“Nova, who's your date?”
“Liam, is this official?”
“What's her name?”
He ignores them, keeping his focus on me.
We walk toward the restaurant entrance together, his hand at the small of my back, and more flashes pop. My heart is racing so fast I can barely breathe.
“Don't look so terrified,” Liam whispers in my ear. “It's just dinner. With me. Same as any other night.”
“Except with a dozen cameras.”
“Minor detail.” He squeezes my hand.
The hostess greets us warmly and leads us into the restaurant. The interior is elegant. We're seated at a cornertable, partially secluded but still visible. Liam orders a bottle of wine without looking at the menu.
And then we're alone, facing each other across pristine white linen, and the reality of what we just did starts to sink in.
“That was terrifying.”
“But you did it anyway.” His hand finds mine across the table. “That's my brave girl.”
I glance around the restaurant. “I’m not feeling very brave right now.”
“You're here, aren't you? With me? Despite everything that could go wrong?” His thumb strokes across my knuckles. “That's the definition of brave.”
The server returns with our wine, and Liam goes through the tasting ritual with easy confidence. When he approves and our glasses are poured, he raises his in a toast.
“To you,” he says. “For your permanent position. For taking risks. For being the most incredible woman I've ever met.”
“To us,” I counter. “For whatever comes next.”
“To us.”
We clink glasses, and I take a sip of wine. It's delicious.
Like this moment.
Like him.
“How do you feel?” Liam asks. “Now that it's done?”
“Terrified,” I admit. “But also relieved? Is that weird?”
“Not weird at all.” He sets down his glass. “I feel the same way. Like we can finally breathe.”
The waiter comes to take our order, and Liam lets me choose first before ordering for himself. Then we're alone again, and he's looking at me with such open affection that my chest aches.
“I love you,” he says suddenly. “I don't think I've said that yet. But I do. I love you, Avery Carter.”
My world stops.
“You don't have to say it back. I just wanted you to know. I wanted you to know why I wanted to go public.”
Tears prick my eyes. “You love me.”
“I really do.” His smile is soft and vulnerable. “I probably have for months now. It just took me this long to figure out what it was.”
