Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
I went after her the second she left the diner, but when she was on the way out, she toppled the display, and people had crowded around to clean it up. It took me a second to get past them, and by the time I made it across the street, the blinds were shut tight and the door was locked. I know she was in there because I heard Lane.
The fact that Liv wouldn’t hear me out broke my heart, but watching her now, I can understand. I’m having irrational thoughts about calling in a bomb threat because someone is looking at her. I can’t say I would have been as clear-headed if I saw something that might have been completely innocent.
I tried texting her earlier, but she didn’t respond. Then I was confused because Lane was pretending to be her on a video, and I texted her again. She didn't answer me either time, and I should have probably taken the hint. But as soon as I saw her standing outside of Dixon’s, I got in my truck.
“Well, look who showed up,” someone says from behind me, and I turn around to see it’s Troy.
“Mind your own fucking business.” I’m not in the mood for his shit.
“Aw, come on, cuz, don’t be like that.” He tries to put his arm around my shoulder, and I shrug him off. He’s drunk, but that won’t stop me from kicking his ass. “Are you mad your girl made me a cake?”
I wish he wasn’t right. I wish Liv was my girl, but I was a coward and let her slip through my fingers. A smarter man would take her silence as her answer, but I’m here to apologize. She might have feelings for Troy or someone else in this town, but I saw the hurt in her eyes before she ran out of the diner. I know that she didn’t like what she saw, and I want to set the record straight.
Ignoring Troy, I go over to the bar where Liv and Lane just sat back down. They were on the dance floor earlier, and the sight of her swaying her hips almost brought me to my knees.
When I get close, I can hear her laughter, but as soon as she looks up and sees me standing next to her, she sobers. My heart squeezes in my chest, and I hate that I’ve caused her smile to falter even for a second.
“Well, hey there, Julius. Nice of you to drop by,” Lane says, and Liv cuts her eyes at her. “Why don’t I give you guys some privacy while I run to the bathroom.”
“Lane,” Liv hisses at her twin, but it’s too late. Her sister has run off and left her with me.
“Liv,” I say and then feel my words get stuck in my throat.
“All out of boobs?” she blurts out and then shakes her head. It’s clear she’s had a few cocktails already, and I look at the bartender.
He raises his hands like he tried to stop her before he moves to take another order.
“I mean, you can’t find boobs to put your face in?”
My eyes go to the front of her dress, and I decide that being shy has held me back my whole life. It’s stood in the way of me really living, and I’m not about to let it hold me back from claiming Liv.
“The only tits I want in my face are yours,” I tell her and then bend down so we’re eye to eye. “It’s my fault for letting you think another woman on this planet could compare to you, but I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Julius.” She says my name softly, but I’m so close I hear it. She licks her lips, and I don’t miss the way she looks at my mouth.
“What happened in the diner wasn’t what it looked like, but you thinking I could so easily be tempted is on me. I didn’t make it clear from day one how goddamn bad I wanted you. How long I’ve been working up the courage to make you mine, and how I’ll try for the rest of my life to be the man of your dreams.”
“Holy shit,” she whispers like she can’t believe what I’m saying.
“For whatever reason, you like Troy enough to bake a chocolate cake especially for him, but I swear to you, I’ll show you I’m worth that effort too.”
Her expression changes to one of confusion. “Wait, what?”
“I saw your TikToks.” It’s funny that this confession is the one that makes me blush. “I saw you made a chocolate cake, and he said you gave it to him.” I shrug it off because I don’t like thinking about her being sweet on him. “And why did your sister pretend to be you in the video you posted today?”