Page 80 of The Perfect Deal
A few minutes later, with my makeup and hair straightened, I found myself walking down the hall toward my brother’s room, wondering what in the world he wanted.
I knocked on the door, but when it opened, it wasn’t my brother who was waiting inside. “Joshua?”
“Hey, Liberty. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” I told him. He looked amazing, and I missed him so much, I just wanted to fling myself into his arms. But I had to move forward with caution. We both took a few steps toward Landon’s bed and sat down on the edge, a few feet away from one another. For all I knew, he’d been tricked into coming here, too.
“Did Landon come and talk to you?” Joshua asked me. I nodded. “Did he tell you why you needed to come to his room?”
“No,” I admitted. “Did he tell you?”
“Not until I got here,” he said. “I guess, then, that you had no idea I’d be waiting for you?”
“Not a clue.”
He took a deep breath, and I could tell he was nervous. I hoped it was because he wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him, not because he couldn’t find the words to break up with me.
“I’m really sorry about all of this. My brother can be such an asshole sometimes.”
“He really can be,” Joshua agreed. “I was ready to leave earlier today. I’d even started packing.”
Hearing that broke my heart. “Really? You were just going to go home?”
He nodded. “I felt like there was no point in staying here if you were going to be locked in your room and I was going to be locked in mine. I’d tried talking to Landon the other day, but he couldn’t be swayed to give what I was saying the time of day. I guess it helped that everyone else told him he was wrong.”
“Landon does love to be wrong.” Sarcasm dripped from every word that left my lips. We both laughed. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t leave. I wanted to tell you…” I took a deep breath as my voice gave out on me. “I want to be with you, Joshua. No matter what.”
“No matter what?” A small smile took hold of the corner of his mouth, but he fought it. “Even if that meant your brother never spoke to you again?”
I nodded. It had been one of the things I’d considered when I was in my room for so long. “Yeah. He’s my brother, and I love him, but I don’t love anyone the way that I love you. If I had to go back home and never see you again, I don’t think I could do it. I already thought I lost you once. The thought of going through that again makes me want to puke.” He snickered at my choice of words as I shrugged. “It’s true.”
“Liberty.” He reached up and brushed my hair behind my shoulder, his fingertips grazing my shoulder. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. When you left breakfast, I was afraid that you didn’t want to give this another try. I thought you’d decide it was too hard.”
Shaking my head, I stared at him in disbelief. “No, never. I just couldn’t stand listening to my brother yell. I felt like everyone was looking at me, and I couldn’t handle it, so I left. I’m sorry. I was running out on the situation, not you.”
“I understand. I wanted to text you so many times in the last few days, but I was afraid I’d manage to make things worse.” Sadness filled his eyes as his fingers continued to brush through my hair.
“You could never make things worse. I think it’s best that we are having this conversation in person, but I don’t ever want to go that long without seeing you again,” I admitted.
His smile broke through, and both of us moved closer to one another. “Liberty, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. Every day with you is the perfect day. I’m so glad that we’ve finally got this situation with Landon straightened out. Now, we can move forward and not have to worry about who knows or what anyone else thinks.”
That revelation sank in, and I felt a weight lift from off me, one I’d been carrying for more years than I could count. “It’s amazing to think we’re finally free to be together.”
Joshua’s lips came down on mine, and I lifted up to meet him. Our tongues danced as my hands roamed his body, missing the feel of him. Every breath was thick with his fragrance, the smells I’d been missing since the last time we were together. We continued to navigate closer, our limbs intertwining, and Joshua was about to lay me back on the bed when something occurred to me.
Breaking away from him, I said, “This is Landon’s room. This is his bed.”
Both of our eyes widened as we said, “Eww!” and shot up off the bed. Not only were we making out on my brother’s bed, but who knew what he’d done there with my best friend?
Laughing, we fell into one another’s arms, still standing, and Joshua held me against his muscular chest. “Liberty, I’m so glad we’re together again. Let’s enjoy the hell out of what’s left of our time here.”
“Let’s do it,” I agreed. I knew no one would mention it since all of us were such good friends. From time to time, people in the neighborhood had fallouts with one another and patched it over. That’s what happened. No one would think twice about this—at least, I hoped not.
Hand in hand, we walked out of my brother’s room and back into the resort, ready to see what else Luke had in store for us. This time, we’d take it all on together.
49
JOSHUA