I run my hand through my hair. “Yep, Liv mentioned it briefly but didn’t go into details, but I know that I do work.”
I wonder what his relationship with Emma is. She seemed so interested in Jameson, and she just kind of dropped interest in him right after meeting Eduardo. He said he was taken or what was that strange phrase he used? Oh yeah,I am promised to another.What does that even mean?
“I appreciate that, Eduardo.” He waves to us and walks off.
I rose from my chair, using this as an opportunity to end this disaster of a conversation that Tatiana and I were having. Even though it was necessary and long overdue, I am glad to have it behind me. I hope there are no problems with her on my end with Liv. She gets up, sensing that this is it for us too. She pushes her chair in and hesitates, looking up at me before she speaks.
“That night at my townhouse when you got a call from someone…” she trails off.
I look at her, but she can see the answer reflected in my eyes. She opens her mouth and closes it as the realization hits her.
“She is the same girl from the coffee shop too, isn’t she?”
I don’t bother to deny it. “Yes, the same girl, that’s my Liv.”
She purses her lips and picks up her bag from the chair. She walks off without another word, and I release a long exhale. Relief floods my mind as I don’t have that awkward conversation hanging over my head anymore, and I can just focus on being with Liv. I head out to my car, throwing my sweaty gym bag on the back seat.
I plug my phone into my car connector to play my music, but I decide to call Liv first. After about the third ring, she picks up.
“Hey, Dax.”
“Hey, beautiful,” I answer in reply. “Where are you?” I can hear that she is on Bluetooth, so she must be in her car as well.
“Just leaving Brodie’s house. I had to talk to him. It’s also my weekly visit.”
I wait for her to elaborate, but nothing comes. I clear my throat. “Ah, that’s nice.”
“What about you?” she asks in return. “I just left the gym. I had to tie up a loose end with a colleague I met there. Now I am on my way home.” After making plans to meet up later tonight and head to work together in the morning, I end the call feeling like maybe things will be easier now with Liv. Another loose end tied up. We had such a rocky start, and I hated how I felt after leaving her on Padre Island. I promise never to leave her side again. I like the new direction my life is taking. It seems to be a bit easier—less stressful. It seems to be the theme for Liv and me. I also wonder what she and Brodie had to talk about. I am just waiting for the floor to drop out. I just hope this time I am wrong.
ChapterThirty
Liv
I love wakingup to Dax holding me. I feel so safe in his arms. Weeks have gone by with me sleeping over at Dax’s place or him at mine. We meet for coffee in the café when we can and are inseparable these days.
The girls have some time off. This is the perfect time to get together before the holidays are around the corner and the gala that Dax’s mom is chairing in the spring. I have been waiting for the girls to get here for a visit. Now, it is finally here. I fist pump the air and add a little skip in my step as I try to refrain from giggling like a schoolgirl. I finish up my group presentation for class and leave for the apartment. I am meeting Emma there, and we are getting ready for the girls to arrive from Corpus at any minute. Ainsley and Val sure made record speed getting here. They wanted to beat rush hour traffic. I can’t say that I blame them. Seeing their text message to Emma and me makes my heart happy. I didn’t realize I needed this outing until now. I have been so tired these past couple of weeks, and I just can’t seem to feel rested. I will have to make a note to get some more vitamin D and stay hydrated. Being in school must be taking its toll on my body. I have felt dizzy from so much reading when studying and all the hours at the hospital for clinicals to boot. I really need to take better care of myself. I hate to tell Dax about the way that I have been feeling recently—to bother him with something so silly. All it will do is make him worry unnecessarily.
I pull into the parking lot, finish up the rest of my water and grab my stuff to head on in. I hear a car pull up and turn around to see Ainsley and Val park next to me. I drop my stuff and run over to them, screaming excitedly.
“Oh my god, you’re here. I am so happy to spend some time with my homegirls.” Val wraps herself around me, shaking me from side to side.
I feel myself becoming dizzy again, and suddenly I feel the need to throw up. I put my hand out on the car to steady myself, and Ainsley comes running up to me.
“Liv, are you okay? Girl, you look green. Are you going to vomit?”
Before I can say anything, I throw up all my water from five minutes ago and some remnants of my salad from three hours ago.
“Whoa, let’s get you inside. Come on, Val, help grab her stuff.”
The girls help me get into the apartment, where Emma is drinking coffee at the kitchen table on her laptop. She sees my condition and immediately gets up to come to see what is the matter.
“Liv, what’s wrong?” She grabs a rag to wipe my mouth.
“Nothing, guys. I have just been exhausted from school and work. I felt super dizzy today and must be dehydrated because I haven’t been drinking enough water. You know how it is?”
The girls look at Emma. I look over to Emma who is tight-lipped.
“Hey, girlies, just make yourself at home. I think you should take something to help with the vomiting. I know you had some dissolvable pills in your bag for that. You and motion sickness. Are you okay with still going out?”
