Chapter 36 – The Scenic View
Rosalie
I rush around my bedroom putting things in the tiny purse Aubrey lent me, all the while knowing she and Kam are having a good ol’ time giving Liam the third degree in our living room.
They don’t make these purses phone-sized. It’s all I can do to wedge my cell in next to the mints, the tissues, the lip gloss, and my house key already in there.
Once I’m ready, I grab his hand and drag him outside, waving goodbye to Kam and Aubrey. He looks incredible in his dark suit. He’s freshly shaved and he got a haircut today. I was in such a hurry to get him out of the apartment, I didn’t really look at him until this moment.
Liam takes my hand, but while I’m looking at him under the glow of my porch light, he keeps his gaze out at the view, his lips pressed together. Nobody comes out here to admire our parking lot and dumpster. Which means he’s not really looking at anything. He’s in his head.
“I thought I was the one who was supposed to be worried about tonight. Is everything okay?”
He turns and takes me in, and a sigh leaves him. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”
“I saw it in your face when I walked out to save you from Aubrey and Kam, but you haven’t looked at me since.” Well, until now. He’s definitely looking at me now.
“Sometimes attraction hits me so hard that I can’t think straight. My instinct is to panic. Like I’m being a bad boss for noticing you, and people will see it.”
“Well, this is no good. You’re guilty and I’m gid—”
Liam dips his head down and kisses me, summarily cutting off my rant.
His hand cups my cheek before sliding into my hair, and I melt into him, gripping the lapels of his jacket and holding on for dear life.
He’s too good at this. If he ruins my updo, it will be money well spent.
He’s certainly not unsure about anything when he’s kissing me.
I rest my palm against his white shirt under his jacket and feel his heartbeat speeding up while our mouths slow down into something more intentional, a conversation where he acknowledges everything he’s feeling, and I reassure him that his heart is safe with me.
“We should go,” he murmurs against my lips.
“We should.” I slide my hands off his chest and reach up to check my hair. Luckily, the style they did at the salon has flexibility to it, more Hollywood glam than prom night. The side sweep, held up by a crystal hair clip, looks as good as ever when I check it with my phone camera.
“I’ll try not to touch your hair again,” he says with a guilty grin.
“Worth it,” I sing out quietly, moving down the walkway and carefully taking the stairs down one at a time. I’m not used to navigating them in heels.
I’m a little more nervous once we’re in his car on the way to the restaurant. “How do your parents really feel about me coming? Don’t give me the sugar-coated version.”
Liam drums his hands across the steering wheel.
“If they have an opinion on it, they’re not telling me.
I called them again after I talked to Esther, who, as you know, was like, ‘of course I set you guys up. Why was that even a question?’ It’s hard to surprise Esther.
She truly believes anything is possible, and not in the motivational poster kind of way. ”
His description of her makes me laugh. It doesn’t bother me to think about the two of them together anymore. It’s part of his past, and every time he shares it with me, I feel more tightly woven into his life.
“Was it her idea to elope?”
Liam looks at me. “My idea, but she ran with it. We had Wyatt right away. So many big life decisions that hit me all at once. I don’t think I really grew up until I held him, all scrawny, red, and helpless.”
“Were your parents excited to be grandparents?”
“Having Wyatt meant I was tied to Esther forever. Not something they were overjoyed about. They were cautiously supportive. They sent us a card and a really nice bassinet. They didn’t come visit.”
“I don’t expect you to choose between me and your family, but—”
“I’d choose you. Every time.” He says it so casually. No hesitation.
“Liam!”
“I chose Esther over them. That’s what you do when you’re a husband. The reason it didn’t work out was because she didn’t choose me. Rosie, I have your back. Always. I’m sorry I made you feel like I didn’t. You don’t need to dazzle anyone tonight, but I think you will anyway.”
I reach for his hand across the console, and he takes mine, lacing our fingers together.
“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” I murmur.
“Probably. This isn’t me asking you to elope, by the way.”
“Good. My parents would kill me. They like you, but they should probably get to know you better.”
“Have you told them about us?”
“Kam spilled the beans. She’s good at that. I talked to my mom this morning. And my dad. He wanted to make sure you weren’t taking advantage of me.”
Liam grimaces. “Oh, boy.”
“Please don’t start sweating and looking like you’re about to haul yourself over a balcony every time you look at me.”
“You’re terribly mean.”
I laugh. “No, I’m not. Let’s just agree that nobody will be cutting off relatives after this. Not even the ones who can’t keep their mouth shut.”
Liam’s phone starts ringing, lighting up with Jack’s name.
“Speaking of,” he says, letting go of my hand and picking up his phone to take the call. The car’s Bluetooth takes over, so I hear Jack’s hello, mixed with the background noise of light music, laughter, and the light clatter of dishes.
“I take it you’ve arrived?” Liam asks him.
“Oh, yeah. I was told to be here early, which makes no sense because I’m not allowed to help with anything. The staff knows what they’re doing.”
“You’re on speaker with Rosalie, by the way.”
“Hi, Rosie.”
“Hi, Jack.”
“Are Mom and Dad there yet?” Liam asks.
“No.” He sounds put out but also happy to have something to complain about.
“And as thrilled as I am to have Rosalie with us, you two have left me at the singles’ table alone.
Mom says you insisted on sitting with family.
And yet, she won’t let me get out of it.
She’s made promises. To ladies. Ugh, here comes one now.
Rosalie, you don’t happen to have a sister, do you? ”
“No,” Liam and I say in unison.
“Oh, ho. That means you do. Is she way younger or something?”
Liam looks at me, and I throw my hands up in defeat. Jack knowing about her won’t hurt anything.
“She has a boyfriend,” Liam finally says. “She would not be interested in you.”
She would absolutely be interested in Jack, especially as a rebound, but it doesn’t matter because we’re not setting the two of them up. Ever.
After reassuring Jack that we’re only five minutes away, Liam ends the call and we check in with the kids at Esther’s.
They’re having a blast. They started the day with a donut run, and they’re about to get out of the hot tub and go in and watch a movie.
As nice as it is to dress up for a party, I’ll admit that sounds like a great Saturday night to me.