Liam got up, eschewing a kiss and the hands coming for him. When Benson grunted something, Liam tuned him out, picking up his bag and heading toward the door again.
“Hey!” Benson put himself back in his pants before pushing himself up. “Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re not hard, too!”
Liam didn’t have a problem with that, honestly. “I’ll take care of it at home. I better go.” He hesitated at the door. Benson did not come closer. “Save it for when we have an audience.”
“What the…”
Liam opened the door and was gone before Benson could come after him.I proved what I set out to do.Not just that Benson still wanted him… but that he could still want Benson, too.
Maybe even for Eden’s sake. Otherwise, how would this ever work out?
Because I love her, too, Ben.And Liam wouldn’t quietly slink away into the twilight when Benson tried to marry Eden, let alone move her into his apartment. And he would. When Benson Smith fell, he created a crater when he landed. Liam was still licking his wounds.
The elevator door closed behind him. In the few seconds he had to himself, Liam curled his hands against the wall and pressed his forehead against them, stilling the thoughts in his head. But he couldn’t quiet his heart.
I love her. I won’t let him have her all to himself.He opened his eyes, nostrils flaring, the taste of Benson still in his mouth.I still love him.
At least he could admit it.
“The thing you guys don’t understand about jeans,” Eden said as she flopped back onto his bed wearing pajama shorts with her T-shirt, “is that the female form expands and contracts throughout theday,let alone themonth.”
“You’re right.” Liam, quite comfortable in his jeans, was propped up against the headboard as they watched his bedroom TV late in the evening. “I don’t usually deal with that outside of Thanksgiving.”
Eden gazed up at him, her hair flying around her face when she eventually turned over onto her back. “Must be nice.”
“I’m not complaining about you tossing your jeans onto the floor. More skin is always welcome in my house.”
He popped a cracker into his mouth as he continued to watch an episode ofAndor.Had Eden caught on that he was a bit of aStar Warsnerd yet? Because if Benson gave five fucks aboutBattlestar Galactica,then he could tolerate Liam being intoStar Warssince he was a little boy with a bright red Darth Maul lightsaber.Eden, however, cuddled up to him and patted his stomach through his turtleneck. “Says the man who is still fully clothed.”
“Ah, well, that happens. Guess I’m tired today.”
“Too tired to take off your clothes?”
“Is that what you want, love? For me to get naked?”
“Mm, eventually.”
She reached for the handful of crackers he had grabbed. After he dropped a couple into her fingers, they sat in silence, watching TV and indulging in the kind of quiet domesticity that Liam appreciated more often than not.Every night doesn’t have to be a party.Although he did love a good party.
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
It was a good thing Liam already knew this episode inside and out, because that sounded like,“So, pause your nerdy show and listen to me.”Something Liam could do, especially thanks to the invention of streaming services.
“What’s up?” he asked, after putting the remote back down.
She sat up, threading her fingers through her hair as she made herself comfortable. “I’m telling you first. So, anything we say here, you can’t tell Benson until I’ve had the chance.”
Liam knew it probably wasn’t this simple, but a man couldn’t help his first thought. “You’re pregnant.”
She smacked him on the arm. “No. I’m serious. Let me speak first.”
“I just needed to get that out of the way. Continue, please.”
He could tell that he had thrown her for a loop with his chiding. Nevertheless, Eden was the kind of woman who could pull herself together again without missing a beat.
“The resort has invited me back for their next event.” She cleared her throat. “To be a Butterfly.”
Honestly, that was his next guess, but he figured it would get him in even bigger trouble than asking if she was pregnant.I mean, when two guys are going at you like that, even with the best birth control…It was a miracle none of their girlfriends had ever gotten pregnant, let alone by accident.That I know of…
