“He really did a number on you, didn’t he?” he asks softly. “Your ex, I mean. I feel like it’s easy for you to assume the worst about people. About me.”
My mouth opens to tell him that’s not true, but the words won’t come. He’s right, even though I wish he weren’t. “Fame comes with a lot of painful lessons that teach you to be wary of people and their motives. I never used to jump to conclusions or assume the worst, sothatis likely a product of my ex, yeah. I’m sorry you keep bearing the brunt of that mistrust.”
Liam shakes his head. “You don’t need to apologize. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have your personal life turn into fodder for headlines. Icanpromise that you can trust me, though.”
“I believe you. AndIpromise I’ll work on being more trusting.” My eyes drop to his shirt-covered chest. When they lift back to his, he’s peering at the sheet covering my breasts as if he can see through it. “That coffee sure smells good.”
He makes a quiet hum of agreement, his eyes meeting mine again.
“I could get dressed and we could have coffee,” I say, reaching out and sliding my hand across the hem of Liam’s t-shirt. “Unless you reallydidwant to get naked too.”
His eyes darken, giving me an answer before he even speaks. “Second option. Definitely the second option.”
*****
To the outside world, Liam and I likely look like a loved-up couple as we walk into Sweet Escapes. My arm is linked through his and our hands are laced together. Liam’s cheeks are ruddy from the cold, and I’m sure mine are just as red and not only from the chilly air.
We’re only a few steps inside the café when Liam’s hand tenses in mine. I follow his gaze to see Thea sitting alone at a table across the room. I loosen my grip, and his hand slips from mine.
“Can we go talk to my sister for a minute? I haven’t seen her in a few days.”
At my nod, we cross the café and stop in front of Thea’s table. She’s staring so intently into her black coffee, it takes her a minute to notice us.
“How’s Rexy?” she asks by way of greeting. Her voice is rough.Allof her appears rough. Her eyes are bloodshot and ringed by dark circles. Without any makeup on, she looks much younger than usual. Her face is covered in patches of breakouts, some of which are an angry red as if she’s been picking at them.
“He’s good,” Liam says. “We had dinner with the Murphys last night and he slept there.”
“Good. Good. Do you think I could maybe go over and see him today?”
“Of course you can, Thea. You don’t need my permission to see your son.” Despite his mild tone, Thea’s eyes flare with anger. It passes quickly and she deflates, turning back to her coffee.
Liam puts his hand on her shoulder. “He’d love to see you. Maybe just…go home and shower first? And get something in you other than black coffee.”
Thea raises her head. Instead of looking at her brother, her bloodshot gaze moves to me. “You must think I’m a terrible person. Or at least a terrible mother.”
“Not at all,” I say emphatically. I pause, trying to think of what else to say. I don’t know her well enough—not to mention it’s not really my place—to say I hope she can beat back the demons keeping her away from her son. Keeping her from living a full, rewarding life. I’m sure she’s heard it all before anyway. “I know you love Rex, and he adores you.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “That makes it so much worse, though,” she says. “Idolove him. I love him so much. I should love him enough to get clean and stop the cycle my mother started.” Her haunted eyes shift to Liam, who stiffens by my side. I brush my hand against his and he grabs onto it, holding it tight while reaching for his sister’s shoulder again with his free hand. To me, he says, “Would you mind giving me and Thea a minute to talk alone?”
“Of course not. Take as long as you need. I’ll go grab a coffee and sit.” I squeeze his hand before releasing it and placing it on Thea’s shoulder. “Have Liam give you my phone number, okay? Call me if you ever need anything, even if it’s just to talk.”
Liam slides into the chair next to his sister as I walk away. At the front counter, I order a croissant to go with my coffee since my stomach is growling and I don’t know how long Liam will be. With coffee and pastry in hand, I scan the café and choose an isolated table near the front by a window so I can observe people outside instead of being tempted to watch Liam and Thea.
When my phone rings, my first instinct is to ignore it. I hate when people talk on phones in cafés, especially since they’re usually loud enough to overhear without trying. I’m completely alone in my little corner, though, and a quick glance at the screen shows it’s Natalie, who will likely keep calling if I don’t answer.
“Hey,” I say quietly, angling my body toward the window so my back is to the rest of the café. “How are you doing?”
“Are you hiding in a closet or something?”
I chuckle. “No, I’m in a café.”
She asks if I’m free to talk for a few minutes and, when I tell her yes, we catch each other up on what’s been happening since we last spoke. Naturally, she asks about Liam, and I veer the conversation away from him, telling her about dinner with the Murphys last night instead.
“Sounds like you’re really settling into life there in Honeybee Creek,” Nat says. “Do I need to worry about you not coming home? Because I have news that might just draw you back to the city.”
I sit up straighter in my seat. “Oh?”
“You’ll never guess who was at the audition for that Pascal sisters movie.” Her pause only lasts a second, probably because she knows I hate guessing games. “Selma Melissa Graham.”
