CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LIAM
“Liam Jax Parker!” Mom yells the moment I attempt to close the door softly. Her accent rolls the Rs in Parker, and I close my eyes in awaited pain.
Oh yeah—big trouble.
I walk to the kitchen to find her pacing angrily, Dad sipping his coffee, looking at her worriedly. They both make eye contact with me, and he looks down at his phone, not before giving me the look that says you’re dead.
“Donde estab—” she starts in Spanish, bringing out her native tongue. “Where have you been?” She crosses her arms, and even though I’m over a foot taller than she is, I can’t help but feel a little intimidated.
“I—”
She cuts me off. “I understand. You’re an adult, you’re twenty. But I have one rule: Let me know where you are. I think I’m a chill mother.” She looks over to Dad. “Aren’t I a chill mother, Will?”
He nods vehemently. “The chillest, my love.” She looks back at me.
“All I want to know is if you’re alive at least.” She sighs.
“I don’t want to nag, or treat you like a kid, but eres mi nino, and I will always worry about you.
” I drop my head like a kicked puppy when her voice lowers.
Dad glares at me and I clear my throat, uncomfortable.
She runs her hands over her hair, smoothing it down as she takes a deep breath.
“So?” I glance up as she looks at me expectantly, and a heat starts up my spine.
“Where have you been?” She sits upright on the counter stool, looking taller than she actually is, and the heat spreads over my neck to my ears, probably showing across my face.
“Um—I was at . . .” I sigh, rubbing a hand over my eyes. “I was at Bianca’s.” Dad drops his phone and Mom’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I look back down as I let them process the information.
“At Bianca’s?” She gets off the stool, and I await the rest of her yelling. I look and see smiles on both my parents’ faces. “I knew it. I mean, I called, but Kate didn’t confirm.”
The blush burns ten times brighter as I shrug. “I’m sorry, I know you worry.”
She comes over to me. “You’re lucky I love that girl, or else I’d be yelling more at you right now.
” I chuckle when she pins me with one of her stares, and I shut up.
“I accept your apology, just let me know beforehand so I don’t freak out again, hm?
” She cups my chin, making me look at her, and I nod, causing her to smile again. “So, Bianca?”
I roll my eyes. “Bye, Mom,” I say as I walk to my room, buzzing with excitement for tonight.
I used to always consider myself a patient guy, except for when it comes to spending time with the person that I love most in the world.
Well, it’s an hour earlier than I asked her to come over, and I’m at the Crystal Pines gate as the guard opens it.
Rubbing my eyes semi-aggressively and then running my hands through my hair, I try hard not to mess up the style.
My anxiety escalates bit by bit. My heart starts to beat faster and faster as I get close.
It beats even faster as I roar through the gate, her house mere minutes away.
I park in front, the tiniest bit of sunlight still shining through my windshield.
A couple of beads of sweat merge together on my palms, causing me to rub them against my slacks, hoping the flower stems don’t smell of sweat.
I set the white tulips I bought earlier today on top of my hood as I run my hands down my face.
Should I have come early?
Should I have just waited until nine to come get her?
In the middle of my overthinking, the front door opens and she steps out.
She’s wearing these beige linen pants that curve around her waist. My eyes skim her bare arms at this loose vest that makes her slightly tanned skin—from the other day at the beach—look ethereal.
Her hair falls in those loose waves, the same hairstyle she wore to Dad’s work ball, and I smile a bit at that.
She looks up and her eyes widen as she sees me, a grin gracing her pretty face.
She asks, “What are you doing here?” I catch her in my hold and her arms wrap around my neck. I chuckle as I see a slight shimmer on her eyelids, her blue eyes popping as they bore into mine.
“I couldn’t wait anymore,” I whisper, and she smiles, kissing me lightly.
“Me neither.” I make a move to deepen it when she pulls back. I huff in disappointment and she giggles softly. “Lip gloss.” I roll my eyes. I look down at her, seeing that she doesn’t cover her freckles as much as she used to, and it causes me to let out a small laugh.
I ask, “You ready to go?” while reaching over and grabbing the bouquet, her eyes twinkling ever so slightly as she takes it from me, nodding.
I know that while she loves Los Angeles, the rural parts of Pennsylvania are something she misses.
So instead of a fancy dinner at an upscale restaurant, I’ve planned something that’s utterly and truly her.
We’re driving down a smaller road, but the scenery is truly to die for, and I do have a bit more time to kill.
From my peripheral vision, she leans her head on the window, and I reach over to interlock our fingers together.
I look over for a split second, and she gives me a beautiful smile that makes my heart skip a beat.
Ever since I met her, I’ve written down almost every song that reminded me of her, and when I was old enough, I compiled them into a playlist. I mentally curse at how I should’ve already had the music playing, but well . . .
“Freckles, would you mind if we play some music?”
“Of course not.” She grabs my phone, already knowing the passcode I told her the other night. “Which playlist should I . . .” Her words trail off, and I already feel the blush warming my body. I can see she’s smiling before she lets out a small chuckle.
“You’re adorable, Liam.” She leans over, kissing me on the cheek.
“This isn’t fair, you know I can’t kiss you right now.
” She laughs at that, and I squeeze her hand as she squeezes back when the low tunes of the Bianca-centered playlist fill the car.
I haven’t told her where we’re going, and I’m taking her the long way in hopes she won’t remember.
Yet, as we get closer, I genuinely can’t think of a better place to have my very first date with the love of my life.
I stop a bit farther out as I know she has walking shoes on, and she looks around in confusion. Getting out of the car, I swing open her door, open the glove compartment, and take out a blindfold.
“I kinda need you to put this on for the next part.” She looks at me, arching one of her perfect eyebrows, defiance on her face, and I sigh. “Please?”
Her demeanor falls as she gives in and a hint of a smile graces her face. My heart speeds up at the tiniest bit of emotion from her. She takes it from me and ties it over her eyes
She murmurs a small, “Done,” and I wave a hand, making sure she doesn’t see a thing.
“I got you, Freckles. I promise,” I vow. She puts her hands in mine and I carefully guide her. After another bit of walking, I stop right in the middle of where we should be.
“Now what? Can I take—”
“Not yet.” I reach for a small remote from my pants pocket.
I click a button as she takes her blindfold off.
A hundred fake candles glitter throughout the field.
Trust me, I counted them, and the cashier had a field day with me.
White tulip petals are scattered all around us and a lone telescope sits on the hill.
I look over to her as I wring my hands and a couple of tears are coming down her face.
I resist the urge to wipe them off, kiss them away.
Instead, I patiently wait for her response.
I get closer while I say, “This is the field we used to come to as kids.” I look around. “The one where we would go s—”
“Stargazing,” she finishes, and I smile. She remembers.
She turns around, backing up again, and I let her look. She bends, her hands brushing the candles, and I chuckle.
“Can’t have a fire, so we settle for fake ones,” I say, and she softly laughs.
She keeps walking the path I made for her with the candles, going up the little hill like she used to always do, and I follow.
Her hands drag across the length of the telescope and she glances at me with a curious expression.
“Look into it.”
Pursing her lips, she bends down and does as I suggest, and I pull a paper out of my back pocket, carefully unfolding it. “Okay, I don’t wanna ruin the moment, but I have no idea what I’m looking at.”
Rolling my eyes at her with a smile, I hand her the paper. Our fingers brush together, and I marvel at the different emotions crossing her face until they all explode and land on excitement.
“You always said you wanted a star,” I mumble, and her head snaps up.
“You didn’t.”
“Of course I did,” I say.
Her eyes stop as they zone in on the date. “And you bought this five years ago on—” She hiccups slightly, her eyes widening in realization.
“On your birthday.”
I put my hand on her face and smile. Thankfully, she smiles right back at me.
She takes a deep breath and I finally get to rub the tears from her cheeks while hugging her.
She hugs me back, the paper crinkling as her hands wrap around my neck.
The wind blows by and the crickets chirp.
Then, little fireflies come closer to the light the candles give off, making the place even more magical.
“Liam,” she starts, but I put a finger on her lips and she scrunches her nose. I let out a low chuckle at her cute expression, easing away some of the nervousness.
“That day, I was the most nervous I had ever been. I was your best friend, and for once in my life, I was stuck on what to give you for your birthday. I racked my brain that entire week, and leading up to my game, I got it. The most brilliant idea . . . I would get you that star you were always looking at, and even named because you said it looked lonely.” She chuckles, shaking her head.
“Bianca, I don’t know if you’ve realized that my entire life has revolved around you.
As much as I wanted to believe it didn’t when we stopped talking, you’ve always been in my heart.
You never left.” I roll my shoulders. “These past couple of days have been the best of my life. We both spent so much time building our walls against each other, but I’d like to think it was a matter of time before they were supposed to come down.
So we could love each other.” I cup her face gently, wanting her to look me right in my eyes.
“I know I was cold at first, and you found out some things about my past. Freshman year of college was the worst. I still couldn’t fathom that I was living a life that you weren’t in anymore.
I listened to some guys, and one thing led to another .
. .” I close my eyes in pain, but I open them back up.
She deserves to know everything. “The night with Vanessa meant nothing to me, and I felt so disgusted afterward. Even though you weren’t in my life, and we weren’t dating, I felt like I betrayed you—betrayed myself.
Betrayed us. I hate that she was my first .
. .” My voice catches at the idea that I so carelessly gave away my first time, and I close my eyes, hoping it doesn’t make Bianca look at me any differently.
“I want you to be my last.” Pulling back, I raise her face, hoping she knows what she means to me.
What she’s always meant.
“Bianca, you’re the most radiant woman I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.
You’re the one I’m irrevocably and pathetically in love with.
You’re the girl whom I’ll always love. I always have since I was eight years old.
It’s always been you from the very beginning.
So, I want to ask you one more question, and hopefully you say yes.
” My nerves bubble up, but I push them down.
“Would you do me the greatest honor of letting me be your boyfriend? Not because you need me, but because I desperately need you. I always have, and always will, Freckles.”
I stand there, heart in hand, waiting to see what she does with it. She looks up at me and I take a deep breath, sweat building up again. Then, she wraps her arms around my neck.
“Yes.”
A simple word, yet it explodes my whole world. She pushes her lips against mine and my heart thunders. My inner child jumps for joy and I wrap my arms around her waist, spinning her in a tight circle. She giggles, pulling back, and the reflection of light hits her from all angles.
Putting her down, I kiss her once more, the love pouring out between us. She smiles against my lips. “The signature Disney spin.”
“I told you I did my research, baby.” She blushes at the pet name and reaches up.
“I love you, Liam Parker.”
I sigh, those words being the sweetest harmony I’ve ever heard.
I lean down, my lips brushing hers ever so slightly.
“I love you more, Bianca Harrison.” I kiss her again.
My arms bring her closer, the flickering lights casting the most beautiful glow all around us.
I pull back and smile as she turns back to the telescope.
I’ve been planning stargazing dates in my head for years, never believing they would actually happen.
I mean, I’ve been waiting most of my life to be with my soulmate.
Even if I hoped, I don’t think I ever believed that this girl who’s joyously looking at her star would finally become mine, and I hers.