“I’ve never been to England. Mariel went years ago for this drama program, right around when I was born. This was back when she and Mark were still dating. I think they’d just gotten engaged.”
“Oh? She must’ve loved it.”
“She never said. She didn’t like to talk about it. I remember I asked how it was years later, and all she said was ‘It was all right.’” It struck him how taciturn she had gotten. It was as if he’d asked about a relative who was now dead and there was an awkward silence. “I think she didn’t like it there. She really missed my brother. Mark didn’t have the money for a plane ticket to visit her.”
The waiter came by and took their drink order. Nathan eyed the drink menu, but didn’t pick it up, even though the temptation burned on his face.
“I’m going to just have water,” Liam said.
“The same,” Nathan said quickly.
Liam handed the waiter the drink menu, and he went on his way.
“You can order yourself a beer,” Nathan said. “I really don’t mind.”
“And neither do I.”
“You and your brother haven’t had a beer at dinner for over a month, and the liquor cabinet is empty. Yes, I checked in a moment of desperation.” Nathan ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t have to do this, upend your life for me.”
“We’re not.” Liam squeezed Nathan’s hand and rubbed his thumb over the calluses. “Do you miss it?”
“On some level, I always will. There is a fully-stocked bar in this establishment with top shelf liquor. But I sublimate all my cravings with rigorous farm work. And sex.”
Liam felt his ears get red, something he had a feeling Nathan enjoyed.
“It’s…it’s nice knowing that someone else gives a shit about my sobriety. My father—I mean, if he were still alive, he wouldn’t care. I always seemed like an annoyance to him, and that would make me want to drink more, because if I was going to be a nuisance, I might as well do it right, y’know?” He laughed it off, but Liam could tell there was real hurt. It was awful not being able to make amends with someone who passed away.
“You’re not a nuisance.” Liam didn’t take details like Nathan had just shared lightly. The man was so walled off with sarcasm most of the time that he appreciated these rare glimpses into his life. “Listen, I know you’re only working on the farm to research a film role, but you’re welcome to stay longer. You have an open invitation any time.”
Please stay.The words pressed against Liam’s chest. They hadn’t talked about when Nathan might be leaving. Liam had heard of movie shoots getting postponed. He hoped that was the case here.
The waiter returned with their waters. They went ahead and ordered entrees.
“I’m going to use the toilet.” Liam got up and walked to the restroom. He stopped when he saw Kelly and Craig at a table on the opposite end of the restaurant.
Crap. I hope they don’t see me.Liam tried to beeline to the bathroom without being seen, but he couldn’t stop himself from seeing them. He hid behind a column and watched them.What am I doing?But curiosity got the better of him. He had stuck to Nathan’s deal to avoid Facebook, and it had helped. He rarely thought of Kelly and Craig, but he would never forget what they did. The deceit, the lies. Those feelings came rushing back to him.
Craig caressed Kelly’s hand over the table. He poured her a glass of wine. When she picked up her glass, her engagement ring sparkled in the light. It threatened to blind Liam.
“Watch out, sir!” A waiter with a huge tray overloaded with food swerved around him.
Kelly and Craig naturally looked over and found the former third wheel of their threesome gawking at them from behind a column.
She gave him a half-wave. She did not seem to know the proper protocol in this situation, and neither did Liam. He approached their table, nervously, like a boy in trouble who would rather face up to the punishment now than drag it out.
“Well, this is a coincidence,” he said. He tried to play the whole thing off as a joke. Inside, he felt anger gushing through him all anew.
“Liam,” Craig said. He still had his tanned glow. “How ya going?”
“Sweet as. And you.”
“Kelly raved about this restaurant for the longest time,” Craig said.
“I introduced her to it,” Liam said through a tight-lipped smile. That got them quiet. It amazed him how fresh the wounds could still feel.
“How are things on the farm?” Kelly asked. “Did you finish with lambing season?”
“How do you know about lambing season?” Liam asked.
