Page 76 of How to Write a Rom-Com

I scoot to the edge of the couch and prop myself up on my knees. He raises his hand to place a piece of hair behind my ear. I lean into his hand, the corner of my mouth turning up at the feel of his fingers running through my hair. I look up at him and give him a soft smile.

“We do, but is it okay if I go first?” I say, sitting back on my heels. He nods.

I take a deep breath before I start. “I don’t know what this is going to look like, you and me,” I say, gesturing between us. “I don’t know what the next few months or years of my life are going to look like. But I want to go through them with you.”

Liam smiles my favorite shy smile and folds his legs under him to sit next to me on the couch. I let myself reach out and run my hand through his hair, taking a moment to marvel at the fact that I’m really looking into his eyes again. Part of me still can’t believe that today happened. Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow morning, my laptop still on my stomach after falling asleep writing, and realize this was all a dream, the perfect ending to my story. But this is real. I did this. I found my ending.

“I started writing the book,” I start, looking down to avoid his gaze. I wish I could sidestep this conversation, but this all-consuming idea of a book has been a third wheel in our relationship since day one, and we both need some closure from it. “It’s not about you. It’s not even about Hudson Hollow.” Liam eyes me, an unsure expression on his face. “It’s still a small-town romance, the heroine is a lot more cynical than me, if you can believe that,” I say with a nervous laugh. “And she finds herself, at least, I think she will, with the hero’s help.” I lift a corner of my mouth up. “Okay, maybe you did inspire some parts of it. But I want you to know, I didn’t mean any of the things I wrote about you. You’re not damaged, you’re so strong, and so put-together all the time,” I add with a laugh.

“I understand, Lucy. It took me a while, but I think I finally get it,” he says, his voice gravelly. He reaches over and takes my hand in his. “In truth, I don’t know how you qualified for this research mission in the first place, I don’t think you have one bone in your body that is slimy enough to do what you set out to.” I look down for a moment and squeeze Liam’s hand, hoping that our connection can communicate what my words are failing to in this moment. I think he knows how sorry I am. I think he’s forgiven me. Now I just need to forgive myself.

“You asked me once why I chose to edit romance novels,” I continue, meeting his eyes again. Liam nods at the memory. “And the answer is hope.” I smile sheepishly. “They give me hope. They let me feel love. Before I went to Hudson Hollow, not even my favorite romance novels were bringing me joy anymore. I couldn’t find inspiration anywhere because life was just beating me down.” Liam frowns at my statement, but I don’t want him to feel bad for me. I want him to understand why I’m here, and how I got here.

“But romance has always beenitfor me. Because there is always a happy ending. And I have to believe that we have one too. Because you,” I say, placing my hand on his chest. “Hudson Hollow, my trip, has done more than make me believe in love again. It made me believe in myself. It’s made me believe that I could impulsively run off upstate because I had to tell you I love you.” I chuckle and Liam’s smile grows wider on his face. “So, I’m in. I don’t want to scare you or commit too much too soon, but I can’t go back to my life as it was before I came to Hudson Hollow. Too much has changed. I’ve changed.”

Liam inhales, letting out a slow exhale that is visible on his chest. He lays his hand on the back of the couch and plays with the ends of my hair. “So, what does it look like for you? I know the planning side of your brain has thought about it.” I smile at the way he talks about me like he knows me so well. “What could our options be?”

I blow out a loud breath. “Well, I don’t think I want to live in the city anymore, but my lease isn’t up until January. Of course, I would have to talk to Elle about that. Even though she was somewhat of a ringleader in getting me back to you, I don’t think she’ll be too thrilled about having to take on our rent alone.”

“And then you’d move to Hudson Hollow?” Liam asks, and my chest clenches, wondering if I’ve scared him.

“I don’t want to freak either of us out, since we’ve been together for a total of two hours,” I say with a chuckle. “But I want to give us a shot. And I may have sort of quit my job before going to find you—”

“You did?” he asks, raising his brows.

“Kind of. I’ll have to work out the particulars with Anne, but I want to be a writer. And maybe that means freelance editing or being a commissioning editor, or something like that to bring in some income. Maybe working remotely, I don’t know yet. But I know that this is right for me. My life has been a bit upended this summer—with being in Hudson Hollow, meeting you, writing a book, and Josie…” My voice trails off.

Liam watches me carefully, letting the tone of my voice sink in. “Lucy…” he starts.

I smile, pressing down the knot in my throat. “She wanted me to chase my own dream. She wanted—” I take a deep breath before continuing.

“Going to Hudson Hollow caused so much change in my life, and not just giving me the opportunity to fall in love with you,” I say with a surprisingly confident tone. “It made me realize that publishing as I’m in it right now, isn’t a dream. And a wise man once told me that I might need a new dream.”

Liam grins. “And you’ve found it? Your new dream?”

“I’m looking at him.”

We lean in together, the gravity of the moment so strong that we’re pulled together by forces out of our control. Liam gathers me in his arms and pulls me onto his lap, and I feel his forearms clench around my back. I moan into his mouth as he pulls me tighter to him. The feeling of disbelief is caught in my chest, like at any moment I could say something wrong or snap back into reality where I don’t have a man kissing me like his life depends on it, holding me like he may never let me go.

So naturally, I start laughing.

My awkward laugh breaks our kiss, and I immediately hide myself in Liam’s chest. “What are you doing, you weirdo?” he says, a rumble of laughter emanating from his throat.

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I’m ruining this perfect moment. Why am I like this?

“Lucy, talk to me.”

I lift my head, trying to shake the smile from my face, but when I look at his perfectly swollen lips, I run my fingers across them, and let another giggle escape my lips. “Is there something on my face, or something?” I laugh even harder at his question.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice high like I’m on helium. “No, I’m sorry,” I say, cupping his face. “You’re perfect. I’m just the worst.”

“What?” he asks, confusion and a hint of amusement on his face.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat, trying to control myself. I hope the laughing fit has finally passed and I can focus on trying to form coherent words. “I just—you’resoperfect.” He continues to look at me cluelessly. “You’re romance-novel-perfect.”

Liam shakes his head, his blonde waves swaying back and forth. “You know, I think I’ve been told that before. Something about my eyebrows,” he says, gesturing to his face. I cackle.

“When I met you that day I got to Hudson Hollow, I literally thought you were some actor Anne hired to mess with me. I couldn’t believe that I had come to a small town and you were standing there,” I say, sitting back on his lap. “And never, in a million years, would I have thought my summer would end up like this. And now, I don’t know, I’m just wondering if I deserve it.”

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