Chapter 2: Comparing Him to a Teddy

Allie woke up with a start, realizing she’d overslept. She could’ve sworn she set her alarm, but it hadn’t gone off.

She sat up quickly, waking the man next to her.

Liam groaned, barely opening his eyes. “What are you doing so early?”

“It’s eight o’clock! I’m late for work,” she said, scrambling to get up.

But before she could move, Liam pulled her back, wrapping his arm around her. “You’re already late. Stay and sleep a little longer.”

Allie hesitated, but his hold was firm. She didn’t dare resist, so she lay still, hoping he’d drift back to sleep. Slowly, she started inching away, trying to slip out of his arms.

Just when she thought she was free, Liam’s voice rumbled in her ear. “Sneaking around like a caterpillar this early?”

Before she could reply, he pulled her close, and the morning took a very different turn.

When Allie finally made it to the office, it was almost 9:30.

Her friend Jenna spotted her. “Allie! What’s up? You’re never late.”

Memories of that morning flashed through her mind, and she felt her cheeks warm.

Jenna squinted. “Your face is all red. Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Allie stammered. “It’s just… my dog. He’s super clingy.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jenna nudged her. “Heads up. The boss is here.”

Sure enough, Liam was walking by. He paused slightly as he passed them, his gaze flickering in Allie’s direction before he continued.

She held her breath. Did he hear what she’d just said?

Jenna exhaled in relief. “You’re so lucky he didn’t call you out for being late! I thought he’d drag you to his office for a scolding.”

Allie’s heart pounded. If only they knew they’d arrived together—thankfully, no one had seen her getting out of his car.

Just then, another coworker, Claire, chimed in. “You have a pet dog, Allie? What breed?”

Allie hesitated, then shrugged. “Uh… a teddy.”

If Liam knew she’d compared him to a teddy bear, he’d never let her live it down.

But she didn’t have to worry about him for a bit. That afternoon, he left on a business trip to Tokyo, messaging her before his flight: “Gone for three days. See you soon.”

Three months of a secret marriage, and he spent half that time on business trips. Still, he never left without telling her.

With just a week left in her internship, Allie only hoped for a smooth finish back at school. But the next day held a surprise.

When she walked into the office, a crowd had gathered around her desk. She squeezed through and saw a massive bouquet of rainbow roses—99 of them.

Jenna’s eyes widened. “Wow, Allie! Who sent these? This must’ve cost a fortune!”

Allie’s heart sank. She found the card tucked inside the roses and read it, her expression shifting instantly. Without a word, she grabbed the bouquet and tossed it into the trash.

Everyone stared, stunned. Jenna leaned in, whispering, “Did you and your boyfriend have a fight?”

Another coworker sighed. “If my boyfriend sent me 99 rainbow roses, I’d forgive him for anything.”

Allie avoided explaining, leaving everyone curious.

The rest of the day, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. After work, she stepped outside and froze—there was Nick’s car parked right in front of the building.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Allie wanted to turn and walk away, but Nick saw her, got out of his car, and grabbed her arm. “Allie, please, hear me out.”

She turned, her expression cold. “Fine. Go ahead. I’m listening.”

He sighed. “I was drunk that night. I thought Cher was you.”

Her gaze hardened. “That’s it? If that’s all, I’m done here.”

They were standing at the building entrance during rush hour, with people streaming past.

Just then, Jenna pulled up in her little car, and Allie quickly slipped inside, leaving Nick behind without a second

glance.

As they got on the highway, Jenna couldn’t help but ask, “So, who was that guy back there?

The same one who sent those roses this morning?”

“An ex,” Allie replied with a sigh.

“Ex? He seemed pretty eager to make up. Why’d you let him go? He’s, like, ridiculously handsome, and he looked loaded!”

“Jenna, please. I’ve got a headache.”

Jenna noticed the rare sadness in Allie’s usually carefree face and decided not to press any further.

Allie gazed out the window, her mind drifting back to that fateful night three months ago.

It had been her birthday, November 11th. Nick’s gift? Walking in on him in bed—with her best friend, Cher.

After being betrayed by the two people she trusted most, Allie had gone to a club called Nightfall to drown her sorrows.

That’s when everything changed.

For three days straight, extravagant bouquets of rainbow roses kept appearing on her desk, and each night, Nick would wait outside the office, hoping for a second chance. By now, everyone knew there was a “super-hot guy” desperately chasing after her.

Allie didn’t explain. Only Jenna knew the truth.

On the fourth day, there was another bouquet waiting. But this time, someone else was there too.

It was Cher.

Allie’s stomach twisted as she spotted her, but Cher rushed over before she could leave. “Allie, you won’t take my calls or meet me anywhere else, so I had to find you here. Can we talk?”

Curious glances from around the office made Allie uncomfortable. She nodded curtly. “Follow me.”

They walked to a small meeting room, and as soon as the door closed, Cher’s eyes filled with tears. She grabbed Allie’s arm. “Allie, I’m so sorry. Please, just forgive me. I can’t stand losing you as my friend.”

Allie’s expression didn’t soften. “If you’d thought of me as a friend, you wouldn’t have done it. And as far as I remember, you weren’t drinking that night.”

Cher’s voice cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “You don’t understand. I’ve had feelings for Nick for so long. You two were childhood friends, yes, but love isn’t something you can just control.”

Love. Right.

Cher continued, pleading, “Allie, we’ve been friends for years. Couldn’t you… I don’t know, let me have Nick? You’re from the Brooks family, you have a bright future ahead of you no matter what. But I don’t have anything. Without him, I’m lost. You’ve never been one to fight over things—can’t you just let Nick go?”

Let him go? Allie felt a surge of anger. She’d never clung to him. After what happened, she knew there was no future with Nick.

She turned toward the door. “Is that why you came here today? To tell me all of this?”