Page 44 of How to Write a Rom-Com

But Icanbelieve it. I’ve always admired my aunt’s lifestyle. She’s always been chasing this idyllic life, and now it’s caught up with her. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that she was telling me that she might be getting too old for the fast-paced life she leads? When she told me about her plans for Paris in a few weeks, she said over and over again how tired she was. How could I not pick up on it?

“She’ll get through this, Lucy. I’ll bring her home and she’ll be taken care of, I promise.” I nod as my mom speaks.

“I want to come with you,” I say, noticing the shift in Liam’s body next to me. Anne will understand. This is an emergency. I know I’m on a deadline here to produce something for Ruby, but these are extenuating circumstances.

“Lucy, it’s not feasible, and besides, you’re busy with work.” I move away from Liam, hoping he can’t hear my mother’s end of the call. “We both know Josie wouldn’t want you to give up on this opportunity. Let me worry about getting her home, and then you can see her as soon as she’s back, okay?”

I shake my head. I know she’s right, but I hate that I can’t help, that I can’t see Josie right now. I feel awful knowing I can’t be there for her, and for my mom, in person.

“Okay, keep me updated, as soon as you get there.” We say our goodbyes and I take a slow, deep breath.

“Hey,” Liam says, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “What’s going on?”

I look up and I’m met with the most comforting face I’ve ever seen. Liam parts his perfect lips to say something, but holds back, deciding to rest a hand on my shoulder instead.

“It’s my aunt,” I say, my voice shaky. “She’s sick.” I rub my hand across my forehead, running my fingers through my hair. I look at Liam in disbelief, because… where has this day gone? How did I end up in a dirt parking lot with Liam’s hand in mine, and Aunt Josie in a hospital thousands of miles away?

“Do you need to go home?” he asks, his voice low.

I shake my head. “No, she lives in London. My mom is going to go and bring her back. I have to—” I’m about to say, “stay here to work,” but I catch myself. “I’ll be there when my mom brings her home.”

Blue lays down at my feet, his big mouth wide, and his giraffe-length tongue hanging out of his mouth as he pants. I lean forward to pet him, wrapping my arms around him and relishing the comfort that hugging a dog can provide. Liam’s hand falls down my back, and he rubs circles into my spine. All I want to do is turn into him and let him comfort me, but I resist.

“Come on, I’ll take you back,” he says, stepping back. And just like that our physical contact is broken.

We don’t speak much on the way back. Every so often Liam flashes me a sideways glance or places a hand on my knee. I mostly look out the window, remembering just a few hours ago when I felt free enough to stand and scream in the wind—thinking about how proud Josie would be that I did that.

When we get back to the house, I get out of the car and start to prepare my “Thanks for a nice day,” speech to Liam. But he follows my lead, letting Blue out of the truck as well, and I’m wondering what his plan is.

“Blue insists that we keep you company tonight,” Liam says matter-of-factly. “He won’t take no for an answer.”

I manage a smile. “Is that so?”

“Yep, we discussed it in the truck,” he says with a nod. He gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Liam, I—”

“Lucy, please,” he puts his hand up to stop me. “At least let me make you dinner. I’m really shit in uncomfortable situations. I never know what to do or what to say. But Icanmake some banging food. So let me do that for you. Please?”

The urgency in his voice lightens the mood a little. I press my lips together. “I was just going to say that I really want to take a shower first, so maybe you and Blue could come back in half an hour.” That’s not what I was going to say, of course, but the look on Liam’s face took away any objections I had about wanting to be alone tonight.

“Oh, right,” Liam responds, nodding a bit too much. “A shower sounds like a good plan. I’ll do that too.” Is he flustered? He shakes his head to get the hair out of his eyes but avoids looking directly at me. I feel like he was trying to be all assertive with his “Blue insists” plan, and I totally killed his mojo. I try to keep my giggle to myself.

“I’ll see you in a little bit,” I say, giving him an awkward wave. I pat Blue on the head and step inside, anxious to get the sticky sweat of the day off my body. I feel bad that Liam feels like he needs to stay with me tonight, instead of going to the restaurant. But it’s not like I asked him to. He offered. And maybe with him here, I’ll think less about how much I wish I could teleport myself across the ocean to Josie’s side.

The shower is regenerative. I always feel better when I’m clean—and feeling refreshed takes on a whole new meaning after hiking six miles today. The muscles in my legs are twitching from the hike, a clear sign I’m out of shape—shocking given all the walking I do in Manhattan.

I throw on a pair of yoga pants and a soft T-shirt. I don’t feel like I need to impress Liam, it’s not like this is a date. He’s just making me dinner after a rough day, and rough days call for yoga pants.

Once I’m dressed, I clear my notebooks and put away all my work stuff, trying to suppress the guilt that surfaces as I look over some of my sketches. But I can’t deal with any more complicated emotions tonight.

I check my phone and find a text from my mom.

Just talked to the doctor at the hospital. Josie is awake and talking. She wants to leave already. They said we can call her in the morning.

I smile at the thought of my rambunctious aunt fighting with a bunch of British doctors. She’s probably threatening to take her IV out and leave against medical advice. I honestly wouldn’t put it past her.

Oh Josie.

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