Page 109 of Summertime Friends

There is a tug on my wrist, spinning me into a hard, defined chest.

“I will,” Liam says. “I’m not letting you go this time.”

Then he leans down, seizing my parted mouth.

45

EMERSON

Now

I think wedding planning has officially gone to Blake’s head. Not that it hasn’t already. Two weeks ago, she set me up on a blind date with one of Ben’s groomsmen, Alec.

Well-dressed. Crewcut blond hair. Sharp bone structure. Complete finance bro.

It went fine.

We’ve been on three dates. Correction: tonight is our third, I suppose.

Our first was happy hour with Blake and Ben. I’m not sure if that counts as a date, but for my purpose here, it does. Then, after work, we went on a walk to a small farmer’s market. We grabbed dinner before the night was over. That’s two.

Tonight he’s coming out with my friends and me for my birthday.

Blake was being Blake setting us up and we both knew it. “Well, if you were attending the wedding, you’d probably go home with someone because you’re hot and single. But now you’re working on it. I thought if I set you up now, it wouldn’t be weird if you went home with him that night.” That was her reasoning.

She continued to inform me that I had this weird sexual tension going on about me and needed to get laid to fix it. A sexless bitch is what I believe she called me.

The next day, Blake asked me to grab drinks with her after work, bombarding me with Alec when I sat down.

She also slipped up about my birthday plans, and now he’s here.

We walk into the club together. His hand is on my lower back as we locate my friends and make our way to them.

Sitting in a section toward the back, opposite the bar and dance floor, are Chloe, Natalie, Blake, Ben, a few other acquaintances, Callum, and Liam.

I didn’t invite Liam. I invited Cal because we are friends, and I knew he’d bring Liam.

Liam’s eyes find mine as Alec and I walk up to everyone. He fixes his gaze on where Alec’s hand is touching me and I see his nose flare and jaw clench.

“This is Alec.” I glance up at him with a fake grin. “You know Ben and Blake. This is Chloe. . .” I introduce Alec to everyone with their name and how I know them. At the end of the couch, the last is Liam. “. . . and this is Liam. We—”

I can feel the heated gazes of my two best friends, Cal and his, as they all wait for what I will say.

“Should be together,” he cuts in.

***

I remove myself from the group when everyone is distracted with drinks or dancing. I catch Liam’s eyes before I walk to the stairs.

The club is two stories. The upstairs is far quieter than the lower level. The music and energy of the lower level rise to this floor, keeping the ambiance alive. But it’s darker, more intimate.

“Champagne and a Negroni, please,” Liam settles up next to me at the bar.

He must have followed me up here. I wanted him to, but now that he’s here, I don’t know if I wish he’d turn around and leave or stand closer. Maybe pull me to him. Maybe hand me this drink and walk away.

He passes me my drink.

“You didn’t need to do that,” I say.

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