Chapter Thirteen #2
“At the end of the hallway.” She walks past me and makes her way there, and I follow her. “At least the shower is big.”
I suck in a deep breath and know this is her version of slumming it. Hell, if I lived her lifestyle, I’d think the same thing too, but this is home for me. I’ve made enough memories under this roof to last a lifetime, so I’m slightly offended.
Victoria leads the way back, then lays her luggage on the bed and starts unpacking her expensive wardrobe and makeup. After I clear space on my dresser for her items, she moves the clothes around in my closet for hers. Once she’s put everything away, she announces she’s going to take a shower.
I take a few minutes and text Tyler.
Liam
So I brought Victoria home to meet everyone this weekend. I fucking hate myself right now.
Tyler
I guess things didn’t go over well with one particular person?
I told him all about Maddie and our history together, and how this arrangement with Victoria would destroy her. Even explained how I’ve tried to stay away from Maddie but our connection continues to bring us together. And how this will undoubtedly put a stop to everything.
Liam
Not exactly. I’ll text or call after the Fourth of July to give an update when Victoria is gone. Hopefully neither woman has murdered me in my sleep by then.
Tyler
I got your back, man. Just say the word if you need me to put out a hit for a sassy, uptight queen bee.
Liam
You sound like the mob…
Tyler
I’m way smarter
I chuckle, then delete our messages to be safe. Having one person to vent to about all this crazy bullshit helps keep me sane, but it doesn’t change anything. Life still fucking sucks and so does being Victoria’s peasant.
While she’s showering, I hear car doors slam outside. I go to my window and see Sophie, Mason, and Maddie.
“Fuck,” I whisper when I see Maddie’s jaw locked tight. The woman is scary when she’s mad, but Sophie might have her beat. Someone climbs the stairs, and moments later, Sophie’s barging into my room wearing a scowl with no regard to what I could’ve been doing in here.
“What the hell, Liam? What do you think you’re doing?” She walks forward and pushes me with all her weight.
I take a step back. “What? What’d I do?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I don’t believe this for one fucking minute,” she whisper-hisses. “You’re not fooling anyone, especially not me.”
If she can see through it, can everyone else? I’m determined to squash her suspicions. “It’s so hard to believe that I’ve fallen in love and found the woman who makes me happy?” I snap at her. “That’s pretty fucked up, Soph. Even for you.”
She grinds her teeth and snarls. “You’re an asshole.”
I roll my eyes at her lousy retort. “Haven’t been called that one before, sweetheart.”
Her mouth falls open. “It’s like I don’t even know you anymore, Liam.
One minute, you’re flirting with my sister, kissing and leading her on, and then you’re flying back and forth to Vegas, driving a luxury car, and now you’re married to some woman you’ve never mentioned.
” She blows out a frustrated breath, flailing her arms in the air. “It’s not adding up.”
The door cracks open, then Victoria walks in with a towel around her head and one wrapped around her body. “Hey, what’s going on?” she asks sweetly. Then she turns. “Sophie, right?”
Sophie smiles at her, being as polite as ever, though she was ready to rip off my head seconds ago. “Yep,” Sophie responds between gritted teeth.
“Missed you, sweetie,” I tell Victoria. She saunters over, then pulls my head down to kiss her. She puts on a show by shoving her tongue down my throat and moans.
“Missed you too,” Victoria says breathlessly, then turns back to Sophie. “Oh, I’m sorry. How rude of me. It’s just so hard not to kiss this hunk of a man.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
Sophie studies Victoria from head to toe.
“I’ll let you get changed,” Sophie murmurs, but when her eyes meet mine, they tell me I’m a dead man. She can get in line because there’s a list of people ahead of her who’d love to kill me first.
When the door clicks closed, Victoria smirks. “She doesn’t believe it, does she?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Then I guess we’ll have a lot of convincing to do,” she singsongs, dropping her towel and revealing her perfect slim body. They’re all downstairs right now, probably discussing how much bullshit this marriage is.
Victoria wraps her arms around my neck and presses her mouth to mine. “Fuck me. Loud enough for your friends to hear.”
“I can’t,” I tell her. If this was a different time—before I kissed Maddie and if she didn’t live here—I’d consider it. But right now, it feels wrong and dirty that I can’t even get hard.
“No?” she questions as if she’s offended. “I’m not sure you realize how this works.”
“Victoria,” I hiss. “I do understand how it works, but we agreed the roles were played in front of people, not behind closed doors.”
“I told you when we first met that I love to fuck and a girl has needs. So as long as I have this ring on my finger”—she reaches out and grabs my dick—“this is mine too.”
I feel sick at the truth of her words. Too damn bad I can’t get fucking drunk first. Even though we hooked up once before, I barely remember it and wish I never had.
The manipulation runs blood deep, and she literally holds my life in her hands, so I do what I have to do and regret every second of it.
Once she collapses on the bed next to me, I leave and take a shower.
Afterward, I can’t even go downstairs, so instead, we fall asleep together.
A few days later on the Fourth of July, Victoria and I watch Sophie perform with the symphony in the park. It’s been a tradition since we’ve been friends, and I haven’t missed it once. She’s a killer violinist, and we all usually have a great time hanging out.
As soon as I show up with a blanket in my hand and Victoria on my arm, Mason and Hunter greet me, but Maddie walks away. Lennon follows her with the kids, but I keep a smile on my face.
Maddie’s avoidance only encourages Victoria to step up her public affection, to the point where Mason laughs and tells us to get a room. Hunter cracks a joke about the newlywed honeymoon phase and how he remembers it well. A chuckle escapes me, but there’s nothing funny about it.
Sophie plays amazing, as always, and afterward, we all get into position to watch the fireworks.
Victoria asks for a bottle of water, and I get up to buy a couple.
I pass Maddie, who’s looking extra beautiful in her cutoffs and crop top.
The warm summer breeze blows through her dark hair that’s slightly curled.
She’s layered on her makeup more than usual.
Looking around, I notice guys watching her, but she’s too focused on her phone to realize it. When she finally looks up at me, she scowls and turns away. I’m half-tempted to force her to talk to me so I can apologize for what I’ve done, but I don’t.
Victoria and I go through the motions. We smile. We laugh. We kiss. Rinse and repeat.
After the fireworks show, we all head back to the house.
Victoria and I take the scenic route because I want some time away from my friends to get my thoughts together.
When we finally make it home and walk in, everyone stops talking.
It’s more than obvious we were the topic of discussion, but Victoria seems to enjoy it.
“Hey, you two lovebirds,” Mason says, coming from the kitchen carrying a beer. “Want a drink?”
“I don’t, but I’m sure Liam would love one,” Victoria tells him, and Mason happily fetches one for me. “We were gonna watch a movie. Wanna join us?”
Maddie freezes and stops breathing.
“No, I—”
“We’d love to join you,” Victoria interrupts. I hadn’t wanted to stay and rub Maddie’s nose in this any more than I have to. “Right, baby?” Victoria reaches for my hand and pulls me closer.
I let out a breath. “Yeah, sure. That’ll be fine.”
“You two can have my seat,” Maddie says, getting up from the recliner. “I’ve already seen this one a million times.”
I frown as Maddie walks away. The urge to go to her is so strong but I force my feet to stay frozen to the floor.
“What’re we watching?” I ask, turning away when she disappears out of the living room.
“Dirty Dancing,” Sophie says.
Victoria squeals. “That’s one of my favorite movies.”
We all hear Maddie’s bedroom door slam. Sophie shoots me a death glare before turning toward the TV, and Mason shrugs, then presses play.
Though I don’t want to, I take a seat in the recliner, and Victoria sits on my lap.
I wrap my arms around her waist, and she leans against me.
The whole time I’m only thinking about one woman, and it’s not her.
The last time I watched this was with Maddie, and she knew every line.
I’m stuck in a memory while staring at the screen but don’t pay attention to what’s happening.
Once the movie is finally over, we tell everyone good night, and Victoria says her goodbyes since I’m taking her to the airport early tomorrow morning.
Sophie gives her a side hug and so does Mason, but they’re just being polite.
Even if they hate her, they respect me enough to remain civil.
“Great to see a woman was finally able to win over his heart.” Mason grins.
“It was a tough game, but I played my cards right,” she says cheekily, but she’s insinuating more than they know.
I keep up the facade and pull her into my arms. “You sure did, babe.”
“Safe travels,” Sophie says as Victoria and I make our way upstairs.
“I think I’m growing on them,” she tells me when we’re in my room.
“Except maybe Maddie. She’s nice, but she looks like she wants to slap me.
” Victoria gives me a concerned look, arching one brow.
“You two were never a thing?” she asks while changing into the revealing nightie she insists on wearing.
“No,” I blurt and sit on the bed to keep from stumbling over my words.
“I mean, she’s had a crush on me for a while, I think, but she’s way too young, and I’ve told her that.
We’re friends and roommates. That’s it.” The words taste like a betrayal as I try to reassure her.
Victoria gives me a look as she begins to pack her things, and I feel as if I can almost breathe again, knowing she’ll be gone in the morning.
“Okay, good. I don’t want them to hate me.”
I laugh, assuming she’s probably had to buy every friend she’s ever had. “They’re nice people. They’ll accept anyone who isn’t an asshole.”
After a moment, Victoria looks at me seriously. “You made the right choice, Liam. My father would have enjoyed taking them from you and won’t think twice if he has to.” She ends her statement with a soft smile before walking to the closet and removing her clothes.
Reality slams into me like a brick wall.
That was the reminder I needed.
I didn’t agree to do this for myself. But for Maddie. For all of them. Because they were all targets.
Hopefully, marrying Victoria means they’re safe, and it stays that way.