Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
Josie’s throwing a party, which means I’ve spent the afternoon carrying furniture to a better location, putting it back, and then tomorrow I’ll put it back to where it originally was.
I’ve also learned we have glasses, good glasses, and fancy glasses.
I could’ve gone my entire life without this knowledge because now I have questions.
Why are we only using our good glasses for this party and not fancy?
Who qualifies for fancy?
How much did fancy glasses cost me?
What if someone shows up and my wife isn’t home? Do I use basic glasses?
Why are there so many rules?
The party is adults only, which I was excited for, and then was promptly slapped across the chest when my mind went to the gutter. Not that I’d share my wife with anyone or want anyone else—it was more so because she said adults only—and I’m a child. According to my wife.
My mom and Paige headed over to Noah and Peyton’s for the night.
Talisa is bringing Mack and Amelie over as well.
Bianca and Talisa are under strict, and I do mean strict, orders to always keep Paige and Mack within sight.
I was Mack’s age. I know what is going through that boy’s mind.
And I also remember Josie when we were teens and I shudder at the thought when it comes to my daughter.
The reason for the party, Nick Ashford and Teagan Lowery.
Same house, on purpose. And my job is to make sure they gravitate toward each other.
This is where Josie says I need to use my Dr. Liam skills—actually she called me Dr. Phil but honestly, I prefer Dr. Ruth in this case—and make sure these two fall madly in love.
Or at least set a coffee date.
I did, sarcastically, suggest we turn the house out back into a sex room for the night. Josie slapped me for that lewd suggestion and then cussed me out since I offered the place to my mom and then slapped me again for being rude.
I wonder if I should call my hotline and ask myself if my wife’s abusing me?
This was my idea, after all. When Teagan walked into Ralph’s and we started talking, I figured her and Nick would be a good match.
She’s new in town, has a boy on Nick’s football team, and is widowed.
The only issue is, technically she’s Nick’s boss.
Beaumont’s a small town though, and there’s overlap everywhere.
Besides, if they fell madly in love, Nick could quit football.
He’d for sure thank me later.
Bex is the first to arrive. Josie greets her like they’ve been friends for years. She gives Bex a tour of the house, including my studio. They yammer on about me, mostly how moody and stubborn I am.
“How are you liking Beaumont?” Josie asks her.
“I love it. The loft is perfect. Downtown is gorgeous. The other day, I sat in my window and watched the town work crew start to decorate the park for Christmas.”
“You can thank Liam for that,” Josie says. “He’s pestered the council for a long time to be better. Beaumont’s come a long way thanks to Liam’s generosity.”
“Ah, shucks,” I say when both look at me and smile.
Noah and Peyton arrive next. Peyton comes in with her hands in the air and dancing a little jig with her husband laughing.
“You’d think she’s been cooped up since the triplets were born,” he says. Everyone knows this isn’t true. Noah has made sure of it.
“This is adult fun time,” Peyton says. “Not just us time, but human time.”
I make sure they’re introduced to Bex, who turns out to be a huge football fan. That’s something she kept under wraps. Not that it would make any difference in me deciding to work with her.
When the door opens again, I’m surprised to see Quinn and Justine walking in. They’ve been in LA while Justine and her band, Plum, work on a new album. They’re still in that newlywed stage, even with their anniversary coming up.
Peyton introduces Bex to Justine, and the three of them wander off toward the beverage cart. Noah, Quinn, and I start to move toward the backyard when an ear-piercing squeal erupts from the front of the house.
“Quinny . . .”
I turn in time to move to the side as Elle launches herself at Quinn. He catches his sister effortlessly, hugs her tightly, and puts her down.
“How come Peyton didn’t greet Quinn like that?” I ask Noah under my breath.
“Because Quinn and Justine are staying with us. Believe me, it happened last night when Quinn arrived. Damn near woke the kids up.”
I’ve known Quinn his entire life. He was shy, reserved, and stayed in the shadows.
He grew up on the tour bus, had a nanny, and never gave Harrison any trouble.
And then at seven, he met the twins and they formed an unbreakable bond.
Shortly after Mason died, Peyton got teased at school and Quinn punched the kid in the face.
Harrison had a hard time punishing his son for defending Peyton.
“I was so sad when you weren’t at grandpa’s,” Elle says.
“I had a date with my niece,” Quinn tells her.
“By date, he means he slept in her room,” Peyton says as she comes over to hug her sister. “When I checked on Juniper this morning, she was in her princess playhouse, fast asleep on her uncle’s chest.”
Quinn blushes. “I missed her.”
“Have your own,” Peyton teases.
“Hey now,” Justine hollers. “Give a girl some time to live.”
Everyone laughs because she’s right. There’s a bit of an age gap between Quinn and Justine, and there’s no reason to rush her into having kids.
“Did you take Jett and Sonny over to Noah’s?” Josie asks as she wipes her hands. She leans into me, “the meat is ready for the grill.”
“On it,” I tell her.
“Paige came and picked them up. They were so excited to see her.”
“Beau was for sure,” Ben adds. “I think he knew he was going to have a playdate with Stevie Nicks.”
Noah nods. “Yep, she went to Noah’s too.”
I pat Ben on the shoulder and thank him for all the hard work he’s done for the show.
“Harrison and I talked the other day. He’s ready for the band’s channel launch. I have a dozen or more companies lined up for advertising. By launch, we’ll have a full line-up.”
“That’s great,” I tell him as we all head out back.
That’s where Nick finds us, the men folk at the grill. He hands each of us a beer, and we stand around talking about nothing. It always amazes me that women can talk for hours while men just mumble and nod.
“So, I’m looking for some advice,” Nick says, thinking he’s funny. He’s not.
“I’m off duty,” I tell him. “Call-in like the rest.”
“Wait, we can’t ask you for advice?” Noah asks.
I shake my head. “I need a break,” I say, then look at him. “Well, except you. I’ll give you advice. But you’re the only one that gets a pass.”
“Rude,” Quinn says.
“Especially since I’m the one with cancer,” Ben blurts out.
We all pause and everything goes quiet as we stare at him.
His eyes widen. “No, not now. I mean, my scans have been clear. I was just saying.”
“Not fucking funny, man.” Quinn shakes his head. “Don’t even joke about this shit.”
I’m still taken aback by what Ben said, and it makes me wonder if he’s telling the truth. This is one of those moments where I lock this away to circle back.
We go back to mumbling, mostly about football, the Beaumont High team, and Mack as the quarterback.
Nick says he hasn’t decided which camp he wants to go to and is weighing his options and is considering doing multiple camps, as most are two weeks now instead of the intensive one my father had sent me to.
I’m convinced I was gone all summer because he wanted me far away from Mason and Katelyn, but mostly Josie.
When we come in with the meat, Teagan is here and surrounded by the twins and Bex.
They’re chatting like they’ve known each other for years, and regardless of why everyone is here tonight, I like this .
. . people at my house, having a good time.
This is also giving Bex and Teagan a chance to meet other people in the community.
Somebody puts on a record instead of a playlist. It’s one of mine from a lifetime ago.
I catch the twins singing along. I love them for that.
The house gets loud with people who get to be free of any obligations for the night.
I’m not sure this happens often for most of us, so we need to take advantage.
I make my move early, while everybody’s still chatting. I walk Nick toward the living room where Teagan’s got herself into a corner with a glass of wine. But before I can open my mouth to make the introduction Nick says, “Teagan.”
She says, “Coach.”
And I’m left standing there with my hand half-raised for an introduction between two very frigid people.
“Oh, right, you already know each other,” I say, playing oblivious. Still, I’m hoping Nick’s picking up what I’m not putting down. He doesn’t and rocks back on his heels.
Shit. This is going to be harder than I thought.
“Nick and I are old high school rivals,” I begin. “And he dated my wife.”
Teagan’s eyebrow arches. “Oh.”
Nick glares at me.
What else was I supposed to say? Admit he raised my son for his first ten years? Nope, no thanks.
“Really? That’s a hell of a thing to hand somebody,” Nick says, to me, not to her.
Josie’s at my elbow before it turns into anything. “Food’s ready,” she says and steers me away.
“Liam, was that seriously the best you could’ve led with?” she says under her breath.
“I put him in front of her and they’re cold to each other. He did something to piss her off.”
“You only think Nick did something wrong because you don’t like him.”
“That’s not true. I tolerate him. He’s my frenemy.”
Josie shakes her head and leads me toward the buffet she has set up. “For someone dishing advice over the air, you’re clueless when it comes to people.”
“I’ll try harder.” I feel like I’ve failed at something I really didn’t want to take on until my wife put the idea in my head. I make my plate, mingle, get seconds, and finally find a place to sit.
Teagan sits next to me. “Everybody knows everybody.”
“Perks of a small town.”
“Maybe. I’ve never been invited to a bartender’s house.”