Page 64 of Summertime Friends

LIAM

Now

“Hiya!” Natalie says as she opens the glass door to my office. “Care for a late lunch? Your assistant ratted and said you haven’t eaten.”

I peer up from my computer to see her leaning against the door frame.

“Starving. Give me fifteen minutes to finish this email, and we can go.”

“I’ll wait for you outside.”

I meet Natalie out front of the building. When I checked the clock before heading down, I didn’t realize it was already three.

The day had flown by. I was up early. I couldn’t shake my conversation with Emerson, and a seven-mile run didn’t shake it either, so I came in early. I picked up Joe & the Juice on the way in, but it sat on my desk untouched, and I have been behind my computer all day.

Our Chicago location’s grand opening is in a couple of months. The remodel is well underway, meaning many contracts, blueprints, paint colors, and more to review. I threw myself into it without coming up for oxygen once today.

Emerson had also sent over an updated overview of the marketing campaign their team put together for the launch. It included a one-year plan detailing ideas for growth and visitor retention.

It had Emerson written all over it. When she first started, she used to call me to ask my thoughts or to review her plans. I learned the ins and outs of how her mind works, which I can see while reviewing our strategy.

It’s brilliant, but I didn’t expect anything less.

“Not planning on coming back after?” Natalie nods toward my work bag on my back.

“No. Decided to shut down the office early today. Told everyone to finish whatever they are working on and head out.”

“That’s sweet of you.” She gives me a proud smile.

***

Lunch was good. I could tell Natalie wanted to ask about Emerson. She’d open her mouth to say something, then close it, taking a bite of her salad or a sip of her matcha. I didn’t bother to bring it up. I know we need to talk about it, but do we?

Natalie and I are whatever. Emerson and I are barely even friends, so I don’t know if there is any explanation that needs to be had. . . yet.

Afterward, we took the train back to her place.

“I wasn’t expecting to get invited, but then—Chloe, what are you doing here?” Natalie says as we walk into her apartment. Chloe rummaging through the freezer.

“9-1-1. Used the emergency friendship key.” Chloe points to the couch. Lying in the fetal position is Emerson. “Engagement is over.”

Natalie bolts to the couch, picking up Emerson’s head and lying it in her lap.

It takes everything to control my emotions from outwardly showing right now.Emerson isn’t engaged. I’m ecstatic, selfishly. It’s not that I want to be with her—that’s a lie. Huge shitting lie. I do want to be with her. There hasn’t been a day since we met that I haven’t wanted to be with her. It used to make me cross that we weren’t together.

I don’t find pleasure in seeing her unhappy, though. If Brandon was making her happy—taking good care of her, treating her well, and loving her—then I don’t want their engagementto be over.

“Ice cream is behind the frozen fruit in a pink container with no label.”

Chloe shakes her head. “Why?”

“It was too tempting, and I kept eating it for breakfast. Now I don’t!”

“Do you know what flavor it is?” Chloe asks Natalie.

“Chocolate. Liam, if you are staying, you’ll need a spoon.”

“No,” Emerson says, sitting up from her position on the couch.

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