Page 133 of Summertime Friends

“We both kept secrets, Emerson.” Natalie never uses my full first name.

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to steal him. Do you not think if you hadn’t gone home while we were in Lisbon, you wouldn’t have been the one to fall in love with him?”

“No, I don’t,” she genuinely says.

“Don’t lie. Every boy always chose you, or you found a way to make them choose you.” I start laughing. “I’m such an idiot. It didn’t even matter. You still found a way to make him want you.”

“You’re being unfair. Will you please let me explain,” Natalie begs.

“Think it’s a little too late for that. You should have told me last summer when you met him. It’s done. I can’t do this. I can’t be with him if he wants to be with you. If he couldn’t choose me on his own. If I’m not enough…” I slump onto her couch. I didn’t realize I had gotten up and was pacing her place.

Natalie gets up from the barstool she is sitting in, walks over, and sits beside me. I put my elbows on my knees and place my head in my hands. I’m overwhelmed with emotions, and my anxiety is almost at its peak. I don’t even know what to feel right now.

She reaches out for me.

“Don’t,” I bite out. Natalie recoils her hand.

I stand up. Looking around her living room, I think about this summer, seeing Liam here with her and me curled up on the couch after my engagement ended. Every time we were all together, she knew. She knew and didn’t care about me enough. I was willing to choose her—push down my desires and love for her, but she was never willing to choose me.

Natalie and I have been drifting apart. I think I knew this but didn’t want to admit it. She’s been more reserved since last summer, not talking about guys in front of me, encouraging me to make wedding decisions, and avoiding hanging out. I should have asked. Well, I did. She denied any accusation. I should have stuck to my gut.

“I’m going to leave,” I tell Natalie.

“Are you sure?” she asks.

I head toward her front door. Once I reach it, I open it and take a step so that I’m halfway out. Turning around, I stare back at Natalie and say, “Yeah. I’m also done with you. Please don’t speak to me ever again.”

I close the door behind me.

54

NATALIE

Now

Emerson’s my best friend. If I were to look in the dictionary for the word friend, Emerson would be the definition.

Or so I thought.

I felt this way until I knew she was lying and keeping a secret. We didn’t do secrets, her and I. But she kept Liam from me.

After I saw her three summers ago putting away those photos, I thought back to our summer in Europe and when she returned.

She’d take a call, stepping away or running to her room. She’d return glowing. Emme would get a package and hide it, but a grin would be plastered on her face. Even her personality was lighter, as if she wasn’t chained down to her past anymore.

All of it makes sense. It was Liam. Liam Hayes was the one who got my best friend to love.

After they ‘split,’ she took a few steps back, shifting into an in-between version of herself. I actually missed the in-love version of Emme from those summers.

I always wanted a way to get them back together.

I would have stolen his number from her phone, but I deleted it on her birthday three years ago. I was mad at her but wanted to protect her from being hurt by him again—a big mistake. I should have let her speak to him when he called to fight for her. I answered the phone and immediately acted on protection and anger.

When I met him, it was as if the stars aligned, giving me a chance to fix my mistake. Of all the people I could have met at a bar in Costa Rica last summer, I met Liam Hayes.

I’m buzzing after an incredible photoshoot earlier that day. The feeling of doing what I love with a brand that I had dreamed about working with for years had me on cloud nine.

The entire team from the shoot and all the influencers were meeting up for our last night together. My flight home wasn’t for another two days, but most people were leaving the following morning.

---