They had been over this a week ago at Benson’s breakfast table, but now that emotions had calmed, she wanted to hear it again from Liam’s mouth. He was the one holding it together the best, anyway. “I told him that we didn’t work long-term without a woman. And going to places like La Mariposa together, as acouple,wouldn’t be enough. Quite frankly, I wanted a girlfriend.That was the whole deal we made when we decided to get together as more than threesome buddies. Shit…” Liam leaned his head against the back of the couch, eyes closed. “Listen to me. Something about that man still makes me kinda emotional.”
“It’s understandable. You guys were engaged. You must have loved each other. Right?”
Liam slowly opened one of his eyes.
“What?”
“Duh.”
He said it so flatly that Eden couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve never been in love before,” she admitted. “Not like that.” Maybe if she told herself that, she would convince herself that she hadn’t been falling for both Benson and Liam. “But he’s been in love a few times, huh?”
“Man falls hard and fast.” Liam amended that. “Incredibly loyal, though. And he’ll always do the right thing once he’s all-in.”
“Yes. I got that feeling about him.”
Liam finally leaned forward, bowing his elbows against his knees as he turned toward Eden. “I’m not gonna lie, love,” he said. “Last weekend was…” He cleared his throat, lest he say any of the details out loud in public. “Reminded me of old times. Benson broke up with me. I was one of the first and only peoplehebroke up with. He’s only publicly dated women since, but I know he’s part of the same underground clubs I am.”
“Underground clubs?”
“You know. Downlow. Cruising. Ahem.”
“I see.”
“That’s why it was a big deal to go for it with me. It would mean beingout.There are gay power couples out there, but neither are we gay, nor is Benson used to facing that kind of scrutiny. I think Sydney fucked him up. Deep down, that lugwants a woman. I knew it. He knew it. He just wouldn’t admit that we had to find a woman who would make it work with us.”
“And how do you feel about all of this right now?”
Liam puffed out his cheeks before shaking his head. “Like him, I’m trying not to get my heart broken again.”
“He broke your heart?”
“Love.” He leveled his gaze on her. “We were getting married. We had been sharing all of our innermost secrets for two years. We were building something together.” Liam opened his hands to her. “Of course he broke my heart. I loved him.”
It was those words that sealed something in her mind. “I’m gonna talk to him.”
“Maybe give him a couple more days.”
Eden checked the time on her phone. It was 4:30 pm. Benson would be home from work in another hour.
“Eden.”
She leaned forward, matching his stance as the two of them brought their heads close enough to kiss. Yet they both refrained, not that it stopped Eden from putting her hand on his knee. “Thank you for telling me your side of the story. All I’ve wanted is transparency.”
“I know.” Liam swallowed. “Me, I’m an open book, warts and all. Ben, though…”
“Benson is older than both of us and has seen things we haven’t. He’s got a kid. He’s been married before.”
“When you put it that way…”
She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll text you later. I’ve got to get going.”
“At least tell me we can go out this weekend, love. I’ve missed you like crazy, and it’s only been a few days.”
Eden grinned. “Naughty boy.”
“What can I say? Dangle a beautiful woman in front of me, and I can’t wait to make something out of the chance.”
“Have I beendangled?”
