Page 104 of Sugarlips
“Nick,no.” I shook my head. “I’m not… that’s not what this is. I’m sorry, I’m just not interested in you that way.”
When I finally lifted my gaze to his, his smirk had faded, but he was nodding. “Well, it was worth a try. I thought maybe I’d finally met my match with someone as strong-willed and pigheaded as you.”
“Wow. You really know how to flatter a girl you’re trying to ask out, don’t you?”
With a shrug, his grin returned. “It’s no secret that I’m an asshole.” He raised his wine glass in the air. “To being colleagues?” he asked.
The high-pitched clink rang out through the quiet pizzeria, I added, “To beingfriends.”
There was a long pause as Nick continued to stare at me over the rim of his wine glass and I lifted a brow at him. “Although, friends don’t usually look at each other likethat,” I said.
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m not looking at you, I promise. I was thinking about an idea for our social media. What ifI’mnot the face of it… what if I pay someone else to be?”
I tilted my head. “Like who…”
“I was thinking maybe K—”
Before he could finish his thought, the door slammed open, hitting the wall behind it so loudly that I jumped, spilling wine out of my glass.
I blinked against the light spilling in behind the dark, shadowed figure in the doorway, but I’d recognize that silhouette anywhere. “Liam?”
42
Liam
Iwas moving through the door of the pizzeria, even though my body was completely numb.
She’s on a date.
I’d stood dumbstruck outside of Nick’s pizzeria, watching through the window as he caressed her face. Like a horrendously bloody accident, I couldn’t tear my eyes away as he leaned forward onto his elbows across the table, a shit-eating grin on his face.
I knew that fucking grin. I’d seen Nick wield that smile on so many unsuspecting women through the years. And when they clinked their wine glasses and made doe-eyes at each other, I seriously thought I was going to be sick.
I lost her. I gambled by pushing her away and telling her to figure out a way to not need me, and she called my damn bluff. She found a way to not need me… she filled my role with someone new.
Two weeks. It had been two full weeks since Chloe had butt dialed me—or stair texted me—at four in the morning.
I missed her. I missed her so damn much that I was regretting ever pushing her away. Even though I knew the essence of what I’d asked for was true, what if I was wrong?
I was really hoping that this time apart would have made her realize how badly she wanted me. How badly she loved me.
In a blink, I was standing inside the restaurant and the few people sitting in the dining room all turned, staring right at me.
Including Chloe.
She stood, blinking those beautifully blue eyes. “Liam? What are you doing here?”
Holy fuck. WhatwasI doing here? I’d come here for a reason.
My stomach turned as Nick got slowly to his feet, his body rigid, eyes locked on me.
I’d already punched Nick in the face once, but he’d deserved it that time. Now? I had no claim over Chloe. She owed me nothing, and if she wanted to date him, I had no one to blame but myself.
But I also didn’t have to stand idly by and watch. Not without making my feelings known.
I swallowed and turned my attention to Chloe who was now standing directly in front of me. Her concerned expression was a mixture of a tilted frown and creased brows. “Is everything okay?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Nothing’s okay without you in my life,” I admitted. My voice was raw and hoarse with the honesty.
