Something Just Like This Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copywright

  The You & Me Series

  Reviews

  Dedication

  Quote

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS

  Copyright © 2017 Lisa Shelby Books, LLC

  ISBN: 978-0-9980953-6-3

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. Except for the original material written by the author, all songs, song titles, and lyrics mentioned in Something Just Like This are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  Cover Design, Interior Design & Formatting by:

  Kiss & Tell Design Lab

  Editing:

  Finishing Touch Editing

  THE YOU & ME SERIES

  an adult contemporary romance to be sweetly devoured and read together or as standalones

  READ THEM ALL

  available at all major online retail outlets

  W W W . L I S A S H E L B Y . C O M

  SWEETLY DEVOURED & READ

  “This book had me captivated from the beginning! I loved the characters, they were amazing and so believable! The scenario was perfect (sex scenes were hot) and I loved the twists that were thrown in there, as well as the suspense! The details were spot on! This was an amazing story and in my opinion, a must read!”

  ~ Once Upon an Alpha

  “Lisa Shelby is back with the follow up to her debut novel You & Me. As much as I loved the first book in this series, Shelby continues to capture my attention and her sexy sweet heroes continue to capture my heart.”

  ~ Southern Vixens Book Obsessions

  “It was sweet and hot at all the right places. This book turned me all mushy mushy and made me wanted to hug my teddy lol…The plot was refreshing and the author had a great hold over her words…If you love sweet mushy romances with amazing characters and we’ll developed plot, this book is totally for you. I definitely recommend this!!”

  ~ Ammie’s Book Obsession

  “This story definitely lives up to the name…More. Lisa Shelby has a way with words and this book did not disappoint.”

  ~ Sassy Southern Book Blog

  “The prologue had my heart breaking and the epilogue. Oh Em Gee. It was just perfect. I read it twice and smiled like an idiot both times.” ~ A is for Alpha B is for Books

  “All I can say is wow. This book blew me away with the writing and story of love and second chances…This book had me from the first chapter…The story was so well written I hated to stop reading. But eventually I had to sleep.”

  ~ CJ’s Book Corner

  “This story and the characters weaved a spot in my heart from the very beginning. The twists and turns Lisa takes you on throughout the book is an emotional rollercoaster that you will not want to get off.”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  “Lisa Shelby has written a beautiful friends to lovers romance not to be missed.”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  “Lisa Shelby shares their story with us through impeccable writing that has us reminiscing over 90s R & B, laughing, crying, and falling in love with Alex and Mick. She phrases ideas and feelings with words that resonate with not only your heart…they touch your soul.”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  “Lisa Shelby, wrote this sweet yet emotional second chance romance book that kept tears in my eyes and me turning the page. This was in of the most emotionally satisfying books I have read in a really long time!”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  “Loved this book! Second chance romance written so beautifully! I am a life long fan of Lisa Shelby now! Bravo!”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  For S.

  My fairy tale bliss.

  Love you more,

  L

  “There is no fear in love and your love is my strength.”

  Craig Sager

  PROLOGUE

  “You’re kidding, right?” Her hand closes over her mouth the moment I bend to one knee and reach into my pocket.

  For a brief moment in time, I actually think she may just be surprised, but when she throws her head back and laughs with pure abandon, my body turns cold, and I start to feel sick.

  “Liam, for God sakes, get up! We don’t need people to see you and have the word get out that you’ve proposed. What in the Lord’s name are you thinking?” She all but yells through the outdoor terrace of the restaurant I reserved weeks ago, specifically for this moment.

  Getting up from bended knee and shoving the small square box deep into my pocket, I fall back into my seat. My seat at the table with the candle-lit setting that she continues standing next to, looking down on me in disbelief.

  I don’t like the way this feels. Her standing above me. Looking down on me.

  I sense people staring at us, and I can hear their whispers.

  Why isn’t she sitting down? I am this close to my emotions getting the better of me.

  The kind of emotions I’m not used to feeling.

  “Why don’t you have a seat? If you don’t want attention, you might want to sit down.” I can hear the terseness in my voice.

  It’s taking everything I have to keep my ass in my seat and not to flee the bloody scene before me. I force myself to resist because there is no need to cause a bigger scene than we already have.

  She finally sits.

  “Liam, honey…I thought you knew we weren’t serious. I thought you were just having fun too?”

  “Clearly, you thought wrong,” is all I can muster.

  I feel my rage boiling under the surface, and I know if I say much more, the scene I’m trying to avoid will likely take place.

  Her smile hasn’t left her face since her hysterical fit of laughter. It’s almost as if she’s enjoying herself and finding the entire ordeal hilarious.

  “Liam, we have fun together and you’re great in bed—I mean really great—but there has never been any long-term possibility for us.” She tilts her head and looks at me like I’m a child she has to talk down to so I understand the words that are coming out of her mouth.

  How could I have been so wrong about us?

  She can see the confusion on my face and shakes her head, taking my hand and patting it to placate me. Smile still in place.

  “Sweetie, please don’t take this the wrong way…but you aren’t really the marrying kind. You’re the kind of guy a girl dates to get under her parents’ skin.”

  I rip my hand
out from underneath hers.

  Is this really happening right now?

  She sits back in her chair, relaxed and chipper as can be. “My parents already hope I’ll marry my dad’s business associate’s son. A son with blue blood, and I know that chapter of my life is right around the corner. That’s where you came in. I was making sure I had as much fun as I could with a regular guy before it was time to settle down. Once that happens, my life with be filled with dinner parties, babies, and boring sex.”

  And the hits just keep coming.

  “You mean a regular guy who will get under her parents’ skin. That’s what all of this…” I say, motioning my hand between the two of us. “…has been about?”

  “Listen, I know you make good money and you treat me well, but you’re new money, darlin’, and that’s just not quite the same thing. It’s not what my family and I are looking for. You know how it is.”

  “I do now.”

  “Liam, again no offense but do you really see me having little brown babies running around the club? My parents would be mortified.” She chuckles.

  Holy fuck! This is about my skin color.

  Who the fuck is she?

  I raise my hand to let our server know we’re ready for our check. I think I’ve had about enough, and it’s time to go.

  “Oh, come on Liam. You don’t have to be a baby and cut the night short. You’re a big tough guy. It’s not like you actually popped the question. You didn’t ask me anything, and I didn’t decline any offers. Let’s just forget the whole thing.” She leans forward and looks up and down the small menu in front of her. “Besides, I haven’t ordered my dessert yet.”

  Her fucking dessert? She must be out of her fucking mind!

  The server brings the check to the table, and I’ve already got my card out. While I wait for him to return my card, I stare out at the lake in front of me. I can’t look at her face another minute.

  I just want out of this fucking restaurant.

  Now.

  I sign the receipt once my card is returned to me. I stand and pull out her chair without looking at her.

  She stands on a huff. “You’re being a baby, Liam.”

  I don’t reply.

  Not sure what I would say to the racist bitch that pretty much just told me I was beneath her. That I’m a joke she was using to piss her parents off.

  Yep, not sure there’s anything to say that won’t lead to me getting arrested.

  I walk ahead of her and straight to the valet. I can hear her stomping behind me, mumbling under her breath, and I could not give two shits.

  She stands next to me but neither of us speak. She’s texting someone. I’m sure she’s telling her hysterical story to all of her little friends and laughing at my expense.

  Where is my fucking car?

  I hear her giggle at something just as my car is parked in front of us. I tip the valet and walk around to the driver’s side of the car and get in. She stands outside the passenger side door and for a minute has the nerve to act appalled that I haven’t gotten back out to open her door for her.

  She’ll be waiting a long fucking time.

  Eventually, she gets the message and lets herself in. The moment she slams the door shut, I take off. I couldn’t care less that she doesn’t have her seat belt on. I just need to get her home, out of my car, and out of my God-damned life.

  As we pull into her driveway, she takes off her seat belt. Her hand trails up my thigh, and she grabs my cock. If she thinks that she will ever get me hard for her again she is sorely mistaken. I lift her hand off me and drop it in her lap. She disgusts me.

  “Honey, if my money and my skin color aren’t good enough for you then my dick surely isn’t. Play time is over.” I put the car in park and reach in front of her and open her door for her instead of walking around the car and opening it. “You have a nice night.”

  And get the fuck out of my car!

  She pouts for a moment and then steps out of the car, but before she closes the door, she leans in and says, “Thanks for dinner…”

  I jolt up in my bed, dripping in sweat and feeling like I might get sick.

  Fuck this dream…or shall I say nightmare.

  It’s been months since that laugh has haunted my sleep, and I do not plan on letting it taunt me again.

  I need a drink.

  CHAPTER

  ONE

  Cami

  “We’re pregnant!” Emily announces to the table. My best friend’s face is beaming, and her husband, Jonathan, couldn’t look more excited.

  Our group erupts in celebration, and questions about due dates, genders, and baby names start banging around our secluded table in the back of our favorite sushi restaurant.

  Now I get why she ordered off the regular menu and didn’t order sushi.

  Emily lifts her hands to quiet us and ignores all of our individual questions. “We’re only a month along and it’s still early days but you are our people, and we just couldn’t wait for the first trimester to be over to tell you.”

  I couldn’t be happier for my best friend and her little family. She had a rough start to this whole adulting thing, and it’s been amazing to watch her life come together over the last few years. I jump out of my seat and make my way around the table where she’s standing, waiting with open arms when I reach her.

  I love this girl. Okay, we aren’t girls anymore; we’re thirty, but she and Alex will always be my girls. Emily and I each hold an arm open and wait for Alex to join us, and the three of us form a little circle with our arms around each other.

  “I’m so happy for you, chica.” I whisper and mean it from the bottom of my heart. I’m happy for Emily and Jonathan, but tonight the harsh reality that is my life just bitch-slapped me right in the face.

  I. Am. Thirty.

  It’s not that I want to be pregnant—that’s not it at all. I have no desire to be a mother, but both Alex and Emily have found their partners in life and sometimes…well, I feel as though I’m simply floundering through my life.

  Yes, I have a job I like, am pretty dang good at, and it provides a nice living. Not to mention my life is full of amazing friends whom I wouldn’t trade for the world. One look around this room is evidence enough that I don’t ever have to be lonely if I don’t want to be. But who wants to always be the third wheel? I want to be a part of an “us.” And even though I don’t want children, I still want to fall in love. I want to find the one.

  But so far…no luck.

  After the excitement dies down, we all find our seats and enjoy a nice meal with just the adults. Emily and Jonathan are not only expecting but are also the parents to my nine-year-old goddaughter, Ireland. Alex is married to Emily’s brother, Mick, and they have a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Ava. Gabby and Devon are here too, and even though they aren’t married, our resident high school sweethearts are the proud parents of two little boys, Isaac and Noah.

  Devon was in the Marine Corps years ago with Jonathan, and when Jonathan and Emily got together they were an added bonus that came along with Jonathan. Gabby and Devon instantly became a part of our little hand-picked family. Their youngest, Noah, is only a few months old so tonight is one of their first nights out in a while.

  Riley, Mick’s best friend, is here too. Even he has a girlfriend and seems to be getting serious and ready to settle down.

  And then…well then, there is Liam and myself.

  Liam, Jonathan’s best friend from back home, just moved here from Georgia. We’re the only two single people in our group. Liam doesn’t seem to have the desire to settle down that I do. At least, that’s the impression I get from him. He doesn’t seem like the commitment kind of guy. He’s all about having fun and not taking life too seriously, if the stories I’ve heard are true.

  I usually don’t dwell on my age and relationship status, but moments like these bring it to the forefront of my mind.

  But, tonight isn’t about me. It’s about Emily and Jonathan, and I need to
snap out of my internal pity party and celebrate with my friends.

  Standing, I clear my throat and tap my chopstick against my glass.

  “Before the evening is over and our glasses are empty, I want to make a toast.” I lift my glass to the table full of those that mean the most to me…and Liam. “Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, thank you for sharing your news with all of us and for the new addition to our little family. I couldn’t be happier for both of you.” I look around the room to make sure that I gain eye contact with each and every person at our table and then back to the expecting parents. “I love you guys!”

  “Cheers!”

  We all tap glasses and take our sips be it wine, beer, or water, and our server delivers the checks. The night is starting to wind down and goodbyes are being given.

  “Are we really calling it a night? It’s only nine-thirty,” Liam whines.

  “Dude, we have babysitters to pay and wives to take advantage of.” Mick chimes in with a wink toward Alex. She rolls her eyes because she’s used to her husband’s antics after all these years. We all are, but he still causes us all to roll our eyes regularly.

  We wouldn’t want him any other way.

  I can tell that Liam is feeling a little lost. He’s new to Portland, and we’re really the only people he knows. I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but here goes nothing.

  “Hey, Liam, I’m headed to a friend’s birthday at a club downtown. You’re more than welcome to come along.”

  “You sure? I don’t want to crash or anything, but I really don’t want to go home at nine-thirty on a Saturday night.”

  “I’m sure, as long as you’re on your best behavior. Think you can manage that?”

  Looking around the room like I must be talking about anyone but him, he replies. “I’m not sure what in the world you are implying, Miss Holsted, but yes, I promise to behave.” He holds out his pinky finger and wiggles it in my direction.