Page 97 of Summertime Friends

“Changed my mind. I didn’t want you to not show. Come sit.” She pats the couch next to her.

“About what you saw last night. Did you tell Natalie?” I ask her as I walk over, sit down, and curl my bare legs under me. Tucker curls up on my dog bed for him in the corner.

“Do you think I want a death warrant out for the two of us?” She snorts.

“It’s not what you are thinking.”

She gives me an all-knowing scowl. I’m not escaping anything today.

“Are you sure? Because, to me, the guy Natalie likes had you cornered in the dark bathroom hallway, about ready to pounce. The look in your eyes? You wanted him too.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“So you don’t deny it?”

“Liam isn’t only Natalie’s whatever,” I pause. “Liam is London—”

“Finally, you admit it!”

Taking a deep breath, I say, “Yeah.”

Chloe spits her coffee out. I can tell by the look on her face that she’s trying her best not to judge me or make me feel guilty about everything.

“Does Natalie know?” She asks quickly.

“Obviously not. . . or at least I’m not sure how she would know. She knows the exact amount of information as you do, which is minimal. Plus, Liam and I haven’t said anything.”

“Except you know every inch of each other.” Chloe raises an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look. “Em, is he the guy from the bathroom you texted me about when you were in London?”

My cheeks go flush, then heat, turning pink, I know.

“Wow, okay, Liam!” Chloe smacks her lips.

“Don’t remind me.” My cheeks blush even more, thinking how history almost—like I wish almost—repeated itself last night. I rest my hand on my forehead. “He’s really good at it.”

“Or you just taste great.” We burst out in laughter. “Why haven’t you said anything to Natalie?”

“Look at her, Chloe. She’s happy. When was the last time we saw her smiling and laughing like that about anyone? I can tell she cares for him. I couldn’t ruin that.” I release the breath I was holding as I said all that. “Liam and I had our shot, and it didn’t work out. It’s their time now, and I shouldn’t be the one to get in the way.”

Her face goes sour. It’s the expression she gets when she knows a secret, more like anything that you don’t know and wants to tell you but can’t. It’s why we never tell her about surprise parties. I tried to throw one for Natalie last year for her birthday and decided to recruit Chloe for help. Spilled the beans to Natalie a week beforehand at brunch after Natalie brought up her birthday. Chloe made the face, and then Natalie dragged it out of her in a matter of moments.

“You know something. Spill,” I demand of her.

“What if it’s going to change everything you are thinking and potentially feeling and could monumentally shake everything up? On the earthquake scale, it would be a five. Do you still want to know?”

“And you think having Liam waltz back into my life didn’t already do that?”

“It’s about him.” Chloe bites her lip.

I’m intrigued now. I find myself leaning in closer to Chloe even though I can hear her perfectly from where I’m sitting.

“I don’t think they are together anymore,” she says slowly.

“Think or know?” There is a difference.

“Think. I overheard Liam talking to Cal last night when I was leaving. He was telling him that he was calling off what was happening between Natalie and him. That there’s unfinished business he needs to tend to.”

“He’s ending it?” I ask, playing dumb.

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