CHAPTER FOURTEEN #2
She looks at Scarlett, who is studying me with beady eyes.
“We ar—”
“About forty-eight hours is my guess.” Scarlett taps her lip as my mouth gapes. “Have you told your brother?”
How the hell did she do that?
I’m sure I’ve gone pale. I hand Briar’s daughter back and rearrange my legs to buy myself some time.
What do I say?
“No, we’re just...we’ve been friends for years. Since I was a kid. And they were kids.” I mumble over my words.
“You don’t say,” Scarlett slowly smirks, looking like she’s loving every second of my discomfort. “Funny how that works.”
“What?” Cassy looks confused.
“Are you two together?” Savannah asks, rubbing her swollen tummy. She’s sitting on a yellow sun chair, nursing a large iced water with lemon.
“No.” I shake my head way too much.
Lying to these women is hard. Much harder than I thought.
Next minute sand lands on the hand I’m leaning on. I glance up and find Liam standing over me.
My cheeks heat.
“Hello ladies,” he grins, sweat pouring off his chest.
“Jessie was just telling us how you are sleeping together,” Scarlett announces, and I die.
“Scar!” Cassy cries.
I sit bolt upright. “No, I didn’t! I didn’t.”
“What?” Liam’s smile vanishes.
Oh fuck.
“Scarlett, for once, can you please stop causing trouble?” Trina rolls her eyes. “Liam, Jessie said no such thing. She said you two were childhood friends.”
My heart is beating so hard I think it might start its own rock band. He glances down at me, and I start nodding rapidly. I can’t seem to stop.
“I did. I mean, I didn’t. That’s right.”
Crap. Stop talking.
Scarlett is still smirking.
“Yep, she’s Jayden’s little sister,” he drawls, acting cool as a cucumber.
“Who you want to fuck?”
Everyone snaps their heads around and glares at Scarlett.
“Fine. I will stop. But you have no idea how hard it is to be a stay-at-home mom right now with zero gossip.” She bounces the baby on her lap. “Love you, button, but can you please grow up and start talking so we can watch the Housewives of whatever place together?”
Trina shakes her head, unimpressed.
Liam and I share a look, and he looks momentarily concerned. I can’t say a thing, so I smile innocently.
When Scarlett finds out she is right, I expect she’s going to kick my butt.
But that is then, this is now.
I need to act like it’s not a thing.
“Well, moving on...” I rip off my coverall, exposing my white bikini, and stretch out my legs. “Who are the single hotties here today?” My eyes roam the beach as I wiggle my feet excitedly. “There are certainly some nice specimens to admire.”
“Jesus,” Liam mumbles and walks off towards the marquee. I do my hardest not to watch him but fail at the last minute.
“That’s my husband over there,” Cassy says. “Josh.”
The other women point out their hubbies and partners and share how they met and some of the crazy situations that unfolded. Some of their stories are unbelievable. A few I heard about in the news.
After dinner, and as the sun dips into the ocean, a bonfire is lit and we all sing happy birthday to Ryder.
“Thanks for coming,” Ryder says. “My life has changed so much in the past few years, thanks to many of you here. I hung up my uniform, fell in love with one of the most famous women in the world, and we’re about to become parents.”
“I think they lied. I think it's staying inside me forever.” Savannah groans, standing under Ryder’s arm.
He grins down, then kisses her nose.
Beside me on the sand, Liam has his legs tucked up, crossed at the ankle, and the warmth of his body draws me near. I want to lean into him and feel his strong arm around me.
I want what these women have.
Their man.
The man they love.
I want the man I’ve loved all my life, and for the world to know he’s mine. I want to turn my face and have him kiss me like I’m his everything.
I glance at Liam, clearly a glutton for punishment, and his eyes meet mine. A spark of energy ignites between us, and his hand drops, seeking mine in the darkness.
Liam squeezes, and I feel the importance of his action as my heart swells.
This is real.
This is happening.
I just need to be patient.
“Now for your real birthday gift.” Savannah grins, rubbing a hand across Ryder's chest.
“What did you do?” He frowns.
“Hey, guys,” Dave Grohl walks up to the bonfire with a guitar
“Holy shit.” Ryder curses as we all gasp.
“Is that...?” I whisper.
“Grohl from the Foo Fighters.” Liam laughs animatedly. “Fuck, yeah.”
“I hear happy birthday is in order,” Dave says, strumming his guitar. “Got a few songs I think you guys might like. That okay?”
Everyone leaps up and starts dancing as Ryder and Savannah kiss, cheering Dave on.
“All right, let’s go,” the rocker croons then launches into one of his hit songs.
Liam jumps up and holds out a hand.
I hesitate.
Across from us a couple of the BHS security guys who I chatted to earlier wave me over.
“I, ah,” My teeth clamp down on my bottom lip as I see Scarlett watching me. “I should dance with them.”
Liam’s gaze darkens but he knows he has to let me go. “Sure.”