Liv sat watching Matt and Theo as they played pool, and although her body was in the same room, her mind remained elsewhere. She’d spent enough time with Theo’s girlfriend to know they had nothing in common. That didn’t bother her. Even if her and Matt’s relationship lasted for the next fifty years and Theo and Brianna stayed together, how much time would she really have to spend with the other woman? And even if they ended up seeing each other once a month, Liv could get along with anyone when she had to.
She was worried about Matt’s parents, though. Theo had mentioned he and Brianna had visited them recently, but he hadn’t given any indication of what their parents thought of Brianna. While she realized he couldn’t do that with Brianna sitting next to him, he’d had plenty of time since she left to share such information.
Was Brianna the only type of woman they’d find acceptable, or were they more open-minded? Unlike Matt and Theo’s aunt and uncle, did their parents care more about their children’s happiness than about the connections a marriage to the right person might bring to the family?
Then again, they may dislike both Liv and Brianna equally. Perhaps they sought someone with a vastly different personality and background from either of them.
Unfortunately, there were only two ways to find out. She could ask Matt and assume he was being truthful, or she could wait until she met them and see how they treated her.
The wisest move would be to ask Matt. In her book, openness in a relationship was essential, and without it, the relationship would never last. However, it wasn’t a conversation she really wanted to have. On the other hand, the waiting was going to drive her crazy. She’d just have to decide which was worse, an uncomfortable conversation or waiting for a meeting that might never happen anyway if their relationship ended soon.
Great options I have.
Across the room, Matt’s phone buzzed, alerting him to someone at the door just as he was about to take his turn.
Leaning his pool cue against the table, he pulled out the device. “Food’s here. I’ll be right back.”
Liv stood before he moved from his spot. “I’ll get it. You guys are in the middle of a game.”
“Thanks. Everything is paid for, including the tip,” Matt said as he picked his cue stick up again.
Although she didn’t know the delivery driver’s name, she recognized her from around town.
“I have four large pizzas, an order of onion rings, and an order of stuffed jalapeño peppers,” the twentysomething-year-old brunette said.
How many people does Matt think he’s feeding?
“Thank you.”
Rather than turn and leave, the woman took a step closer and glanced over Liv’s shoulder into the house. “Hey, is this really Matt Sherbrooke’s place?”
She didn’t know what name he’d given when he placed the order. Should she lie and hope the woman believed her? Usually, she preferred not to lie, but maybe in this case it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
“The owner of the home is named Matt Sherbrooke, but he’s not the one you’re thinking of. I wish he were. I’d love to meet him. Eclipse is my favorite band.”
The younger woman took another step closer, and Liv wondered if she planned to walk right in and search the house.
“I don’t believe you. My friend Myra said she saw him in Hometown Brews last week.”
With her hands full, she couldn’t close and lock the door, so using her foot, she started to close it instead. “You can believe whatever you want, but you’re wrong. Have a nice night.”
Well, she’d tried. Matt should’ve let her go and pick up their order tonight. If people started camping out in the street, it was his own fault.
“You’ve been practicing.” Theo’s voice reached her in the hallway. “I guess there isn’t much else to do around here.”
Well, that told her what he thought about the town.
“How much longer are you going to be here?” Theo’s question brought her to a standstill. “You’ve already been here for what, a month? You must be getting bored.”
“I’m not leaving.”
The sound of a ball striking another followed Matt’s answer.
“You’re not heading back to Florida?”
She could imagine Theo’s expression just by the sound of his voice, and if she didn’t care so much about Matt’s answer, she’d laugh at the mental image.
“No. From now on, this is going to be home.”
