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“Liam. I love you. But there’s something you need to know. I left because Justin’s blackmailing me. He threatened to tell Wiseman that we hooked up before I started working at SITL and get us kicked out of the running for the funding.”
Liam looks at me blankly. “And sorry, forgive my ignorance, but how was going to the airport going to solve that? ”
“I was going to fly to Boston so I could kick Justin in the nuts.”
Liam nods in approval. “That’s my girl.”
I sigh. “Um, I guess I didn’t really have a plan. I knew I couldn’t let Justin blackmail me, but I was at a loss. I thought that if I could just talk to Wiseman first, let him see in person that I’m sincere and I love you and that this isn’t some sleazy, seedy boss-employee affair, that he’d see our side of the story and not Justin’s.”
Liam is smiling now. “So, let me get this straight… It’s Sunday night, you are wearing a cocktail dress, and you left a wedding so you could catch a train to the airport. To fly to Boston to look for a random dude called Tim Wiseman so you could tell him you love me.”
I consider this. “Correct.”
He shakes his head in total wonderment. “Do you even know where to find Wiseman? Have an address? Phone number?”
Definitely hadn’t thought this through.
“Nope,” I say resolutely. “But I would’ve found a way. I knew that I couldn’t fail, couldn’t have our happy accident of the way we met lead to something so negative. I love you way too much to let myself become your biggest mistake.”
“It could never be a mistake to love you, Annie. Loving you is a privilege. An honor I don’t take lightly. And I want to keep on loving you every single day, for the rest of my days.”
I look at him through teary eyes. “Same, Liam. I just wish I could have solved this mess for you.”
“You already did.”
“Huh?” I blink at him.
“I placed a call to Wiseman on the way here. Told him everything.” Liam grins. “Guess I beat Justin to the punch, because he told me that my forthright honesty was admirable. Refreshing. In a way, I almost think it gives us an edge.”
“Really?” I sniffle, looking at him in wonder. He actually took that risk for me. Without even knowing what was at stake.
“Really. And whether we end up getting the funding or not, I’m going to change the rulebook right when I get back to the office,” Liam continues. “Because nobody should have to choose between love and their career. And I want you to have the best of all worlds, Annie. You deserve the best of everything.”
My heart is full.
49
ANNIE
Six Months Later…
“We’re baaaaaaccckkkkkkkk!” Luke sings as he swings open the front door of Lana Mae’s duplex with theatrical gusto.
I look up from my spot on the couch—where I’m curled up with a glass of red wine in my hand and Harry Styles in my lap—and burst into surprised laughter.
Mindy, who’s on the chair across from me, groans, then covers her eyes and peeks through a gap between her fingers. “Oh, my eyes!” she yelps.
Lana surveys the scene and smirks. “Well well well, what do we have here?”
Luke, Liam and Legs are all standing in the doorway dressed head to toe in Justin Bieber concert merch—glittery hats, graphic t-shirts, flashing glowstick necklaces and all. There’s even a cardboard cutout of Bieber himself tucked under Luke’s arm.
Goodness gracious.
Legs squeals and runs to her mom. “Oh my gosh, Mommy, it was so fun! You should’ve been there…”
I smile at the sweet thought of the little girl finally getting to attend the long-awaited concert with her two favorite uncles. Then, I turn my attention to the man I love, who’s still hovering in the doorway unreasonably attractive for a man wearing a pair of flashing space boppers on his head and a t-shirt with a shirtless Biebs on the front.
“We may have gone a bit overboard at the merch table,” he announces, a tad sheepishly.
