Page 134 of Summertime Friends

Walking into the bar, I felt all eyes on me. Wearing my favorite green, sequined minidress, I noticed the lights reflecting off it. Showstopper Tinker Bell—exactly how I wanted it. I twist my hips to the music and smile, seeing the group I’m meeting across the place. Before heading to them, I stop by the bar to order an Aperol spritz. Call me basic, but at least it wasn’t an espresso martini.

Turning from the bar to head to my friends, I catch a gentleman behind me staring down at me. I had never felt so petite in my life. I lift my gaze to meet his.

He’s sexy. Tall, dark brown hair, and a jawline that looks like it breaks hearts. He has money and a good job, but his hair and outfit tell me he’s here for a good time. His fitted t-shirt shows off the firm muscles underneath. Everything about him is beautiful but eerily familiar.

“I’m Natalie,” I said without needing to be asked.

“I’m Liam,” he replies. His British accent piqued my curiosity.

Huh, Liam. A British Liam. “What’s your last name, Liam?”

“Hayes.”

Liam Hayes in the flesh.

Haven’t seen or heard that name in about two years. That phone call was the last time.

Seeing him now, he’s even more attractive than the photos—they do not do this man justice. He’s a drink of cold water on a hot summer day, an electric shock to the system that makes you want another. I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s the type of guy that will age like fine wine, and my girl missed out big time.

I never made it to my friends, but none came to find me. I spent the entire time with Liam, and it made sense why Emme was obsessed with him. And why she’s beenheartbroken since whatever happened between them.

“Your mood is better,” Liam’s friend George said to him.

“I guess so,” he replied, eyes flicking toward me.

Liam and I were sitting next to each other at the table with his friends Callum and George. He leans down and whispers in my ears. “You remind me so much of someone I used to know.”

Used to know a.k.a. Emme, a.k.a. Emerson.

I don’t need to ask Emme if she missed him to know she did. If they both miss each other, there’s no reason they aren’t together.

At that moment, I thought about telling Liam who I was. I didn’t, obviously. Instead, operation get-the-two-of-them-back-together was born. I thought I was some Machiavelian apprentice.

The plan? Great—kind of. I figured I’d invite both of them to dinner and surprise back together.

The execution? Not as great. My best friend now hates me and made that pretty clear as she stormed out of my apartment. And there might have been a few roadblocks.

I didn’t see Liam after that night. On the plane home, we were seated next to each other. He told me about his hotel empire and expansion in Chicago.

I thought fate was going to do my job for me.

Till I landed and I had a text from Emerson. I’m engaged, it said.

I was shocked. I didn’t think she and Brandon were at that stage, but I must have been missing something—I was.

I didn’t think she and Brandon would last, so I kept a friendship with Liam. Waiting for the moment to strike.

My plan was working perfectly until one of the days, I felt a tingle.

We hadn’t even touched, only flirted, but suddenly I wanted to.

I started feeling something for Liam. Absolutely unexpectedly anddefinitely wrong.

My feelings became conflicted. I wanted Emerson to be happy and to have Liam back, but I liked him. I didn’t expect to care this much for him, but trying not to was impossible.

I changed my plan. If she didn’t want him, then I’d take my shot, but as of then, it was all up to Emme. I waited to see if she’d call it with Brandon last summer and fall. She didn’t.

Liam and I stayed friends and became friends with benefits slowly.

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