Chapter 15
Misread Messages
Excited, she hurried to the café, imagining all sorts of sweet surprises. But when she arrived, she saw Liam laughing with another girl she didn’t recognize. Clara froze, a twinge of jealousy creeping in.
“Who’s she?” she muttered under her breath, trying to appear casual.
Liam noticed her frown and approached, confusion written across his face. “Clara? What’s wrong?”
Clara forced a smile. “Oh, nothing. Just… surprised to see you with someone else.”
He raised an eyebrow, then laughed softly. “Clara, this is my cousin, Sophie. She’s just visiting for the summer. I promised to show her the town.”
Relief and embarrassment washed over Clara simultaneously. “Oh… I—sorry. I overreacted.”
Liam grinned, taking her hand. “It’s okay. I might have underestimated how possessive you’d get.”
Clara rolled her eyes, but her heart softened. “Maybe a little.”
To make up for the misunderstanding, Liam pulled her toward a nearby bench and handed her a small box. “Your real surprise,” he said.
Inside was a delicate bracelet, engraved with tiny stars. “For all the starlit nights we’ve shared,” he said softly.
Clara’s eyes glistened. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Liam.”
He leaned in, brushing a kiss across her forehead. “Nothing’s perfect without you,” he whispered.
By the end of the morning, laughter had replaced tension, and Clara realized that a little misunderstanding wasn’t enough to shake the bond they were building. If anything, it reminded her how much she cared—and how much she trusted Liam.
As they walked through the sunny streets together, hand in hand, Clara felt certain that their summer story was only growing stronger, filled with laughter, tenderness, and moments that would be remembered long after the season ended.