Chapter 9

EMILIA

I should’ve known tonight wouldn’t be normal the second Liam grabbed my hand.

Now, fifteen minutes later, I’m still giggling, scrolling through the most ridiculous wedding cakes I’ve ever seen—one is an exact replica of The Nightmare Before Christmas, complete with tiny Jack and Sally figurines.

“This one is hideous,” I say, turning my phone toward Liam as we walk into our next stop.

He barely looks at it before grinning. “Perfect. Let’s get two.”

I snort, slipping my phone into my pocket. It’s weird seeing this side of him. I always pictured Liam as the arrogant playboy who could get anything and anyone he wanted.

But the reality? It’s so different.

I didn’t expect him to be this easy to talk to—or the type of guy who’d actually go all-in on crashing weddings. And the fact that he’s making me order two atrocious cakes for complete strangers? Weirdly adorable.

Warmth spreads through my chest, light and unexpected. I haven’t had