“It’s true. I liked you more than that, okay?” I don’t say anything as I hold my gaze on his, waiting for the rest of his explanation because I know there’s more. “I got jealous when I saw Liam talking to you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him light up when talking to any woman around here before.” I feel relief in my chest, but then it diminishes, as I realize how little any of this matters right now. I said stuff I can’t unsay, and I did things I can’t undo. Whether I have something to be mad at Liam for or not, he has a good reason to never forgive me for what I did. “Anyway, he was into you, and I couldn’t stand the thought of someone as sweet as you preferring Liam over me. I knew that was the case when we had pizza. It was like your body was there, but your mind wassomewhereelse.”
“Probably on chowder or something stupid like that,” I jest with astraightface.
“Well, I’m glad to hear you weren’t thinking about any backdoors while we were eating, atleast.”
His quick rebuttal makes me laugh a little. “Touché.”
“Guppy, I like you, I do. What I should have said the other night was that Liam deserves a win. He’s had a tough road, and he’s a cold jackass for a reason, but he’s a good-heartedjackass.”
I inhale sharply through my nose, letting it out slowly through my mouth, trying to unwind the knot of tension in my chest. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” Ioffer.
“I forgive you, but just promise me this . . . if you end up working things out with him, don’t be like, sucking face in front of me or anything. I might not be able to stop myself from joining in. Liam’s hot shit.” My head falls to the side, waiting for his laughter, but he holds in his composure for a long second. “I’m almost not kidding.” Now, thankfully, there’s a laugh because I’m not sure I’m up for any type of threesome talk at themoment.
“Liam’s at the beach, probably on his knees andtaking—”
“A railbang?” Iaddin.
“Wow, I am impressed by your surfing lingo. Now, we just need to get you on aboard.”
“I still can’t swim,remember?”
“Liam will teach you, then you gotta get on a board and surf with us in the mornings. Okay,girlchacho?”
His term of endearment makes me feel a little better, or at least a little less bad. Not sure which yet. “So does this mean we’re friends, eh?” I mock hisaccent.
“Definitely,” he says with a smirk. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and places a kiss on the top of my head. “Now get outofhere.”
Whether Liam wantsto forgive me or not, I’ll at least feel better after apologizing for outing him publicly with private information. It’s so unlike me to do something low like that, and it’s been eating away at me and continues to do so the entire twenty-minute ride back toKennebunkport.
I pull into Sam and Daniel’s driveway, knowing I owe them an explanation as well. But first, I need to talk to Liam. Heading down the path and over the small footbridge, I see a few guys surfing, and I plop down on a rock to waitforhim.
The sun feels nice this morning after my hideout in Jade’s apartment, but at least I had some real time tothink.
Dad was supposed to arrive the morning after that traumatic party, but as his poor luck goes, the radiator blew before he even crossed the state line. He had to get towed back home and wait out the weekend for the shop to open. Then they told him it would take a few days to get the part in. Last I talked to him, he was planning to try again this weekend, but if Sam and Daniel don’t want me back after my unnecessary time off, that’s going to kill Dad’s plan. I’m just grateful the bank let him stay in our house for anextraweek.
Liam and everyone else he’s with are all coming in with their boards, and I wait until he’s had a moment to shake the water from his hair and stop smiling at the brunette he’slaughingwith.
Something in my chest tightens and hurts. Why would Sterling have said all of that if Liam hadn’t truly seemed upset? He seems to be doing fine now. I hate the thought of Sterling forcing me to witness this scene so I’d come running back to him, but he didn’t look like he had been plotting. Every word he said sounded sincere, but who knows. And who is thebrunette?
Liam leans into the girl and gives her a hug, running his hand up and down her back. I can’t see his expression, but her eyes are closed, and she’s sort ofbeaming.
I stand up, realizing now isn’t a good time, and maybe it’s just a bad idea altogether. However, after having time to think over the past few days, I’ve decided to stay and keep at it with Dylan. Sam told me I was the first nanny he’s warmed up to in longer than she can remember. Hearing that meant a lot to me, especially since it didn’t seem like he was warming up to meatall.
Heading back to the path, I hear quiet thuds in the sand coming up behind me, but I don’t turn around, knowing it could be any one of the people surfing. Plus, I don’t want to see him with her. I know I had no claim on him, and we were playing “games” for a week, but I let my guard down, and I left my heartexposed.
“Well, if it isn’t the bitchiest ray of sunshine in the world,”Ihear.
Ouch. That’s what he’s saying in front of this girl? I know I deserve some wrath, butnotthat.
I continue walking as if I didn’t hear him, but he grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. He spins me around to look at him, and now I have to sit here and stare into his sunlit, sea-green eyes and the new freckles that have appeared all over his nose. Always thehotguys...
There are no words coming to me, and I just stare at him like a weirdo. “Did you talk to Sterling?”heasks.
“Yes.” I keep my answer short, still unsure of what else to say.Sorry might be a good place tostart.
“I’m glad he cleared thingsupthen.”
“Look, I’m so sorry for reading your mail and then announcing it. I was so wrong and should never have done that. I don’t want to blame it on the wine, but I was upset and just lost control of my mouth, Iguess.”
