“Wow.” I felt as if I were in shock. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Neither did he.” She laughed. “I don’t think he was too happy that I changed my mind about moving in earlier.”
“Dump him, then.” I laughed. “Find a guy who will be cool with that situation. Who needs Xander anyway? Tell him to keep his cheap-ass ring,” I joked, and Liv laughed.
“You know how much I love him,” she said dreamily, and I nodded as we both gazed at her beauty of a ring.
“I know.”
“This is it for me, Alice.” Her eyes were soft as she gazed at me. “He’s the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life. He’s the one who makes me feel whole. He’s my better half. My perfect half. And he loves me. He really loves me. After everything.” She stopped then and grabbed my hands. “I never thought I’d meet someone like him.”
“I know. And you deserve him,” I said seriously. “He’s perfect for you. I’m so happy for you, Liv.”
“I want you to have what I have.” She squeezed my hands. “I want you to be loved and to love like I love.”
“Maybe it’s just not in the cards for me,” I said, my eyes watering. “Maybe I’m not the girl who gets the forever love. Maybe I’m not the girl who gets the guy. Maybe I’m just destined to be by myself forever.” A lone tear fell from my eyes, and I looked down and I felt my heart breaking for the millionth time that week “Maybe I’m that girl who gets no one.”
“You’ve got Aiden.”
“I don’t know what I’ve got with Aiden,” I groaned and more tears fell from my eyes. “We spent last night together and it was wonderful, Liv. It was so perfect, and I felt as if my heart and soul were on fire. He was perfect. The perfect lover.”
“Ugh,” Liv groaned. “This is weird to hear about my brother.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She smiled. “I can deal with it.”
“He did things to me, Liv.” My voice dropped. “You don’t even want to know, but he bossed me around and made me strip off and then we made love against his window.”
“His window?” Her eyes widened.
“You had to be there.” I laughed. “Let’s just say it was hotter than hot.”
“Wow.”
“But then Elizabeth texted him.” I bit my lower lip.
“And said what?”
“She asked him something about me seeing the handcuff marks.”
“No way!” Liv’s mouth dropped open. “Why would she ask him that?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I was too scared to ask him.” I sighed. “Do you think he is seeing both of us? Do you think I should pretend to have another boyfriend to try and make him jealous?”
“No.” Liv shook her head vehemently. “Maybe we’ve gone about this the wrong way,” Liv said after a few seconds.
“What do you mean?” I looked up at her and wiped my tears from my eyes.
“Maybe we’ve been too immature.” She sighed. “Maybe we tried playing too many games.”
“You think so?”
“I think so.” She nodded. “And so does Xander.”
“Huh?” I sighed. “What did he say?”
“He said that he thinks we need to grow up.”
“What?” My jaw dropped.
“I know, right?” Liv wrinkled her nose. “I was like, excuse me, who do you think you’re talking to?” Then she paused. “But I think he’s right. Maybe all the games and tricks and stuff aren’t the way to go about getting a guy.”
“It worked for you,” I said softly.
“Barely,” she said. “And maybe the games didn’t help me. Maybe it was the games that nearly made me lose him.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I guess we’re really growing up now.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Who would have thunk it?”
“A skunk.” I grinned at her and blew my nose. “A skunk would have thunk it.”
“I love you, Alice.” She squeezed my hand. “My brother’s an idiot if he can’t see how perfect you are for him.”
“We both already know he’s an idiot.”
“That is true.” She grinned. “Hey, before I forget, will you be my maid of honor?”
“Try and stop me.” I laughed.
“I have some advice for you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Well, the advice comes from Xander, but it’s good advice.”
“What’s the advice?”