“And he doesn’t deserve our help. You’re absolutely right. But if he doesn’t leave tonight, Ellie will wake up tomorrow and find him downstairs in the lobby. I’m not sure we want that either.”
My head falls back as the desolation of the suite taunts me from the corner of my eye. He’s right.
“You have a point.”
Steven steps closer again, sliding his big hands around my waist and resting them at the curve of my back. He brushes his thumbs across the line of my underwear, testing his boundaries, even now.
“Let me get him out of here, and I’ll be right back.”
“Fine,” I sigh, tilting my head to the side to give him a clear window of opportunity. He takes it, kissing my neck, tenderly but possessively all at the same time. “Just hurry up.”
“Oh, I will.” He squeezes me before finally tearing himself away, backing toward the elevator, his gaze devouring me like he’s lost in a private fantasy. I bite my lip, and he lets out a small growl as he steps into the elevator.
“I hate Liam right now,” he says as the door starts to shut, “but I’m glad he stopped stringing Ellie along.”
What?
“Stringing along?” I shout, sprinting for the elevator. My silver heel stops the door before it shuts, and Steven’s eyes widen as I step inside. “What do you mean string along?”
His face twists, all sense of desire replaced with confusion as he assesses me. I know how I must look. Nostrils flaring, wild green eyes, clenched fists.
The elevator dings as we descend toward the lobby.
“I just mean it’s better he did it before they actually got married, right? Like, imagine if he ended things after the fact.”
“Yes, but you saidstringing along.Like you know more than therest of us.”
Ding.
He opens his mouth to speak then shuts it, lighting a small fire of irritation in my belly.
“What aren’t you telling me, Steven?”
His jaw twitches, and his eyes shift, visibly nervous.
“Talk,” I growl.
But the elevator doors open to the lobby, and Liam is there waiting. The fire snaps into a blazing rage at the sight of him. I lunge, my fists clenching of their own accord. As if Liam can sense what’s coming his way, he cowers, covering his face with his arms.
“Em, Em!” Steven grabs my elbow.
I whirl on him. “What aren’t you telling me, Steven?”
“What’s going—”
“Another word and I will cut it off.” I jab a finger in Liam’s direction.
“Cut what off?” He has the audacity to speak again.
Fury erupts, coursing through my veins like acid, all the way to my fingertips. I clench my fists harder and rear back, but Steven grips my arm, gently tugging me back to reality—the reality that I’m a mother, and assaulting Liam could cause more damage to me than him.
“Steven,” I plead.
He deflates as he releases my elbow. His eyes dart from me to Liam before settling on the ground at my feet.
“Liam told me he wasn’t sure.”
“Dude, what are—” Liam starts.
