“Nothing happened. I didn’t know she would be there. When she asked if they could join us, it didn’t seem like a big deal. When she suggested we get back together, I made it clear I was with you.”
“She looks unconvinced in those photos.”
“I know how it looks.” Matt raked his hand through his hair. “But I went home alone. Aiden will tell you the same thing. Do you want me to call him? Anderson will too.”
Liv frowned and shook her head as she sat. “I don’t want you to call anyone. If you say nothing happened, then fine, I believe you.”
If she believed him, why was she frowning?
“But it doesn’t change anything. You’re still going to get bored with me and Orchard Harbor and leave. Maybe you’ll stay until you start filming the new movie. Once you leave, you won’t come back. At least not for anything more than short vacations.”
“The only reason I agreed to do the film is because it’s being filmed in New England.”
“Oh, that still —”
He already knew what she planned to say. “Doesn’t change anything, right? That’s what you were about to say.”
Nodding, Liv looked down at her hands.
“What can I do to convince you I’m not going anywhere?”
Until tonight, he hadn’t realized how stubborn Liv was.
“You can’t change the facts. You’re used to traveling around the world and going to exclusive clubs. You’re happy here with me now because it’s a novelty. When that goes away, you’ll be looking for a change. Please just accept my decision and go home. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I’m tired.”
Matt recognized a stalemate when he saw one. She’d made up her mind, and at the moment, nothing he said would change it. And she did look as exhausted as he felt.
“I’ll go, but this isn’t over.” Somehow, he’d convince her she was wrong.
The downpour ended before he left the center of town. Then, as if mocking him, a rainbow appeared over his house.
Once inside, he made a pit stop in the kitchen for a can of Coke and then went in search of his brother. Since he’d left Aiden playing pool earlier, he started with the game room.
“How did it go?” Aiden asked when Matt walked in.
What a stupid question.
“I’m here with you. How do you think it went?”
“Sorry. Is there anything I can do?” Aiden asked as he sent the last ball on the table into the corner pocket.
“Not unless you’ve got magical abilities that can change a person’s mind.”
“Skipped that lesson at school.” Aiden nodded toward the table. “Are you up for a game?”
Matt removed a pool cue from the wall. A game would help pass the time. “We’re not making any bets this time.” Maybe if he hadn’t made that bet with Aiden, he wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Do you want me to call her? Maybe she’ll listen to me.”
He appreciated his brother’s offer but knew it wouldn’t help. “There’s no point. She’s got it in her head that I’m going to get bored and leave. I need to prove her wrong.”
Twenty-One
“We want to go with package B,” Vera Blackwell, the president of the PTA, said. “There are a few staff members who’ll need special meals. Here’s the list of what we’ll need.”
Liv reviewed the list before adding it to the folder for the staff appreciation lunch, for which the PTA was hiring Ocean View Catering to provide the food.
“That won’t be a problem. Let me get our menu, and we can finalize your order.”
