Liam nodded. He couldn’t say he was enthusiastic about taking a scolding from this stranger, but she was Seth’s wife and this was her party.
But she surprised him witha Calvinesque shrug. “Oh well. They survived.”
“That’s it?”
Another shrug. “I could come up with something more if you wanted, but I’m not sure I’d really be able to sell it, you know? The outrage or whatever. Honestly, it was a hell of a long time ago.”
“And everything’s faded. It’s all… done.”
“Not all, maybe.”
Before he could ask her what that meant, beg her for an explanation or a benedictionor whatever other deep pregnant-lady wisdom she could come up with, a balloon popped out on the lawn, and then another.
“Kevin’s out,” she said, and he hoped he heard a little satisfaction in her tone. “Oh, and Dr. Miller. That’s too bad—my money was on him.”
“Not literally? You aren’t actuallybettingon this?”
“Calvin’s got a book made for every event. Jesus, I can’t drink—I need to havefun somehow!”
Liam might have pushed a bit harder on that, maybe tried to figure out which events Calvin had signed him up for and what his odds for success were, but he was distracted by watching Kevin, shaking his head in defeat, returning to find comfort by Ben’s side.
Ben threw a defiant look in Liam’s general direction before he took Kevin’s hand and kissed his temple.
Dinah snorted. “Youdo something new to piss him off, or is he just being a brat?”
“Something new?” Did sleeping with him count as something new? “Not that I know of. But I guess it’d be easier for him if I wasn’t here.”
“Easier. Yeah, it probably would be.”
He was imagining the—thetonein her tone. Wasn’t he? He was imagining the slightest hint of a sneer, to suggestion that “easier” wasn’t a worthwhile goalfor someone like Ben. She wasn’t really suggesting that Ben could do better? Better than Kevin?
Fuck. Even if she was, that didn’t mean she meant Liam.
He slumped against the back of the porch swing and drank the last of his beer.
“Good,” she said. “Now, one more. I’ve bet on you, so I want you warmed up, but not drunk. And not too full. And possibly I should tell you now—Seth and I have alreadymade up the spare bedroom for you to sleep in. There’s absolutely no way you’re driving home after you’ve competed in all the games Calvin has you signed up for.”
“Games? Like—drinkinggames? At a baby shower?”
“At aCalvinbaby shower.” She smiled happily. “It’s going to be a hell of a party.”
