This is what she wants to start with?I want my key back?
“And why would you want it back?” he asks, raising his mug to his lips to try and hide his smile. He’s enjoying this. I turn to Cassie and she’s not even trying to hide her smile, but Sloane doesn’t catch any of it.
“Because you clearly have no sense of boundaries,” she says, giving him a murderous look.
“Boundaries?” he questions. “You mean like my best friend showed me? Or how your boundaries include my best friend, who’s ten years your senior, I might add. Now, I know you had a silly little crush on him when you were younger, but to take advantage of him when he was injured? Sloane, I’m just shocked—shocked I say. I never thought . . .”
“Oh enough!” Cassie finally says, smacking him on the stomach and rolling her eyes. “Look at her face—it’s about to explode and Liam is literally shaking! Just tell them the truth.” She leans back into the couch, taking a sip of her coffee, as if she knows something we don’t.
The truth? What the hell is she talking about?
“Cassie!” he says, turning to his wife. “You couldn’t let me enjoy this for five seconds, could you?” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“Enjoy what?” I ask. I’m so confused as to what is going on right now.
“What’s the truth?” Sloane asks, sounding just as confused as me.
“He set this whole thing up!” Cassie screams, unable to contain her excitement, making Ronan roll his eyes at her.
Set this whole thing up? What is he talking about? I turn to Sloane to gauge if she knows what the hell is going on, but she’s clearly just as lost as me.
“Set what up?” I finally ask.
“You didn’t have to move here,” Cassie says, with a manic laugh.
Still, nothing clicks. If anything, I’m even more confused. What does she mean I didn’t have to move here?
“What my crazy wife is trying to say . . .” He starts patting her leg. “Is that I am the mastermind of all this,” he finishes, pointing between the two of us with a smug smile on his face, as if it explains everything.
“I’m so confused,” Sloane says, flopping back onto the couch. I, on the other hand, cannot stop looking at Ronan like he’s grown a second head.
“Oh, put them out of their misery, or I will,” Cassie says, still as excited as ever.
“No, you never tell stories right,” Ronan says, turning to Cassie as they start to bicker.
“Just tell me what the fuck is going on,” I say loudly, cutting into whatever they’re doing.
“There’s the Liam we know and love,” Cassie remarks, earning a look from me.
“Fine, fine, no need to get your panties in a twist,” Ronan starts. “Like I said, I set this all up. I know you’ve had a crush on him forever.” He points at Sloane. “And this wasn’t a better rehab program.” He points at me.
Sensing I’m about to say something, he holds his hand to stop me. “What’s the word again, honey?” He turns, asking Cassie.
“‘Shiping,” she quickly says.
“Thanks,” he says, sending her an air kiss. “I’ve been ‘shipping you two for years! I mean, seriously, I have no idea why you”—he points at Sloane—“have been avoiding him for years, but enough was enough. And you . . .” He points to me. “If you asked me about her one more time,I swear I was going to kill you,” he says, making me duck my head, embarrassed. I didn’t think he noticed. Sloane, on the other hand, pokes my side and raises a brow at me.
“You guys are perfect for each other. Sloane with her happy-go-lucky attitude and Liam with his shit one. Plus, you’re my little sister, and you’re my best friend—it’s perfect! I don’t have to worry about how she’s being treated, and I don’t have to deal with another Melissa ever again. I mean, what more could I ask for? Just tell me this is serious! This is serious, right? Tell me you weren’t defiling my little sister for fun on that counter!”
Unable to stop myself, I say, “Well I was having fun until you showed up.”
“Liam!” Sloane says, smacking my side with the back of her hand.
“What?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah. It’s serious,” Ronan says, leaning back comfortably on the couch looking at Cassie. “They’re already acting like a married couple.”
“I’m still confused,” Sloane says from beside me. “You’re okay with this?”
