Chapter Taryn
TARYN
I rub my temples and sip my coffee, still not believing last night actually happened. I have no idea where Liam went. What he’s doing. How he’s feeling. If he’s okay.
“So, if anyone asks, you’re supposed to say Liam was here, and you never saw Sam?” Elizabeth clarifies after I finish my story, ending with Rowan’s call this morning to inform me that I am Liam’s alibi. I said that right—he didn’t ask me. He informed me.
I nod and take a sip of my coffee. “Yeah, Rowan said that Liam had St. A’s security cameras erased so that Sam won’t be able to prove who beat him up in case he decides to turn Liam in for breaking the university’s rules.
There will be no parking lot footage. No witnesses.
At least that’s what Rowan says. Liam isn’t answering my calls. ”
“I’m sorry, babe, but can you blame him?
” Stephanie asks with pity in her eyes. When I raise my eyebrows, she continues, “I mean, he had kind of a shit night. Look at it from his perspective. First, he was told by his fiancée he didn’t matter, and then he had to confront her ex.
He probably needs a minute to catch his breath. ”
“Hold on. I never said he didn’t matter,” I argue, but Gráinne interrupts me.
“Well, you kind of did.” She doesn’t even turn around from making us all breakfast. Just keeps right on stirring eggs as though she didn’t just insult me. “You finally decided to sleep with him but told him it didn’t matter. That’s what you just said.”
“Ugh! You are all supposed to be on my side!” I am pouting now.
If these ladies are going to hold me accountable for my actions, can I even consider them friends?
I called everyone here to talk things through.
We’d normally have Sunday brunch at the diner, but today, I need a more private setting.
My feelings have become too confusing to work out on my own.
“We are on your side,” Elizabeth soothes, getting up from my tile-top kitchen table to hug me from behind.
“Why do boys suck so much?” Steph whines. By the tone of her voice, Cole has done something stupid. Again. She is sipping and adding hazelnut creamer to her coffee in some odd attempt to get the perfect mixture. I know better than to comment since she’s been doing that weird latte dance for years.
Gráinne points a spatula at her. “First, you’re aware that Cole is kind of an asshole, right?
He’s already taken up too much of your time.
You could have another boyfriend like that.
” She snaps her fingers. “If you want one, that is. Let me know if you need me to ask Rowan to talk to Cole. He needs to stop treating you like dirt.” Huh. Gráinne must know something.
Stephanie blushes. “I don’t need Rowan involved.”
“Second of all,” Gráinne continues as if Stephanie hadn’t spoken, “Liam has been telling you since the engagement that he wants a shot at a real relationship. You even said he’s been awesome, Tare.
You must mean something to him. More than sex.
He’s obviously trying to get to know you.
Including you. Asking your opinion. That’s what you told us.
” She looks over her shoulder to pin me with a look.
“How did you think he would feel when you told him sleeping with him was meaningless?”
“I didn’t say it like that!”
“Finally, I am going to say something to your stupid stepsister, Elizabeth,” she tells our wide-eyed friend as she serves her an omelet. “Enough is enough already.”
“Please don’t start things with Valentina.” Liz’s response is pretty much a whimper.
“Well, why not? She doesn’t get to keep calling you names.”
“Yeah,” I chip in. “What does Oz even mean?”
Elizabeth swallows and pushes away her plate. “Ozempic,” she whispers.
“I’m sorry, what?!” I can’t believe what she just said. She must be kidding. Only—it’s not funny.
“Oz is short for Ozempic,” she croaks. “It’s her way of reminding me that I’m heavy. She says being fat is a choice, you know, because there’s Ozempic.”
This causes Gráinne to stop cooking. “No more,” she grits out. “She won’t be calling you that anymore.”
“Gráinne, please, I don’t want to provoke—”
“Elizabeth,” Stephanie coddles. “You have friends. Real friends. People who adore you simply because you’re you. People who love you. That’s a rare thing.” Stephanie’s eyes are shiny. “Let them help.”
“Exactly,” Gráinne agrees. “Good friends also tell you things you might not want to hear. For example, Elizabeth, you don’t need to put up with her bullshit anymore.
First of all, you look great. Seriously.
You’re a goddess. She’s obviously jealous.
Second of all, she’s a bitch. Not sure there’s a drug for that or I’d suggest we give her a nickname. ”
“Eh, ‘the bitch’ works,” I snipe.
Elizabeth brushes a tear from her cheek as Gráinne continues. She’s a bit wound up this morning.
“Friends tell the truth. Even when it hurts. And that, Elizabeth, is simply me telling you, my dear friend, the truth. Just like I’m directly telling Taryn that she isn’t being fair to Liam. See? Didn’t sugarcoat it.” Gráinne nods as she places scrambled eggs in front of Stephanie.
“So, it’s my fault I don’t want to get married?” I mean, come on. I can’t believe she’s turning on me this way.
“Uh-uh. No. Don’t twist what I said.” She shakes her head.
“I said you aren’t being fair to him. And, honestly, I don’t understand why.
” When I raise my eyebrows incredulously, she sighs, “I know you don’t want to get married, Tare.
No one here blames you for feeling that way.
But, the fact is, you will be getting married.
To Liam. And, he happens to be a good-looking, sweetheart of a guy who is into you despite all the bitchiness you’ve had going on lately.
Oh, and don’t think it isn’t clear to all of us that you happen to actually want him too.
We’ve all seen the way you look at him. Is there any possibility you could let go of your anger for a few minutes to focus on that?
” She huffs as she approaches me with my plate.
“Uh, does Luca know you think that Liam is good-looking?” I grin at her.
I don’t bother to tell her that if she would have seen Liam pummeling Sam last night, I doubt she’d still be calling him a “sweetheart.” She pulls back my plate, and I laugh.
“I’m kidding. Kidding.” She gives me a look of warning before setting my over-easy eggs down in front of me.
It’s amazing to me how much Gráinne has gotten behind the concept of telling it like it is.
She used to laugh at me for not having a filter. Bonkers.
“He is, though,” Stephanie says, munching on turkey bacon.
Personally, I prefer the real stuff, but when Gráinne showed up with a bag of groceries, I didn’t argue with her choices.
At our look of confusion, Steph clarifies, “Liam is good-looking. I mean, damn.” She shakes her hand as though it’s hot.
We all laugh. I’m happy to see Elizabeth smiling.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I know. He is hot. He’s also been nice. And patient. And interesting. And those muscles…” I trail off, picturing how he felt against me. Ugh. I can’t deny that I want to sleep with him. And I don’t mind talking to him either. This isn’t good.
“And don’t forget protective,” Elizabeth adds, yanking me out of my mental spiral.
“He really beat the crap out of Sam, huh?” Steph asks, leaning forward, bacon momentarily forgotten.
“He really, truly did. If the snow hadn’t melted, you’d see his blood all over our lawn. I still can’t believe any of that happened.” I have no idea why Sam felt the need to stop by or what he wanted to tell me. I may never find out now.
Stephanie snickers. “Sounds like your man doesn’t take too kindly to people insulting you.”
I don’t even flinch at hearing him called “my man.” Whether I like it or not, he is.
The question is: do I like it? I let my guard down with Liam last night.
He’s still an overly confident, smiles-too-much jerk, but it felt good to be with him at Titus.
He included me. Asked my thoughts on things.
Explained what has happened. Told Rowan that I matter.
I can’t deny it. I felt special. Smart. Worthy. And, damn, Liam can fill out a suit.
As if reading my mind, Gráinne jumps back into the conversation.
“Is there any way you could relax with Liam a little? Give this relationship a chance?” she says, ignoring my grumbling, obviously on a mission. “You have some time before the wedding. And you obviously want to sleep with him. Why not lean in to the whole relationship? See where it goes?”
Before I have a chance to answer, Elizabeth cuts in. “Why are you so angry all the time, Tare? Is there something going on we don’t know about?”
What does she mean? “You think I’m angry all the time?”
All three of my friends stop what they’re doing to look at me. Oh. Well, fuck. I guess I’m a guarded person naturally—but, angry?
“You have always been kinda, I dunno, closed off,” Steph begins, “but ever since Liam came into your life, it’s gotten a lot worse.
Like you don’t want to talk about anything unless it includes jokes or sarcasm.
” She takes a sip of her coffee, watching me closely.
She’s probably waiting for me to freak out. “It’s like you are afraid to be happy.”
“You think that?” I sound small, even to my own ears.
“I didn’t mean—”