Page 57 of Finding My Forever

We were outside the theater having just taken our picture. Sophia looked at me but I shrugged.

“I thought the show was the surprise.”

Liam laughed. “It’s half of it.”

He led us to a side door and knocked twice.

“What are you doing?” I looked around but we were alone. I didn’t want us to get in trouble for loitering in an area we weren’t supposed to be.

Instead of answering, he winked when a side door opened.

Dmitry was standing there wearing a plain white shirt, smiling at us.

My jaw was skimming the sidewalk.

“Hey, Zach.” Liam held out his hand and he and Dmitry, I mean Zach, did a strange handshake-hug thing.

They knew each other.

“Liam, thanks for coming.”

Eli stepped forward and gave Zach a man hug, one with a single backslap.

“Hey man.” He looked past him and smiled at me and Sophia. “And these must be the lovely ladies.”

Sophia stepped forward and said something. They laughed. I was frozen.

Zach looked at me and smiled. “And you’re April?”

His eyes weren’t brown like I thought during the show. They were much more hazel. There was gold and a bit of green sprinkled in those beautiful, sparkling eyes. I could stare into them for days.

An arm wrapped around me and gave me a squeeze. “It seems she’s a bit star-struck.”

I turned to the voice.

Liam?

I looked back to Zach and his expectant eyes. Oh right. I should speak now. “Yeah. April.”

Zach’s smile relaxed. “Well, thanks so much for coming to the show, April.”

I nodded slowly. Must think clearly.

“It was really…good.” What was wrong with me? Good? A peanut butter sandwich was good. His performance was…”Amazing. You were so amazing.”

The arm around me tightened again. Had I said something wrong?

“She must not have seen you perform yet.” He smirked at Liam then looked back to me and Sophia.

“The song. About the parade? That was my favorite. I could feel you guys falling in love.” I nearly sighed thinking of it. I never understood how actors did it. In every movie I saw, I assumed the leading man and woman ended up together in real life.

He reached out and took my hand. I stepped forward and felt the arm around me slip away. “You really did? That means so much.”

My heart stopped.

“Yeah.” I bit my lip and gazed into his eyes. Definitely hazel. A beautiful mirage of color.

“Alright. Thanks for taking the time to meet the girls, Zach, but I think it’s time to go.” Liam’s voice held a bit of an edge.