Page 55 of The Design of Goodbye
It was a good thing I was getting better at checking my surroundings when driving because I almost hit Liam again as I backed out of my driveway early the next morning.
By the time I put my car in park, he was waiting for me to roll down my window. “Morning,” he said. “I’m surprised you’re up so early. I was planning on waiting on your porch until at least ten before I braved knocking.”
“What are you wearing?”
“Uh...”He glanced at his outfit, slightly taken aback. “Ever heard of sweatpants?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “I just don’townany.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t try for the whole ‘I just rolled out of bed’ look.”
“Is that how you think I look?” he asked, faking offense.
I eyed him up and down. “Um, yeah.”
But why did that look suit him so well? Sweatpants weren’t supposed to look good on anyone, butugh, they looked so good on him.
“I’m sorry my attire offends you, but I had to leave in a hurry.”
“Why?”
“My dad made me—” He paused. “Can you talk?”
I’d woken up to a dozen of frantic texts from Taylor. Somehow, I’d managed to forget to hem and add sleeves to not one butfivebridesmaid dresses. I didn’t really have time to talk, even though I wished I did.
“I can’t talk,” I said regretfully. “I work today, and I forgot to do something that needs to be done by tomorrow.”
“It won’t take long,” he said quickly. “It’s kind of important.”
The bridesmaid’s fitting was tomorrow. I thought of Taylor, who was waiting for me at Invisible Thread.
“I really can’t,” I said, feeling awful. “I’m already late.”
He tried to hide his defeat. “No problem.”
“How about you come back at seven?”
“Yeah, sure.”
I was going to spend all day frantically altering dressesandworrying about what he needed to talk about. “See you soon, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, giving me a small wave as he walked away.
I made sure he was safely on his bike before I backed up. I’d only reversed a few feet before an idea hit me, and I slammed on my brakes.
“Liam, wait!” He looked up. “What are you doing today?”
“My plans are undecided.”
“Good.” I gestured to my passenger’s seat. “How about you come to work with me? We can talk on the way.”
He hopped off his bike and then pointed to his sweatpants. “Won’t you be embarrassed to be seen with me in public?”
Embarrassed wasn’t the word I’d use.
“I’m choosing to ignore them for now.” I opened my garage, excitement filling me at the prospect of spending the day with him. “Hurry up and put your bike away.”
