I ground my teeth and nodded, finally accepting Bart’s part in all of this. He was here for the ratings, and if that meant helping me get the girl in the end, then he would do it.
“Alright,” I said. “But I’ll need my mobile back first.”
Bart slipped his hand in his pocket, pulled out my phone, and tossed it to me. “Thought you might ask for that.” Then he winked. “Fully charged.”
Colin chuckled then snapped his fingers to someone on the side of the stage. “I think we can help you out with that.” He stood and held out his hand to shake mine. “Let’s go find Chelsea, shall we? I can’t wait to meet your girl.”
36
Chelsea
At some point between late afternoon and after dark, the pub I’d chosen to wallow in became busy with customers. Mostly, they’d taken up the seating in the dining room, but the bar area was packed now too. I sat, stubbornly drowning myself in wine that just kept coming. I even made friends with the group of girls that crowded behind my stool as we all watched the train wreck that was the British Bachelor Reunion.
It turned out, every female in freaking London knew the show, and Liam, well. And when they asked me if I was “that Chelsea girl,” it didn’t even phase me to lie and tell them no, especially not with four glasses of wine in me.
“That wanker, Francesca, wants to be the British Bachelorette,” commented one of my new friends. “She’s eating this up. Just look at her.”
I tried to focus on the screen, and on the flawless Francesca, but I was too hyped up to focus on one thing at that given moment. Exhaustion, the booze, and the lack of food in my body was a perfect storm for the painful hangover that awaited me in the morning. I didn’t care. If it dulled the ache in my heart, then I was all for it.
“I thought she was just your friend,” the host, Colin, said.
“She is my friend,” Liam responded. “My best friend, but I never should have reduced her to just that. She’s my soul mate, my everything, and I need to find her.”
Near the end of Liam’s speech, I started to think that maybe I was imagining his words. I’d imagined a lot of things over the past couple of days, and Liam proclaiming his love for me on television had definitely slipped into my fantasies. But just as quickly as I thought I heard him say the words, my denial swallowed me whole.
“Did you hear him? He loves you, Chelsea!” cried out another one of my new friends.
My laughter that followed came straight from my gut. “No,” I said, whipping my head left then right. “I’m his friend. Nothing more.” I believed what I was saying. I believed it with so much conviction that my heart broke all over again. Rolling my eyes, I took another sip of my wine then set it down before spinning on my stool and throwing up my arms. “Who wants a shot?”
My new friends cheered, and I ordered us a round of lemon drops. Eventually, I left my stool to play a round of pool with the girls. For a few minutes in time, I actually considered them real-life friends. It felt good to not feel so alone in London.
“Where is she?”
I was bent over the pool table, preparing to take my shot, when the familiar voice boomed from the entrance of the pub. My pulse took off racing. My heart crashed through my rib cage, and every muscle in my body froze while my gaze panned over to the door.
Every emotion I’d felt over the last few days rolled through me, a roller coaster of highs and lows and twists and turns, flipping and spiraling, until I didn’t know which way was up. Liam was standing in the threshold of the pub, his eyes actively scanning every inch of the joint until they landed on me, and he immediately stepped forward.
I swallowed, my stomach somersaulting as my heart grew heavier in my chest. I was back on that damn roller coaster, on the upward climb of the world’s tallest ride. The closer he got, the higher I went, every inch bringing me closer to the peak that would take me over the edge.
He stopped when he reached the pool table. Only worn green felt separated us. The girls I had been playing with were inching their way behind me, whispering words of encouragement. I didn’t even care that cameras were following behind him.
“Hi.”
At least that was what I thought he said by the way his lips moved. The pub was too loud to hear much. His expression carried so much remorse that my heart squeezed in my chest. He was still dressed in the same suit I’d seen him wearing on television less than an hour ago.
“Were you watching?” Liam shouted, his eyes flickering with hope.
It took me a second to sort through my alcohol-induced fog to realize he was talking about the reunion show.
And that was the when words he’d said—words I’d thought I’d imagined—came back to me full force. She’s my soulmate, my everything. And I need to find her.
Had he really spoken those words on television for everyone to hear? I’d gone immediately into denial after he’d said them. I hadn’t given it a second thought until now.
I still held the pool cue as I pulled myself up straight, realizing I hadn’t responded to him. “You might need to repeat what you said!” I yelled. “I’ve had a lot of wine.”
He let out a slight laugh before resting his hands on the edge of the pool table and leaning in. “I said you’re my everything, my soul mate, and I love you. You have every right to be upset with me, but I won’t allow this distance anymore.”
My heart felt like it was in my throat while he spoke, every word he shouted penetrating deep in my soul and reverberating outward. I sucked in a breath and tilted my head, biting back on my smile as my throat thickened with emotion. “What? I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you.”
He narrowed his lids, his gaze locked on mine as he started to move. My feet were still rooted as he made his way around the pool table, his right hand dragging along the edge until he was right in front of me. He towered above me, his chest flush to the top of my head, then he brought his hands up to cup my face while he lowered his to leave only a couple of inches between us.
“Can you hear me now?” This time, he didn’t bother to shout. His words were gentle, sincere, and filled with a plea I couldn’t ignore.
I nodded, my eyes already brimming with unshed tears. “Yes.”
“Good. Because I love you, Chelsea Banks. And I really need you to forgive me for being a wanker last night. I was only trying to guard the one good thing in my life, but I realize now that you don’t need protecting. You’re capable of doing that all on your own. I promise to keep that in mind from now on. Just don’t walk away from this.” He placed his forehead on mine, closed his eyes, and exhaled in a steady stream.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, emotion bubbling up in my chest as I held back my tears. Placing my lips against his, I whispered shakily, “I love you too.”
That was all the momentum we needed to tip over the edge of the track and begin the ride of our life. Together.
His lips slammed to mine, and the room erupted in a cheer so loud it made me smile. Liam demanded my full attention with a growl, kissing me harder as he hugged me tighter. My head spun. Wild butterflies became uncaged in my chest as I melted into him.