Chapter 4
FOUR
LIAM
“So, what’s the plan?” Stella asks, finally getting a moment of reprieve from all the well-wishers congratulating her and Jasper on their engagement.
“I’m not certain. I hadn’t anticipated competition.”
“Oh?” She arches a brow. “Is that because you didn’t realize my future sister-in-law is not only gorgeous, brilliant, and a savvy businesswoman, but such a catch she’s not waiting around for the man who rejected her last Christmas?”
At his fiancée’s snarky reply, my best friend’s eyebrows lift in amusement.
Jasper and Stella already know how I feel about Juniper.
Back around Thanksgiving, when Jasper pulled me aside to show me the ring he’d bought Stella, I’d congratulated him, then promptly confessed about Juniper.
About the kiss, at least. The rest of that night is something I’ll keep between me and her.
Our conversation was when I finally admitted out loud that I was done pretending my feelings weren’t real.
Jasper likes to joke that I needed a road map to my own feelings, but at least I’m not waiting twenty years like he did.
My glare sharpens. “Every man should drop to their knees in front of Juniper.” Then quieter, more certain, “But I’m the one who’ll earn the right to stay there.”
Jasper’s eyes darken. “Didn’t we make a pact? No references to being on your knees for my sister. Ever.”
I huff a dry laugh, but don’t take the bait. There’s something more important I need to know. I turn to Jasper. “What did you do last year when Stella’s former fling was sniffing around?”
Jasper chuckles. “Daniel was no competition.”
Stella smirks. “But you still got jealous.”
“When he touched you, of course. But I knew you didn’t want him, so that helped.”
In synchronization, our heads turn just in time to see Juniper kiss her so-called date on the cheek. He just stands there, hands stuffed into his pockets, not bothering to pull her in close. And the way Juniper eyes him is not romantic, but conspiratorial.
There’s also the fact that while they talk, he’s checking out another woman across the bar.
Stella lifts a brow. “Should we tell him?”
Jasper shrugs. “We said we wouldn’t get involved.”
I drag my eyes away from Juniper for a moment. “Tell me what?”
Stella leans in. “That guy isn’t Juniper’s date. It’s her friend, Wiley. They’ve known each other since they were in diapers.”
Jasper scoffs. “We’ve known each other since we were eight and we’re really together.” He taps the diamond ring on her finger with a smug grin. “We’re engaged now.”
“Yeah, but Wiley and Juniper are different than you and me. We’ve always had chemistry.”
Jasper smirks. “Glad you’re willing to admit that.”
Then, quieter, he reaches for her hand. “You’re the only person I’ve ever looked at and known—absolutely known—I’d spend my life with.”
She softens. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me.”
They share this look. So familiar, so full of ease and certainty, that it hits me square in the chest. The quiet kind of love. The kind that doesn’t need proving. The kind that doesn’t flinch when someone kisses the wrong cheek or pretends to care about someone else.
I look away.
Because I’ve never had that.
But I want it.
God help me, I want it with Juniper Jensen.
As Jasper and Stella get pulled into another conversation with local friends, I take the opportunity to reassess my approach, then head for the opposite end of the bar to grab a drink.
After settling with the bartender, I turn my attention back to Wiley and Juniper but as luck would have it, Juniper has left Wiley to talk to another friend on the other side of the bar.
As I approach, Wiley gulps back the rest of his beer just in time for me to set a fresh one in front of him.
He eyes it with interest before looking up at me.
“Liam Hargrove.” I extend a hand, and he cautiously takes it. It’s clear he knows who I am and the heartache I’ve caused his friend.
“Wiley Cooke.”
“Brought you a fresh beer. Nutcracker Stout, right?”
“Yeah. How’d you know?” He glances around.
“I’m very observant.”
He eyes my glass of whiskey.
“No offense, but you look like you drink cocktails I can’t pronounce.”
“Are you calling me pretentious, Wiley?”
“Um, not in a mean way.” His eyes snag on my watch. “Just you’re fancy and stuff.”
“I appreciate what you’re doing for her,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“Pretending you’re on a date.”
He smirks, but I catch the way his eyes flash with panic. Nervously, he picks up the beer I offered and takes a drink, his hand shaking when he returns it to the pub table. “W-we’re not pretending.”
“So, you let your date get her own drink?” I motion to Juniper at the bar with her friend.
“Maybe. And what exactly are you doing here?” he challenges.
“I’m here to prove something. To her—and to myself.” I pause, gauging his reaction. “She might be pretending with you, but I’m not pretending with her.”
Wiley crosses his arms, skeptical. “Nice watch. Bet it costs more than my car.”
I glance at the watch face. I don’t buy much for myself—never cared about cars or suits or flashy toys.
But watches? They make sense to me. Precision.
Craftsmanship. A promise that time, at least, can be measured and mastered.
Which is more than I can say for the chaos in my chest every time Juniper looks at me like she hates me.
“I’m not here to play games. And I know you have another agenda for the night.” I lift my brows, then nod my head toward the blonde across the room.
“Listen, man, Juni’s not a fan of yours, so maybe you take the hint and move on.”
“Can’t. Not when I’ve spent a year wishing I could take back the moment I let her go.”
He sighs, conflicted. “Shit, man, I can’t compete with that.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t have to.”
“I know, but Juni asked me to—”
My brows lift at his near confession.
He sighs. “She’s going to kill me.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “You did good, Wiley. I’ll deal with Juniper.”
He looks thankful to be relieved from fake date duty and ready to start chatting up the blonde across the bar.
“But before you make your move, let’s have a little fun.”
“What kind of fun?” he asks, lifting the beer up to his lips.
Juniper, with drink in hand and a quick wave to the group of people she was talking to, heads our way.
The moment she spots me at the table with Wiley, her stride slows. Her eyes turn wary, like she’s approaching a live grenade.
Wiley, looking far too pleased with himself, says, “Hey, Juni, we’ve got a problem.”
She arches a brow. “We?”
I lean back on the barstool. “Wiley and I have reached an impasse.”
She crosses her arms. “Oh, have you?”
“Yes,” I say, sipping my drink. “We both seem to think we’re your boyfriend.”
She chokes on her drink. “Excuse me?”
Wiley, more committed to this bit than he was to being her fake date, nods solemnly. “And it’s getting messy, Juni. You need to clear this up.”
“Traitor,” she hisses at him.
I smirk. “So, which one of us gets the honor?”
She rolls her eyes. “Wiley, obviously.”
Wiley raises a hand. “Ah, hold on—before you answer too fast, let’s make it fair.”
I gesture graciously. “Yes, let’s give her the full picture.”
Wiley straightens up. “Boyfriend Candidate #1: Me. I’d make a fine fake boyfriend. I don’t ask too many questions, I have excellent taste in Christmas movies, and I don’t—” He jerks a thumb at me, “—smirk like that.”
I tilt my head. “Oh, I rather like my smirk.”
I remember the moment last year at the liquor store when Juniper told me she liked it, too.
“Juni, I really like this guy.” He takes a sip of the beer I bought him.
Juniper scowls. “Unbelievable.”
I place a hand over my heart. “Which brings us to Boyfriend Candidate #2: Me. Not easily distracted, always listening, and…” I step closer, voice low, words just for her. “I wouldn’t be faking it.”
I hear the catch in her breath. She goes still.
“So, Juniper. Who’s it going to be?”
Her eyes burn into mine. “Neither of you.” She glares at Wiley. “I’ll deal with you later.”
“Good luck, man.” Wiley hits me with a clap on the shoulder before heading in the direction of the blonde he’s been eyeing.
Juniper is already pulling on her coat and heading for the door.
“Juniper! Wait!”
“Why can’t you leave me alone?” she groans. “Is this fun for you? Catching me in a lie and making me look silly?”
“Don’t be mad at Wiley, I’m obnoxiously charming. He didn’t stand a chance.”
“You’re something, that’s for sure.”
She yanks open the door and we’re met with a blast of icy air.
As we pour out onto the sidewalk, snow is falling in large, heavy clumps. It’d be a magical night if not for the way Juniper is stomping off like she’s trying to leave a trail of fury behind her.
“Juniper, slow down. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She whirls around so fast she nearly collides with me. Her cheeks are flushed, eyes bright with emotion.
“Oh, that’s rich coming from the man who humiliated me last year.” Her voice is a sharp whisper, but it hits harder than if she’d shouted. “Don’t worry, Liam. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
I bite my tongue, letting a group of patrons pass by and slip into the bar behind us.
“I never meant to hurt you,” I say carefully. “But pretending nothing happened between us—acting like it didn’t matter—that was a mistake.”
“You don’t get to rewrite the past just because you’ve decided you might feel something now.”
Her voice cracks slightly, and I see the desperation in her eyes. She hates it.
She takes another step back and that’s when her heel skids on a slick patch of snow.