Cloudy with a chance of heartbreak

Back to you

Present day

Katie's POV

The restaurant was nestled in a quiet bay and overlooked the glittery river. The service was impeccable, the food was delectable, Liam was the perfect gentleman, and I was miserable.

I had come to realise he would only ever be my friend, nothing more, and I would have to tell him this at some point tonight. The romantic feelings weren't there and if I tried to pursue something in the hope those feelings eventually developed, it would just damage our friendship further.

I played with the creme brûlée on my plate, contemplating when I should deeply hurt my dearest friend. It would be too cruel to do it over dinner, I decided. I would wait until he dropped me off at home.

"Let's go dancing," his soothing voice interrupted my thoughts and I looked up at him questioningly.

"Huh?"

"I want to take you out dancing," he smiled and those shocking green eyes twinkled.

Great, I couldn't let him take me dancing without knowing how I felt. I took a deep breath.

"Liam, I don't think..." but he cut me off before I could finish.

"Please, will you just come with me?" He was smiling but his eyes were downcast.

I couldn't bring myself to turn him down so I agreed. At least I could delay upsetting him for a couple more hours.

He insisted on paying for our meals and pulling out my chair and opening the car door. Liam was completely perfect, just not for me.

We pulled up at a bar and I tensed up. I had never been to a bar, and honestly I didn't think I was up for starting now.

"Liam, I don't think this is a good idea," I turned to him and frowned. I hated the thought of being in a room full of boisterous drunken people.

The college party I went to with Chelsea was different. It was at a house and full of people our own age. It was also much smaller than the kind of crowds bars drew in.

"Katie, trust me, I won't let anyone come near you," Liam's voice was filled with so much assurance, I instantly relaxed.

"The band that plays here on a Friday night is awesome, and it mostly draws in a college crowd," he added to dissipate my fears.

He came around to my side and opened the door for me. I took his hand and instantly felt calmer. Maybe things could become romantic with Liam after all. Maybe fireworks and butterflies were overrated. At the end of the day, doesn't every happily married couple say their partner is their best friend?

As Liam led me to the bar's entrance, he watched me carefully, gauging my reaction as we walked through the doors. I suspected the second I felt overwhelmed, he would swiftly take me out of there and just knowing that allowed me to let my guard down and explore my surroundings.

The place was packed but true to his word, it was mostly a college-aged crowd. He was still watching me and so I smiled up at him to let him know I was ok.

As I scanned the bar, my eyes were
drawn like magnets to a familiar tall frame leaning against the wall on the far right hand side of the room. Lucas. He was looking straight at me.

My eyes widened and I looked up at Liam, who was watching me intently.

"I think we should go," I yelled up to him so he could hear me over the sound of the band. I turned to make my way out of the bar but Liam held my arm firmly and stopped me from leaving.