“I still can’t believe you had to pee in a bucket.” Ariana turned her nose up, and Theo rolled his eyes from nearby, always staying between Ariana and the pool, but she ignored him altogether. “That is seriously so deranged. I could never.” She admitted.
“You guys are going to have the most beautiful wedding.” Jules practically drooled. “And you’ll be the most beautiful bride.” She was basically crying as Sloane added with shining eyes, “I can’t believe you’re getting married to Carter! Finally!”
I only grinned, relishing the private little ceremony we’d had with just the two of us already—the rest would just be for show, but I didn’t mind showing my husband off one bit. “It’s going to be the party of the decade.”
“You happy?” A shoulder bumped against mine—Liam.
“Yeah, I really am.” I murmured, looking down at mymassivering for a long second. I’d asked for a sparkle parade, and that’s exactly what I’d gotten—and then some. “I’m sorry this had to be so chaotic, and I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner.”
Liam scoffed as we wandered over to a quiet corner of the roof. “Well, I didn’t exactly make it very easy for you, did I?”
“Can I ask why you were so opposed to it?” I studied him, noting the weariness in his eyes.
“Oh, it wasn’t just Carter,” Liam said. “Half the guys on this rooftop have tried to get closer to me in order to have a shot with you.”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes.
“It’s true. It was never personal.” He shrugged. “Okay, fine, I admit, maybe it was a little personal. I selfishly didn’t want my best friend and my sister to have a falling out. That would have seriously sucked.” Liam ticked his head and added, “I saw the way you looked at him, even back then, and I thought Carter wasn’t capable of committing because of his history. I thought he wanted to fuck around just for the hell of it. In hindsight, I guess, it all makes a little more sense now.”
I narrowed my eyes. “So what I’m hearing is, it’syourfault my husband has a well-rounded sexual history?”
Liam grimaced. “Well, when you put it like that.”
I stuck my tongue in my cheek with a devious grin, because I just couldn’t help but tease him. “I suppose I can forgive you—since I’m reapingthe benefitsof all that experience.” He nearly spit out his beer. “So I actually should be thanking you, because?—”
“Nope. Nope. Nope.” Liam clapped a hand over my mouth. “Both of you need to shut the fuck up. I donotwant to hear a damn thing about any of it.”
I chuckled and pried his hand away. “What about you? You’ve been awfully busy lately. You’re not trying to avoid processing your breakup, are you?” I asked more gently.
“Are you kidding? I love processing hard feelings.” He scoffed, adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of his button-down,avoiding looking at me.
“Liar.” I laughed, and then placed a hand on his arm. “Do you think you guys will ever give it a second shot?”
“Naw.” He admitted, “I held on for too long. Things were over, long before we called it, long distance was just the cherry on top.”
“Liam, I just know you’re going to find someone really, really great. Don’t forget you’rea catch.Seriously, do you even realize how powerful you are?” I asked innocently. “You’ve been out of the dating pool for a long while, so I don’t know if you even knowthis or not, but girlslovea guy who can cook, andyoucookreal good.” I grinned.
He chuckled, “Says the girl who wouldn’t touch anything I made for months.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.” I narrowed my eyes and punched him in the shoulder, prompting his eyes to turn devious as he went in for the kill. “No! Don’t mess up my gown.” I gritted twisting his finger until he let go.
I gave him a warning look as he explained with a chuckle, “I think I’m just going to focus on work for a while.”
“I just want you to be happy, you deserve that so damn much.” He didn’t say anything, and I lowered my voice. “You know, I really appreciateeverythingyou’ve done for me, and I just wanted to let you know I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks, Sar-Bear.” My brother slung his arm around my neck before tipping his beer bottle back.
I admired my ring again, my thoughts wandering. “You know, the one thing I can’t stop thinking about is that damn note—I’m worried someone knows something.”
“Taggart’s long gone.” Liam murmured. “They both are.”
“But what if someone else knows something?” I said, staring out over the city, letting my quiet words slip away into the night air.
“Then I’ll take care of them, too.”
I rolled my eyes. “I just wish I knew who wrote it at the very least, had that closure. You know?”
“We may never know.” Liam muttered. “But at least we’re protected and Dads off the hook. For now.” He paused. “You talk to him lately?”
