“Just a few times,” I say. “Well, that makes number twenty-seven, but who’s counting?”
“Hmm. Only twenty-seven? I’m slipping.”
He tightens his arms around me.
In the six months since the news that almost broke the Internet aired on prime-time television, it’s been a long road to get to where we are now.
Mayhem erupted after Angel and Liam “broke up.” The interview that had been hailed as their phoenix moment ended up being their swan song. When they both admitted to having fallen out of love with each other, the whole country gasped. They vowed to remain lifelong friends, but they announced that the wedding had been canceled. Liam was being sincere when he said he’d always love Angel. In a way, Angel is Liam’s Josh. She’ll always be in his life, come what may.
Of course, the fans were devastated. Some of the YouTube reactions were extreme. Blame was thrown everywhere, but mostly onto Liam. “If only he hadn’t cheated!” they cried. Conspiracy theories flourished, with some clever commentators doubting the relationship was ever real. And yet, to this day, some die-hard fans still believe the breakup was a smoke screen to cover up the fact that they married in secret and are expecting their first baby.
Ah, sweet delusion.
“Hey. Are you asleep?” Liam asks with a low chuckle as he strokes my back.
“No. Just resting my eyes and thinking.”
“About?”
“You. Me. You know, the usual.”
“Hmmm.” He rests his cheek against my forehead. “You and me is my favorite thing to think about, too.”
I open my eyes and smile up at him. He rewards me with the world’s softest, yet most arousing kiss.
“Aw, get a room.” I look over to see Josh and Angel dancing beside us.
“We’ve got one,” I say. “It’s right next to yours. And that leads me to ask if it’s absolutely necessary for you two to make quite so much noise when you’re expressing your physical love.”
“It’s all Josh,” Angel says with a roll of her eyes. “I’ve tried to get him to be quiet. He sounds like I’m murdering him, for God’s sake.”
I give her a wry smile. “Oh sure. So I know that you call him Mr. Jackhammer because you’re so quiet?”
She giggles and leans over to kiss my cheek. “Shut up. You’re making me horny.”
“So, Lissa,” Josh says, trying to ignore the fact that his girlfriend is now nibbling on his earlobe. “Are you going to put on your big-girl panties and stand beside your man at his fund-raiser tomorrow night?”
Liam looks down at me. “Good question. Are you?”
One other thing the Tori Bell interview did was enable Liam to tell the world about his dyslexia. Now, he’s the founder and CEO of the James Quinn Foundation for Dyslexia Research, named for his twin brother, and he’s garnered the support of dozens of other celebrities who’ve followed his example and admitted to their disorder. The foundation’s inaugural fund-raiser is tomorrow night, and he’s been trying to convince me for months to let him show me off for the first time as his girlfriend. Every time I think about that level of scrutiny, however, it gives me the heebie-jeebies. I adore Liam with all my heart, but revealing myself as the woman who’s replaced Angel in his affections is going to get me swift and vicious hate mail. Still, I realize we can’t hide our love forever. And I do want to be there to support him.
“Tell you what,” Josh says. “I’ll bring Angel. Then we can all walk the red carpet together, and everyone will realize Angeliam has well and truly moved on. I even volunteer to let Angel kiss me with full visible tongue in front of the paparazzi.”
“Do you now?” Angel asks with a raise of her eyebrow.
“Yes. I’m selfless like that.”
“Such a giver.”
“Come here,” he says, and cups her cheek. “We should practice.” He kisses her deeply, and it makes me smile. I was starting to doubt I’d ever see him so in love. He deserves someone amazing, and Angel is all that and more. I love them both like family.
When I look back at Liam, he’s smiling at them, too. He glances at me before saying, “Hey, Josh. Mind if I steal your girl for a dance? I barely get to see my ex-fiancée these days. I miss her.”
He kisses me before handing me over to Josh, and I admit, I’m glad I get some alone time with my bestie. I miss him.
I clasp my hands around Josh’s neck and he puts his arms around my waist.
“So, things with Angel are getting serious, huh?”
“I guess. She asked me to go back to L.A. with her next week.”
I look up at him. “To live?”
He frowns. “Yeah.”
A lump forms in my throat. I can’t figure out if I’m happy or sad. “What did you tell her?”
“That I’d have to think about it.” I’m having trouble deciphering his feelings as well. “Leaving New York. Leaving . . . you. It’s . . . I don’t know, Lissa. Every time I think about it, I get angry and I don’t know why.”