“Yes, Liam, might as well be honest,” I say, crossing my arms.
He deflates, scrunching up his eyes and burying his face in his hands. After emitting an irritated groan, he jerks his head back up and drops his arms, inhaling deeply.
“I’m so sorry, Harper. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Was it just tonight?” I ask.
“Yes,” he replies firmly.
“No,” Bianca says.
“Seriously!” Liam cries, looking at her aghast.
“Sorry, but I’ve been cheated on before and the truth always comes out anyway, so it’s better she knows the whole story!”
“Thank you, Bianca, I’d appreciate that,” I say, really warming to her despite the circumstances. “Liam, could you expand?”
“Fine,” he says through gritted teeth, before looking at me pleadingly. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, I promise, Harper. When Bianca and I met at the charity ball, it was completely innocent, and I went to see the band play and then we went for drinks afterward and… there was an undeniable spark between us. I’msosorry.”
“So it was that night and then tonight?” I ask.
“And a few other nights in between,” he mumbles.
“Ah.”
“Harper,” he begins, “I really like you! I’m confused! I’m completely torn about this!”
“That wasn’t what you were saying to me earlier,” Bianca seethes, her expression darkening.
“My head is all over the place,” Liam says, appealing to both of us.
I hold up my hand. “Let me stop you there, Liam. As horrible as it is to walk in on this… scenario, I appreciate your honesty. Even if it was really Bianca’s candor that aided yours. But I need to be honest myself—I came here tonight to break up with you.”
He recoils, looking insulted. “You did?”
“Yes. For a while now I haven’t felt quite right about us, and I don’t think we… mesh well.”
“We mesh perfectly!” he claims, and I wonder if Bianca is as stumped as I am about why he’s bothering to defend our shattered relationship.
“Liam, we went to a black-tie ball together and barely acknowledged each other. Don’t you think that says quite a lot? And on top of all that—” I hesitate, taking a breath “—I’ve had feelings for someone else. Tonight, we kissed.”
Liam gasps. “You kissed? Who?”
“Ryan.”
He wrinkles his nose in disgust. “That guy you hate?”
“It’s complicated. Anyway, we kissed—only kissed—but then I stopped him because I said it was wrong when I had a boyfriend, so I came straight here to end things with you.” I gesture to Bianca. “But I realize now that I’m not the worst person in this relationship—you’veearned that particular accolade, Liam.”
“I thought it was one mistake with Bianca,” he says hurriedly, “but then it happened again and again and… I should have told you.”
“Yeah.” I nod, putting my hands on my hips. “Clearly we’re not meant to be.”
We fall into silence, the music still playing in the background. I clear my throat.
“Right, I should go. This has been… enlightening. For everyone involved. Bianca, I don’t love that you were sleeping with a guy that you knew had a girlfriend, but I want to thank you for encouraging Liam to be honest and for telling me the truth.”
“No problem,” she says, with a nod in solidarity. “And if it helps, I think you’re a wicked writer, with a very entertaining style.”
