4. Poker face

This felt like a cruel twist of fate, like someone had scripted a joke that no one found funny—just uncomfortable and painfully awkward."So?"I blinked, trying to process the situation. "S-so what?"Tamara nudged me with a hint of impatience. "Say hi, you two. You're just standing there awkwardly."Liam was the first to break the silence. "Amelia—""Nice to meet you, Liam," I interjected quickly, forcing a smile that I hoped was convincingly warm. "I've heard so much about you. It's wonderful to finally meet you for the very first time." I spoke with a forced cheerfulness, desperately hoping he'd catch my drift and play along.Liam's eyes flickered with something—recognition, perhaps, or just the same confusion I was feeling. But he gave a polite nod and a smile that seemed to acknowledge my attempt at normalcy."Likewise," he said, his voice steady.We exchanged awkward handshakes, each of us trying to mask the tension with forced smiles. I held my breath, hoping no one would read too much into the strange energy between Liam and me.Tamara chimed in, trying to dispel the awkwardness. "Anyway, you guys will get to know each other and be less awkward, I promise. Amelia is joining us for the summer trip."My eyes widened. Last I checked, I had only agreed to "check out the vibes" and not make any commitments. But Tamara's excitement was palpable, and I could feel the pressure mounting."That's so dope! It's going to be an epic summer, I can feel it," Spencer said with enthusiasm.Tamara's face lit up with joy as she nodded in agreement. "Absolutely!""Shit, there's Reese," Tessa said, her voice taking on a playful tone. "He went to get ice with Toby and Clara."I turned to look and felt my heart plummet. There was Reese, the guy from the morning of the walk of shame—the one who thought I was a thief. My stomach churned with unease. What if he recognized me? What if my quick escape was not enough to keep my secret safe? The thought of everything unraveling was too much to bear, and I suddenly felt lightheaded and nauseous.Tamara seemed to notice my discomfort. "Amelia, are you okay?"I forced a smile, trying to steady myself. "Yeah, just a bit overwhelmed. It's been a long day.""Come on, let's grab some drinks and mingle," Tamara suggested, wrapping an arm around me.I nodded, following her lead, my mind racing as I tried to think of a way to handle the situation with Reese without letting anyone, especially Tamara, suspect a thing.I took a seat across from Tamara, who was comfortably perched on Liam's lap, her laughter mingling with the ambient noise of the party. My gaze occasionally drifted to Liam, trying to gauge his reaction. My stomach twisted with anxiety. Was he as unsettled as I was, or was he successfully masking his recognition?"Reese, come here!" Tamara's voice cut through my thoughts, cheerful and inviting.Reese made his way over, his smile initially warm and friendly. He took a seat beside me, maintaining a polite distance, but I could sense a subtle shift in his demeanor as he met my gaze. His eyes flickered with a fleeting recognition that sent a shiver down my spine."This is Amelia...my friend," Tamara said with an upbeat tone.Reese turned to me, his previously easygoing smile replaced by something more guarded. The brief moment of recognition between us was palpable. I could see the gears turning in his mind as he pieced together the image of the girl from the walk of shame with the girl sitting beside him now."Nice to meet you, Reese," I said, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to keep it steady. I forced a smile, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Every muscle in my body was tensed, my mind racing with strategies to navigate this tightrope without exposing my past encounter."We met before, right?" Reese's question felt like a jolt to my system. My heart sank as I noticed Liam's unease."Um... not sure... my roommate drags me to tons of parties. Perhaps we met at one of them," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual and nonchalant.Reese's gaze lingered on me for a moment before he nodded, "Yeah, you look really familiar. Anyway, forget it. I'm Reese Park.""Nice to meet you, Reese Park." I extended my hand, and our handshake was surprisingly smooth compared to the awkwardness with Liam."So, are you joining us for the summer?" Reese's question was casual, his smile genuine.I shot Tamara a warning glare before turning back to Reese, "I haven't made up my mind yet.""You should come. It will be super fun," Reese said, his enthusiasm palpable."Everyone keeps saying that," I replied, unable to suppress a small smile."Well, it will be." Reese's easygoing personality was infectious, and despite my internal panic, I found myself drawn to his charm. If I weren't so fraught with anxiety, I might have let myself relax and enjoy the moment. The way he looked at me, the warmth in his smile—it was almost too tempting."Tamara, you need to come help Clara! We're burning the homemade pizza!" Tessa's voice was a blend of urgency and panic."Hell no! No pizza will go to waste in my presence." Tamara sprang from Liam's lap, giving him a quick kiss before dashing inside not before telling me to have fun."So, you and Tamara have been friends for long?" Reese asked, my attention shifting to Liam, who was notably more reserved."Yeah, she's my best friend. We've been tight since we were about six," I replied, my tone steady."That's so adorable," Reese said with a grin. "Liam and I met when we were around eight years old."I glanced at Liam, who seemed indifferent, and then turned back to Reese. "Wow, you guys go way back.""Yeah," Reese nodded, "and you and Tamara too.""It's funny how you meet someone and you immediately click," I remarked, trying to keep the conversation light. Despite my mounting anxiety, I was keen to maintain a semblance of normalcy and avoid any more awkward revelations.Reese's smile was warm and inviting. "I hope we click too," he said, his words making me blush despite the uncomfortable weight of Liam's presence."Hey, how about I get you a drink? Stay here, Liam will keep you company. I'll be right back," Reese suggested, his tone upbeat.I wanted to protest, to tell him I'd rather suffer from thirst than be left alone with Liam. The thought of facing the reality of our past encounter was almost too much to bear.I watched Reese get up, my heart sinking with every step he took away from me. I resisted the urge to drop to my knees and beg him to stay."Look after her, you need to impress her after all," Reese said, his tone playful as Liam gave him a casual middle finger.Liam took a swig of his beer, the silence between us growing heavy and uncomfortable. I stared down at my lap, trying to make sense of how I had ended up in this tangled web of past and present. The air felt thick with unspoken tension, and I wondered how on earth I was going to navigate this situation without revealing the truth to Tamara. Liam's damn poker face was giving me more anxiety.