Page 29 of How to Write a Rom-Com

I take a deep breath before I say anything. “You hide it well,” I say softly. “That you’re suffering, I mean. I’m guessing you and Jill have that in common.”

Liam nods and gives me a thin-lipped smile. “Today is a good day. I have bad ones too. But you… you made today easier.”

I match Liam’s intense gaze and restrain myself from reaching out to touch him. I think back to when I took his hand on the boat. It wasn’t the usual touch and spark that I read about in my books. It was a warm comfort that fell over me like a cloud. The kind that made me think,why have I never held this hand before now?

Just as I’m about to respond, Liam’s phone rings. He looks at it quickly. “That’s Jill, she’s on her way.” I nod and we both stand up in unison. I turn and walk into the house before I pull a classic Lucy and make an awkward joke to cut the tension.

I help Liam get the kids packed up. Mia tells me that today was the “mostest” fun and she hopes it’s not a “bajillion” years until she sees me again. She even gives me a hug before I leave. Robbie grunts at me when I say goodbye. Apples and trees.

That night, I’m curled up on the couch, wearing the T-shirt Liam gave me which I put back on after my shower. Even though it doesn’t smell like him—this shirt smells like it just came out of a cardboard box—I still find myself wanting to wear it. It doesn’t help with the feeling of guilt in the pit of my stomach as I speak the details of my day into my notes on my computer.

After an hour, I have a few lakeside meet-cute scenes sketched out, my favorite one is where the two love interests meet after a jet ski collision in the middle of the lake. I smile reading it over, but my smile quickly fades when I realize the hero I’m visualizing in my head has blonde hair that falls to his ears and a laugh that echoes from his chest.

I’m going to have to change that.

Chapter Ten

Operation Small Town, Day 17

“Anne, you have to calm down. You know I can’t understand you when your Brooklyn comes out,” I say in a quiet, hurried voice. I adjust my phone in my sweaty palm, and simultaneously feel a droplet of sweat roll down my back. Maybe today should have been a lounging on the deck day rather than a walking through town day. Too late for that, I think, looking up at the sun blaring down on me.

“Ruby is restless. I’ve told her that she’s our top priority, and that we’re working around the clock on her outline, but that woman is impossible to please,” Anne rants. I can hear her running out of breath on the other end of the phone.

Maybe Ruby leaving Heartwarming wouldn’t be the worst thing. It would certainly be good for Anne’s blood pressure.

“Anne—” I start, but she quickly interrupts me.

“Lucy, I’m putting all my faith in you with this project. If we can’t get Ruby back on board, well—” Anne’s voice drifts off, and I realize she’s waiting on me to reassure her.

Which is what I’m great at.

“Anne, you don’t have anything to worry about. I know how important this is,” I say, stopping in my tracks and leaning against the window casing outside of Lucia’s. I take a deep breath. I look around, making sure no one can overhear my conversation.

“This place is chock-full of inspiration.” My stomach turns as the words come out. “I have pages of notes already, and several key scenes sketched out. It’s all going according to plan,” I say, hoping that my tone sounds more reassuring than it does guilty—which is how I feel right now. About Liam, about being here under false pretenses, about all of it.

Anne lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Thanks, Lucy, I know you’re doing great work. Oh, gotta run!” She hangs up abruptly.

No pressure.

“Lucy!” I start at the sound of my name. I turn and find a woman I’ve never met waving in my direction.

She’s on the older side, with gray hair cropped just above her ears. But age doesn’t seem to be stopping her from power-walking toward me. Why do I have the feeling I’m about to be confronted by the Taylor Doose of this town?

“Hello,” I say when she finally reaches me. “Apologies, have we met?”

“Ha!” She laughs with a big exhale, trying to catch her breath from her spurt of exertion. “I heard there was a new face in town, and when I saw you standing there, I took a chance.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, well, I must stick out like a sore thumb then.”

Yep, definitely Taylor Doose.

“You do, but only because I know everyone in Hudson Hollow!” She smiles. “Anywho, I wanted to introduce myself. I’m May Lucia.” We shake hands. “I’m one of the founding members of the town council, so it’s my business to know everyone else’s business in town, if you know what I mean,” she explains with a wink. I can feel my eyes bugging out a little bit, but I try my best to control my face.

“Well, at least you’re honest about it.” I chuckle. “Lucia as in Lucia’s?” I ask, gesturing to the store behind me.

“Indeed, it’s my husband’s place,” she says proudly. She gestures inside the window, where Max is talking to a person at the register. His warm, soothing laugh echoes out onto the sidewalk. I think I’m developing a soft spot for Max.

“You busy on Saturday? The council is hosting a little soirée and you really must come! It’s our annual charity softball game. We’re raising funds for a new playground over at the elementary school.”

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