I'm Not Charlotte Lucas(63)

But unluckily for Spike, I still had some power here. I could talk to Liam.

***

There were a total of two kids interested in working at the bank. One of them was heading to Arizona to go to college and had already heard from early acceptance, and the other was a freshman. Too young.

“That was a waste,” Todd spat, balling up the lone sign-up form I’d set out and tossing it into my box.

I’d given away two-thirds of my stickers, though, and all my candy bars. “At least we left a good impression.”

Todd’s expression showed me just how little he cared for the good impression. I gathered my things and said goodbye to him before heading out.

Liam was at his grandma’s house waiting, and she was already asleep by the time I got home and changed out of my work uniform.

My body felt like it was dancing with nerves, and I pulled on a cozy sweatshirt, hoping the comfort of my favorite hoodie would calm me. My phone buzzed, and I slid it from my pocket.

Liam: The suspense is killing me.

Me: Almost ready. Should I come there?

Liam: I guess meeting your parents as your official boyfriend is off the table tonight?

I glanced at the time on the top bar of my phone. After ten.

Me: Yeah, I might as well come there.

Liam: I’ll meet you at my car in five minutes.

Me: Deal.

The suspense was killing me too. My heart raced the closer I got to spending time with Liam. He was the solid, enticing reward for the end of my day, and I couldn’t wait to be in his arms. The man was everything I didn’t realize I was missing in my life. He evoked warmth and love within my heart, and I couldn’t wait to be with him again.

Five minutes and I’d be there.





Chapter Twenty-Five


Grabbing my purse off the coffee table, I slung it over my shoulder and let myself out of my room, surprised to hear voices downstairs in the kitchen. Mom and Dad sat at the barstools at the kitchen island, Dad eating a bowl of cereal as Mom cleaned her reading glasses.

“I’m heading out,” I said, coming up behind them.

Mom put her glasses back on and made a show of squinting at the clock on the microwave. “At this hour?”

“Yes.”

“Are you heading to Beth’s?”

“No,” I said, grabbing a water from the fridge. “Just a date.”

Mom’s intake of breath was hard to miss and made the subsequent pause even worse.

I headed for the front door. “Okay, bye—”

“Wait,” Mom called. “You didn’t tell us who you’re going out with. Or what you’re doing.”

I was twenty-six. I might sleep in their attic, but I was an adult. But Mom’s wide, worried eyes ate at me, and I succumbed to the guilt and confessed.

“I know. It’s fine.” I braced myself. It wasn’t like telling my parents about a new boyfriend meant I was telling them about an engagement. I just hoped Mom recognized that too. “I’m just going out with Vera’s grandson, Liam, and I’m not sure what we’re doing. Love you! Bye!”

I let myself out before Mom could waylay me further with an interrogation and crossed the driveway and the lawn toward Liam’s Audi parked on the road in front of Vera’s house. He stood on the sidewalk, leaning against his car with his hands in his pockets. The streetlamp highlighted him perfectly, casting shadows on the curves of his muscles still obvious through his long-sleeved T-shirt and over his stubble-covered jaw. When he caught my gaze, a smile brightened his face and made my chest warm. This guy was so authentically happy to see me. It was evident in the lines fanning out beside his eyes. And there was something so lovely about that.

It infused me with confidence and courage to walk directly up to Liam and slide my hands around his waist, laying my head against his shoulder. Had we really only started dating this week? It felt like a lifetime ago. When I was with him, Liam was so comfortable and secure, his presence so solid in my mind, like he’d been there forever, like he was meant to be there forevermore.

When his arms came around my back and pressed me closer to him, I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of his expensive cologne and manliness.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Sure.”

I stepped back as Liam opened the passenger door for me. Honestly. His chivalry never ceased. When he got in and started to drive, I was tempted to ask where we were going. I figured it couldn’t be that fancy, given the late hour, but I was prepared underneath my hoodie just in case.

“Was the career fair everything your boss hoped it would be?”

I rolled my eyes. “It was a total wash. We got nothing out of it, it went super late, and we definitely didn’t need both of us there.”

“What a bummer.”

“The bummer is that I’m the only one who knows about Todd and Marissa’s taboo office romance. Honestly, anyone else could have gone with Todd, but Marissa was so paranoid they’d figure it out if she asked anyone else to cover. So lucky me, the job was mine.”

“Because you’re a nice person.” Liam said this as though it was fact. He kept driving, his attention on the road, and I watched him.

“How do you know I’m a nice person?” I tried to sound facetious, but my curiosity edged its way into my tone.