Chapter 5 has been updated, it's no longer repeated I apologise for that. Enjoy the update!
The restaurant is smaller and more intimate than I expected. We've only just arrived, but Tess quickly waves away the waiter, telling her we're still waiting for more people. I try not to think about the last time I was at a restaurant - seven months ago. The most embarrassing, heartbreaking day of my life. Every time Tess tried to take me out after that, I shut her down immediately. She must've been suspicious, but she never pushed. That meant more than she probably realized. "You could at least try not to look like you're about to shit yourself," Tess mutters before taking a sip of water. She looks stunning, as always. My stomach twists the way it always does around her - envy curling tight in my gut - but I push it away. "It's really just Liam," she says, her voice casual. "Like, of all people, he's the last one you should be nervous about. You should be more worried about him trying to get into your pants." I snort, but the joke doesn't land right. Because now my stomach is
LIAM "Aren't you supposed to be some kind of A-list celebrity?" Emilia asks, frowning. She shifts on her feet, trying to re-balance, and I can't help but grin. I'm a full head taller than her, and every time I tilt my head to meet her eyes, she scowls. It makes me laugh every time. "Only in hockey circles," I correct. "But we're probably being stalked by paparazzi right now." It's not even a question-I know that's the case. I've been a hot topic for weeks, ever since the whole mess with Jessica. Even after she confirmed we were never dating, the damage was already done. Now, I can't even walk down the street without being followed. My management won't get off my back, and Coach? He's ripped into me more times than I can count. It's exhausting. All I want to do is play hockey. I never cared about the fame or having to explain myself to the media, especially now that I've been labeled the "bad boy of hockey" who can't keep it in his pants. I don't do relationships. Call me whatev
LIAM When I was a kid, my older sister taught me one important lesson - there's always a gay wedding to crash at Romeo & Julian's around 9 PM. So here we are, heading downtown to kill some time. It's 7:53, and I have Emilia pull up their website to check tonight's dress code. The city outside is a blur of headlights and neon, flashing across the windshield as she scrolls. Whatever she sees makes her snort so loudly that I almost swerve. "This is a horrible idea, Liam." I grin, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. She's shaking her head, but there's a smile pulling at her lips. "Those are my favourite words." "No, like-this is an actual horrible idea. Aren't we supposed to be fixing your image?" She keeps scrolling, biting her lip between bursts of laughter, and something in my chest warms up. At least she's not in that weird, depressing mood anymore. "Nothing screams 'serious relationship' more than attending a wedding." "Crashing. We're crashing a wedding, Liam!" I
I should've known tonight wouldn't be normal the second Liam grabbed my hand.Now, fifteen minutes later, I'm still giggling, scrolling through the most ridiculous wedding cakes I've ever seen-one is an exact replica of The Nightmare Before Christmas, complete with tiny Jack and Sally figurines."This one is hideous," I say, turning my phone toward Liam as we walk into our next stop.He barely looks at it before grinning. "Perfect. Let's get two."I snort, slipping my phone into my pocket. It's weird seeing this side of him. I always pictured Liam as the arrogant playboy who could get anything and anyone he wanted.But the reality? It's so different.I didn't expect him to be this easy to talk to-or the type of guy who'd actually go all-in on crashing weddings. And the fact that he's making me order two atrocious cakes for complete strangers? Weirdly adorable.Warmth spreads through my chest, light and unexpected. I haven't had this much fun in forever, and we haven't even done anythi
With less than twenty minutes to go, I'm certain Liam breaks traffic laws because we make it there, a 24/7 Sweets & Treats shop, in record time. We grab our order and after a quick argument, decide to place them on the backseat."They're going to fall over," Liam warns as I set the cake boxes carefully on the seat.I roll my eyes. "They'll be fine if you drive like a normal person."Liam raises an eyebrow, looking way too smug for someone who definitely should've gotten a speeding ticket five minutes ago. "Normal is subjective."Before I can argue, he opens the passenger door for me with a mock bow. "Your chariot, m'lady."I sigh but slide in anyway, and as soon as he shuts the door and rounds the car, I reach back, bracing the boxes with one hand. Just in case.Liam gets in and scoffs. "See? You don't trust them either.""I don't trust you."He lets out a low chuckle and starts the car. The streets are quiet at this hour, the glow of streetlights casting long shadows as we drive. I c
For once, Liam isn't grinning or cracking jokes. He actually looks like he'd rather be anywhere else, and that throws me off.If he didn't want to be here, why had he been so eager about this wedding? He was the one who rushed us into every open door in East Village, the one who insisted on getting gifts-even if they were ridiculous. He hadn't exactly lit up when he mentioned knowing the groom, but he'd still put in the effort.Then again, a cake wouldn't even crack my top fifty wedding gift ideas. But what would I know? I've never had a wedding, after all.Liam takes the jab in stride, flashing a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Good thing the surprise wasn't for you," he says smoothly, turning to the groom on the right. The tension in his shoulders eases as he takes in the outfit, his lips twitching in amusement. But instead of commenting, he simply says, "Congratulations, Mar. Even if you did just marry an asshole-better an asshole I know than one I don't."The Corpse Brid
The two weeks that followed were... different, to say the least.After pictures of Liam and me surfaced, my life did a complete 180. As Zane's fiancée, I had managed to stay under the radar. But since Zane and I had been together for so long, it didn't take much for people to connect the dots and realise who I was.Tess and I hadn't expected this. While Liam's fans were shocked by the photos-and sure, it was a great PR move-most of the attention wasn't on him. It was on me.I lost count of how many times I scrolled through social media, only to see people calling me a puck bunny, a gold digger, warning Liam to be careful. Then, my bakery's location got leaked.At first, people came just to catch a glimpse of Liam, lingering by the counter, eyes darting around like they expected him to stroll in at any moment. But after days of disappointment-and a few new policies that required customers to actually buy something to stay-the questions started.Were Liam and I really together?What was
EMILIAThe summer before college, Zane got his driver’s license and drove us up to Maine to visit his extended family.My parents had never approved of our relationship. They saw Zane as a country bumpkin — someone beneath our family’s status who was only with me for the connections my last name carried. They would have preferred I married our rival’s son and secured a business merger to expand the family profits.When I put my foot down and insisted that what we had wasn’t some fleeting childhood infatuation — that I loved him — they weren’t happy about it.My sister was too young to understand the weight of my family’s expectations, so she stayed out of it.But my brother? He was always on my side.At least, he was — until I snuck out for that road trip to Maine without telling a soul.Zane and I got into a huge fight somewhere along the way. He pulled over fifteen miles from his grandparents’ house, dropped me off on the side of the road, sent me the GPS location, and drove off.Th
LIAMI stop in my tracks, my grip tightening around my keys.What the hell is she doing here?It takes me a second to fully register her — petite frame drowning in an oversized hoodie, a cap pulled low over her sunglasses, a face mask hiding half her face. The only thing that doesn’t scream incognito is the short skirt and the ridiculous heels that do absolutely nothing for her height.For anyone else, this would look over the top. For her? It’s subtle compared to the media frenzy that’s been following her lately.Still, she shouldn’t be here. Not at my place. Not in the middle of the night.This is a bad idea. A really bad idea.The elevator doors slide shut behind me, breaking the silence, and that’s when she finally looks up.She tugs down her mask, lips curling into a soft, almost teasing smile.“Hey, Li.”Her voice is light, like she’s testing the waters.I don’t answer right away. My brain is still catching up, trying to figure out what the hell she wants — why she’s here, of al
LIAMHockey practice at six in the morning should be illegal.I’m already regretting every life decision that led me here as I step into the rink, duffel bag on my shoulder and the cold air biting at my face. The fluorescent lights overhead flicker slightly, casting a dull glow over the ice. Most of the guys are already here, stretching, taping their sticks, chugging down whatever energy drinks they swear by.I should be focused. Locked in. Ready to skate until my legs give out. But my mind is still stuck on yesterday — on Emilia.She looked at me like I was the problem. Like she needed to put as much space between us as possible.And maybe she’s right.I shake off the thought and drop my bag onto the bench, yanking my jersey over my head. Cam claps a hand on my shoulder as he passes by, his grin too bright for this hour. “You look like hell.”I roll my eyes. “Thanks, man. Really needed that.”“You good?”I nod, even though I’m not sure. “Yeah. Just tired.”It’s not a total lie. But t
EMILIAI get home earlier than usual, and the moment I step inside, I hear the unmistakable sounds of Tessa rummaging around. Shoes clatter. Cabinet doors slam. Something — probably a measuring cup — clatters to the floor.I glance at the calendar. It’s her day off.Usually, we spend her days off together, but with the wedding coming up so fast, she’s been pushing me to spend more time with Liam. If only she knew how that was going.Well, she won’t exactly want to hear about it.“I’m home!” I call out, kicking off my shoes and flopping onto the couch.Fifteen minutes pass, and there’s still no sign of her. Not even a sarcastic remark. That’s weird.Just as I’m about to get up and look for her, something hits me.A smell. A truly awful smell.It’s thick, heavy, and wrong. Like something is burning, but also… maybe rotting? My stomach churns, my eyes sting, and I slap a hand over my nose.Oh God.I stand so fast that my head spins, and the moment I do, I regret everything.Because there
EMILIAI don’t know how to explain the feeling in my chest. I don’t even know why I can’t explain it. So, I don’t try. I just drink my juice and pretend to be very, very interested in the flavour.Liam watches me, then grimaces. “I swear I’m not some creepy stalker if that’s what you’re thinking.”He rubs the back of his neck. “There’s always empty strawberry containers in the fridge. And, uh… you eat them with melted chocolate, right? Because whenever I throw them out, the containers always have little chocolate stains.”I blink. I never even realised Liam was the one tossing out my empty strawberry containers.I mean… I always figured once I finished them and shoved the pack back into the fridge, it would eventually disappear. Somehow.Also who actually notices stuff like that? He saw a few empty containers, some chocolate stains, and just knew what I liked? Isn’t that too small of a detail to pick up on?I just nod and take another sip of my juice, humming in appreciation. It reall
EMILIAI miss when rush hour only happens at noon.Ever since Liam decided my bakery was his new favourite playground, business has been nonstop. He waltzed in one day, threw on an apron, and announced he was going to learn how to bake. And just like that, rush hour became every hour.Apparently, no one on earth can resist the sight of Liam Calloway covered in flour. And honestly? I get it.I won’t lie — the extra attention has been great for business. I’ve made more money in the past few weeks than I have in my entire life and I’m not even exaggerating. But it also means I’m constantly on my feet, barely catching a break.And Liam? He’s loving every second of it.Especially since it also means I barely have a second to breathe. I’ve come to realise Liam relishes in my suffering.Right now, the line stretches out the door, and I’m pretty sure half these people don’t even care about the pastries. They just want to snap a picture of Liam rolling dough or pretend to be interested so they
ZANEThe unread messages started piling up the night I left for Chicago.I clench my fist around my phone, trying to steady my breathing as my feet pound against the treadmill. The steady hum of the machine does nothing to quiet the frustration building up inside me.I’m in the indoor gym in our house. Emilia researched the brands — only filling the house with the best of the best — of all the equipment and decorated the gym meticulously according to my tastes. Hell, she’d decorated our entire house.Hmph. Well, I guess it’s just my house now.The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The house feels emptier, quieter—like something’s missing. But I shove that feeling down, focusing on the burn in my legs instead. It’s better this way. It has to be.The week Emilia moved out, Bec moved in.It was easier that way. Having someone who understood what it was like to always be in the spotlight. Someone who got the pressure, the expectations, the constant need to be at your best. We cou
EMILIA We spend the rest of the day trying out different rides. After much persuasion — more like straight-up bullying — Liam drags me onto the rollercoaster. And after I promptly throw up everything I’ve eaten today, he tries to make up for it by taking me on the teacups. Not exactly the apology I had in mind, but at least I don’t feel like I’m dying. Hours pass in a blur of flashing lights, laughter, and the kind of fun that makes you forget why you were even here in the first place. No thoughts of the press, no contract hanging over my head — just this. By the time Liam pulls up in front of Tessa’s place, I’m exhausted but weirdly content. I unbuckle my seatbelt and hop out of the car, only to realize he isn’t following. I turn back, finding him still sitting behind the wheel, looking… confused? “Why aren’t you coming?” I ask, waving him over. He runs a hand through his already messy hair before finally unbuckling. "I don’t know, kinda feels like I’m being left behind after be
LIAM“The people in the bushes would probably find it weird if we don’t go on the Ferris wheel, huh?” I say, keeping my voice light.Emilia hums, subtly glancing over her shoulder, but it’s obvious enough.So she didn’t notice them before.Her frown deepens, but she shrugs. “Well, I live to disappoint expectations.”I bark out a laugh. Of course she does.For a second, I reach for her hand. But at the last moment, I change course and grab her wrist instead.She’s been avoiding holding my hand all day. Not outright, just small things like pretending to adjust her bag, tucking her hair behind her ear, reaching for her phone.At first, I thought it’s the whole out of sight, out of mind thing.If she doesn’t hold my hand, maybe she can pretend these last two weeks didn’t happen. Maybe she can even pretend that I was there. I didn’t have the right to feel weird about it.At the restaurant, I caught a glimpse of her arm.The scratches weren’t obvious at first, not against her light brown sk
EMILIAAfter all that screaming, I’m pretty sure Liam and I are scarier than anything inside that haunted house.We stumble outside, gasping for air between fits of laughter. My heart is still racing, and I swear I can still feel the ghostly hand that grabbed my ankle.Liam runs a hand through his messy hair, shaking his head. “That was ridiculous.”I smirk and nudge him. “Says the guy who almost punched an employee.”“In my defense,” he says, completely serious, “he shouldn’t have jumped out like that. Fight or flight, and I chose fight.”I snort. “You screamed.”He glares at me, but there’s no real anger behind it. “And you clung to me like your life depended on it.”I open my mouth to argue, but he just raises an eyebrow, waiting.Ugh. I hate that he’s right.“Whatever,” I mumble, looking away. “Let’s go find something slightly less terrifying.”Liam chuckles, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he follows me. “What, like the teacups?”I roll my eyes. “You wish.”We find another p