Live While We're Young

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Hey Liam, it’s Lottie.”

“Charlotte? Oh my gosh, it’s been so long! How are you? How’s your grandmother?”

Charlotte laughed at his rapid fire of questions. “I’m fine, how are you and the boys?”

“We’re great, Spain is absolutely amazing. We have three more shows here, then we’re off to Chile.”

“How much longer will you be here? Cuz I kinda need your help.”

“Oh, three weeks or so. We tried to space out the shows, and they’re at different venues. I’d be happy to help. I’m positive I can make time.”

“Gosh, Liam, thank you! I told you, you’re a great guy. Met anyone?”

“Not yet...” he trailed off.

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. So what did you need?”

“Well, as you know, my dear grandmother invited me to spend the summer with her. I thought she was giving me the opportunity to study abroad, she was to sell me on the black market.”

“Huh?”

“In her mind, it was an ingenious plan: fly me to Spain under false pretenses, get some old, rich guys to ogle me, build family fortune.

“Ohhh. She really did that to you?”

“Really.”

“Has she done this before?”

“Yeah, to most of my cousins. There’s nary a way out of it.”

“Nary?” Liam asked, laughing.

“It’s a word!” Charlotte said defiantly.

“I’m not arguing. So, what can I do to help?”

“I found one cousin who weaseled her way out of the arranged marriage. She’s happily not married (yet), has a career, and that’s what I want for my life. I want to go my own pace, not settle down when I’m barely an adult. I just HAVE to get out of this.”

“And what’s your plan?”

Charlotte took a deep breath. “Will you be my pretend fiancé?”

Liam choked. “Be your what? I don’t think I heard that right.”

“You heard me. Future husband. But don’t worry. It’s just to show my grandmother I don’t need her filthy money. It’ll only be a few weeks. This just may be my only chance to make it out of here single and not shunned. Please please please Liam?” she pouted through the phone.

“I don’t know, Lottie. Zayn...he’s pretty broken up about you. You haven’t called him since you left. This would kill him. Even if it’s pretend.”

“You KNOW he was my first thought, Liam. You know that. But I couldn’t pretend. It would real, like that,” she snapped her fingers.

“What’s so wrong about real?”

“I hate jealous, controlling guys. That’s who he is. Yeah, he’s great otherwise, but I just don’t want to get serious and then have my heart broken.”

“Lottie, he’s not all that bad.”

“Okay, maybe. But I’m still not ready to give him another chance.”

“I can accept that. But I’m not going to let you use me.” His statement was met with silence from Charlotte’s end. “Lottie?”

“Liam, c’mon. For a friend?”