instructions to not do anything until she gets here, in case I ruin it,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Definitely listen to her. She can be scary when she wants to be,” he admitted, laughing softly. “She’s made Blake cry.”

“She made Blake cry!” I said, grinning and sitting up, wanting to hear more. “How?”

“He won’t admit it because it has happened several times. One was during our junior year of college. He kept going on about how women shouldn’t be president, stuff like that, and Lennon didn’t like what he was saying so she kneed him in his balls. Then another time was when he had a bet going on with another guy playing pool, and, Lennon being Lennon, she had to butt in to distract Blake so he would lose. I don’t think I have seen him cry that hard.” Liam laughed and shook his head at the memory.

“Sounds like something Lennon would do, actually.” I grinned at the story. “Can I ask you a question about them?”

“Sure.” He turned his head and looked at me.

“Why aren’t they together? It is plain as day that they like each other, a lot.”

“How do you know they like each other?”

“Anyone with eyes can see it. They both look at each other like they are the moon to their sun,” I said, giving him a look.

“Don’t ask me why they aren’t together. Blake has liked her since we were in high school. Not too sure about Lennon though, but it’s clear she likes him just as much.”

“You’ve never tried to get them together?”

“No, I’ve always figured they would work it out on their own.” He shrugged. I got an idea, and I smiled almost evilly in my head. My goal from now until the deal was over was to get Blake and Lennon together. Someone deserved to be happy after this, even if those two wouldn’t admit their feelings. They needed help, and I was going to be the one to provide it. “What is that look for? You are not thinking of doing something, are you?” Liam asked. He sent me a look that said I should stay out of it.

“I’m not going to do anything,” I lied, waving my hand at him.

“I don’t believe you.” He narrowed his eyes at me. I put on an innocent smile. You would think he would approve of my idea of getting his two friends together, after they’d spent years of pining after one another. “Jenna,” he warned.

“What did you do now, Jenna?” I heard Lennon ask, which interrupted my staring contest with Liam. I shot Liam a triumphant smile and turned to look at Lennon.

“Oh, nothing. Should we start getting ready?” I asked to change the subject.

“Yep, we have a lot to do.” Lennon nodded, holding up a bag probably filled with five different dresses, a big bag overflowing with makeup even though I had some, and another bag with God knew what.

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