“Gorgeous.” She pulls me into a hug. “I’m so happy you’re giving this a chance.”
I swallow, unable to quiet the feeling that“giving this a chance”was never an option. I got so caught up in the passion that I haven’t been thinking aboutwhat happens next,just the now of everything.
Because someday, I’ll have to deal with the fact that if he genuinely wants to be with me, he will have to sacrifice things that I mourn the loss of every day.
Like those easy, wild intimate moments.
A sharp pain pricks my side, and I sigh, pressing on it. Maria frowns slightly and looks to the corner of my bedroom. “Maybe bring your cane so you can stay out longer?”
I nod, tucking my anti-spasmodic medicine under my tongue, and breathe. Sometimes my ego gets the best of me, and I try to go without my cane and push too far, too stubborn for my mobility aid, but Maria’s right, it’d be silly not to use it today. The cane takes the pressure off the muscles pulling on my left side. It helps me. There’s nothing negative about that. Especially if it means I don’t ruin whatever Liam has planned.
A knock sounds on the door, and Maria wraps a final hug around me. “Remember that you’re the absolute best, and he’s a lucky fucker.”
I snort at her uncharacteristic cursing.
She grabs my cane and hands it to me. “Go get ’em, tiger.”
After one final collecting breath, I implore my heart to settle its anticipatory meltdown, turn the knob and swing the door open, happily greeting—
GeneKelly?
I blink, confident I’m hallucinating the khaki-clad figure in my doorjamb. But when my eyelids flutter open, my focus anxiously buzzes around a dreamlike character bowing in the open space, not knowing where to settle.
Liam peeks bashfully back at me, his hands stuffed inside a pair of pants that should be concerning in their high-waisted nature, but somehow with his tapered waist, he makes them look aggressively alluring. A yellow vest pulls tightly across his broad chest, buttoned over a white-collared, gold-striped shirt, sleeves rolled above his elbows, his corded forearms out to be adored and celebrated.
I don’t know what to do. What to say. I could grab him by the pink tie peeking beneath the yellow vest and kiss the crap out of him. I want to desperately, but my hands are hanging uselessly at my sides, my palms a sweaty mess. And I probably should greet him at some point instead of mindlessly staring at him, but all I can get my mouth to do is hang open. My throat goes dry, and I lean a little heavier on my cane for support, my legs threatening to become the absolute mush my heart already turned into.
“What—” The words die on my tongue, meeting the amused sparkle in his eyes. He’s too proud of the effect he’s having on me, but I can’t do anything to rectify that right now because all that’s spiraling in my head ishe’s dressed like Gene Kelly for you. Gene. Gene freakin’ Kelly.
“You look gorgeous.” He exhales.
“You’re—you’re Gene Kelly,” I sputter.
Maria squeals behind us.
He shakes his head, pointing to his chest. “No, Evie. Liam. Liam Kelly.” His lips lift on one side, and I roll my eyes in return, balance restored.
“Your confidence that I wouldn’t want to fight with you may have been misplaced.”
He offers out his hand. “I had to do something to knock you out of your stupor. Wouldn’t do to have you insufferably love stricken already.”
“So confident.” I click my tongue and wave at Maria swooning in the living room before shutting the door behind me.
“Determined.” He winks.
Liam offers his arm as I hold the railing and carefully go one step at a time. This building is too old for an elevator, and we live on the seventh floor, which is terrible for my pelvis but also cheap. A lot of the time, it’s impossible to have all the boxes checked, so I just have to cope with what I have and make do.
“I’m sorry if I’m a bit slower on the street. I just need a little extra help tonight.”
His dimple pricks his cheek. “You don’t need to apologize for that.”
My eyes wander over his broad figure clad in a yellow vest. A silly grin spreads wide across my face, threatening to rupture my cheeks.
Insufferably love strickenmay not be too far off if this is the kind of thing he’s going to pull.
“Where did you even find a costume like that?” I ask as Liam leads me along the cobblestoned street. He won’t let me in on our ultimate destination, and relinquishing control is taking all the self-restraint I have. What if it’s too far? What if we end up in a dead spot as far as Métro stops are concerned and a flare happens? What if we’re going to Montmartre and I can’t handle the hills?
“I’ve had it for a while.” His phone buzzes, and he glances at it, nudging me down a narrow street. I don’t trust his navigation system, but I bite my tongue. “I just had my mom overnight it.”
