Even if they dragged up old memories.
He toweled off half an hour later, enjoying the silence of his room and the quiet view of the Caribbean Sea at night. In fewer than twelve hours, he would be on a plane back to the States. He’d roll his suitcase into his condo in the city and try to think about work, but in reality, he’d probably scrounge in his fridge for something to eat and watch old favorites on TV. He might even indulge in a video game for the first time in a year. After all, he had the day off unexpectedly. With no one to share it with, why not be a vegetable for a day?
I wish I had someone to share it with…
He used to. Five years ago, when he was last in a relationship serious enough for cohabitation and snuggling on the couch with no expectations of sex from either side, Liam blew it. Somehow, he hadblownit with one conversation. One suggestion. One thing he knew that would make both him and his ex happier in the long run.
They were gonna get married, after all. For all of his bravado in public and confidence in the bedroom, Liam was the one in business who looked at all issues from every angle and was the best at anticipating negativity before it hit. Which he had also done in his relationship. Because he was in love and wanted it to last the rest of his life.
That party an hour ago had made him think of not only the sex he used to have with someone else, but also spooning in bed and cuddling on the couch.Takeout for dinner and drip coffee in the morning.Goodbye kisses before going to the office and picking each other up in whatever car made sense that day.
They were both making extreme sacrifices. Some people would have blown gaskets to know they were together, let alone getting married. But Liam hadn’t cared. His ex hadn’t cared. They forgot all about that when they took up one side of the couch and watched “old people” shows like they were already a married couple.
Liam stood in front of the landline phone. It was a damn good thing he didn’t have his cell phone, because he might have been stupid enough to call his ex.
But hedidremember the number. It probably hadn’t changed. His ex was the kind of person to keep everything the same as long as someone wasn’t harassing everyone…
Liam picked up the phone. All he had to do was push one button to make a call beyond the island. He didn’t care how much it cost. He’d settle the bill when he checked out.
Except he couldn’t bring himself to dial those numbers. Just holding the receiver to his head and thinking about what he would say was enough.
“I did something tonight that made me think of you. And now I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you. I’ve never totally moved on from you. I wish I were there with you right now. I wish I could make you feel the way she felt tonight.”
He hung up the receiver without making the call. Liam sat on his bed and sighed.
He would never see Brim again. He would never know her real name. She would never knowhisreal name. He’d go down asNealin her memories. He’d have to be content with that. He hoped she would think of him fondly.
She’s the kind of girl I could definitely fall for.The only reason he hadn’t was because it was pointless. One did not fall in love at La Mariposa. You either showed up already in love or prepared to push aside all matters of the heart for three days. As Liam had proven before, he was terrible at that.
There was always the chance he would see her again, but it would probably be in a similar context. Many of the Butterflies also worked in clubs, brothels, and escort agencies across America. And if he saw her in that context, he hoped they’d both be available to have fun again. But until then… and it wasneverhappening…
Liam needed to get some sleep. He was taking the earlier flight in the morning. It was coming sooner than he realized.
But first? A drink from the minibar, because thinking about his ex always made him need a drink. Even if he had just come back from some of the best sex of his life.
Chapter 17
Eden
There were five rows on the plane chartered for New England. Eden’s suitcase was loaded into the cargo hold the moment she handed it off to the flight attendant on the landing strip, and she rolled her carry-on before her as she ascended the ramp.
Five rows with three seats each – two on one side, just one seat on the other. All of the singles were occupied by women in plain clothes, most of them in jeans and T-shirts or cozy sundresses. Except for one woman, who fiddled with her earbuds while lounging in a matching sweat set that saidbad girlin all lowercase on her chest.
Eden sat in the empty fifth row. She had no idea how full this flight was, but for now, she had these seats to herself as others gradually got on behind her.
She appreciated the quiet. Until someone got on who recognized her and made a beeline for the seat next to hers.
“Oh, good. Someone tolerable for the flight home.” Blair shoved her carry-on into the overhead bin and plopped her large tote bag into the aisle seat. On the other side of the aisle, a Butterfly whose name Eden could not remember glared at Blair as if it were her fault the plane would go down before it even made air. “Hope you don’t mind. I hear this is a pretty full flight.”
Eden moved her stuff so Blair had room to sit next to her. “By all means.”
“So…” Blair flopped into her seat, rearranging her tote and seatbelt as she attempted to get comfortable while wearing denim shorts, a T-shirt, and a thin sweater over both. By the time they reached the New England winter, she would need to change at the airport. Eden had thought ahead by having her hoodie accessible. “How was your weekend? Think you’ll be back?”
Eden shrugged as she plugged her phone – now returned to her precious possession – into the outlet. “I’m a bit hungover right now.”
“Hungover? Oh, did you go drinking with some of the other girls after the party last night? It was a real rager in the staff bar, but I don’t recall seeing you there.”
“No… I mostly went back to my room after the party. I had to decompress.”
