by M. A. Foster
His lips form a straight line. “I don’t want to fight with you either. But we definitely need to talk.”
I nod. “I agree. We’re both carrying a lot of bottled-up emotions, and I don’t want us to start lashing out to try to hurt each other because we’re angry.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Why did you call me that night?”
I lower my head and kick at a small pebble on the ground. “Because….” I sigh. “Honestly, I was feeling pretty emotional—”
“When did that happen?” he deadpans.
I lift my head and narrow my eyes. “Smartass. I’d say about five years ago when the love of my life broke my heart,” I snap and immediately regret it. I turn my head briefly and blow out a breath. “Sorry.”
He nods and averts his gaze.
“I came home for good the weekend of my birthday. It was the best birthday weekend I’ve had since Vegas,” I admit, and he stiffens. “You didn’t call me on my birthday for the first time in seven years, and I don’t blame you at all. The fact that I even expected you to makes me kind of an asshole.” I huff, feeling the tears burning behind my eyes. “But then I ran into Max and his family at dinner, and for a fleeting moment, I was sad, because at one time they were my family, too. I felt like an outsider. Sometimes I still feel that way. Everything about this place reminds me of you. Even when you’re not here, it’s like nothing existed before you—like I never existed before you.” The last part comes out soft, almost a whisper.
Liam sniffs as he fights back his own tears. “Do you remember the first time we met?” he asks.
“You mean when you were perving on me?” I tease.
“Shut it.” He chuckles, dropping his gaze to the ground. “You took my breath away, but at the same time, you felt like a breath of fresh air, if that makes any sense.”
“It does to me.”
He lifts his gaze to meet mine. “You were so young, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I wanted to be in your life without feeling like a creep. I knew you were mine, but I had to wait till the time was right. Yet it felt like the time was never right. Then when I least expected it, you were just there, all dressed up in your pretty green dress. I realized that was my chance. The timing couldn’t have been better. I knew I had to be careful with you because even though you were eighteen, you were still young—not in an immature way but in an innocent way. Every touch, every kiss, every laugh, every smile, every single moment of that night were the best moments of my life. Because in those moments, I was falling in love.”
A tear spills from the corner of my eye and rolls down my cheek.
Liam reaches out and catches it with his thumb. “You were my first love, Vanessa, and I’ve never loved anyone since. I know we have a lot to work through, but I’d like us to start by being friends.”
I sniffle. “I don’t know how to be friends with you anymore.”
“Me either, but we have to start somewhere.”
I toss a lavender bath bomb into the bathtub and strip out of my clothes before sinking into the hot water. Grabbing my phone, I call Katie on FaceTime.
After the third ring, her gorgeous face appears on the screen. “Hey,” she chirps. “Are you in the bath?”
“Yes. It’s been a day.”
Her brows rise. “Oh?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute. How’s London? You shag the hot English guy yet?”
“Cold, rainy, and no.” She snorts. “He’s my boss, V.”
“Mmm, that just makes it even hotter.” I fan myself.
Grinning, she shakes her head. “I need to focus on this project more than I need to get laid.”
“How’s it going?”
“It’s going great. I can’t wait for you to see it when it’s all done. How’s my little Rocky doing?”
I roll my eyes. “Pssh. That little furry asshole is off the chain. Partying all night with his squirrel friends. Completely trashed the tree house,” I deadpan.
Katie throws her head back and laughs.
“Kidding,” I say with a giggle. “He’s fine. He’s definitely aware you’re gone. I think he misses you.”
“Aww, I miss him, too.” She smiles sadly. “So tell me what’s happening on your side of the pond.”
I heave out a deep sigh. “Liam’s home.”
“Season’s over.” It’s not a question. “Have you talked to him yet?”
I press my index finger to my temple and rub in a circular motion to relieve the tension as I fill her in on everything over the past two days.
Katie’s expression is blank when I’m finished.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“I’m processing. What did Gabbi say?”
“In a nutshell, she said my life shouldn’t stop just because Liam’s in town, and I should keep my date with Noah.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“On one hand, I agree, but I’m worried for Noah. He obviously likes you, and if you go out with him, he’s going to think he has a chance with you.”
“I told him up front I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”
“Just be careful, V. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
VANESSA
“I’m meeting Kate for lunch if you want to join us,” Dr. Parker says.
“Who?”
“Kate—Katherine, my wife,” he drawls.
“Oh.” I slap a hand to my chest. “I’ve never heard you call her Kate before. I have a friend named Kate—well, Katie—and I got confused for a second.” I snicker. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m just gonna go over to the deli and grab a sandwich. I’ve got a juicy romance book I’m dying to finish.”
He looks around conspiratorially before leaning in a little closer. “Is it that Grey book? Katherine loves those books.”
I snort. “Congrats, Dr. P., your wife’s a freak.”
“I know.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Ugh.” I roll my eyes. “TMI, James.”
“Enjoy your lunch, Vanessa,” he croons before turning and heading toward his office.
Shaking my head, I try to clear the disturbing image of the Parkers in the red room of pain as I upload the patient information into the system. Once I finish, I log out and head down the hall toward the nurses’ lounge to grab my bag from my locker. As I round the corner, my steps falter when I spot Liam leaning with his back against the wall and arms crossed over his chest.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I walk up to him.
“I was hoping I could take you to lunch. I texted you.”
I wince. I should probably give him my new number. “How’d you know when I was taking lunch today?”
He tilts his head, his lips pulling up on one side.
I smirk. “Okay. But you’re buying.”
I hurry to my workstation to grab my cell from my desk drawer. Liam is waiting for me at the lobby entrance, pushing the door open when he sees me approaching. The two of us walk side by side over to the deli next door. I order a steak and cheddar on ciabatta, and he orders a turkey club on multigrain.
“I’m gonna go grab us a table outside before it gets too crowded.”
Liam waits for our food while I find us a table on the patio. A few minutes later, he arrives with our sandwiches and two bottled waters.
“Your sandwich looks good,” he says as he places it on the table in front of me.
“It’s my favorite.”
Something or someone behind me catches his attention, because his eyes move past me and he winks. I turn around just in time to see Mia and her best friend, Holly, disappear inside the deli.
Suddenly I’ve lost my appetite. I lean back in my chair and stare out at the bay.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Liar. What’s wrong, Vanessa?”
I don’t answer. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him drop his sandwich and reach for me.
He grabs
my chair and turns it so I’m facing him. “What changed in the last five minutes?”
I shake my head. He stares at me for moment. “Mia?”
I look away.
“She told you about us.” It’s not a question.
“I’m not upset that you dated Mia. We were both living our lives. It’s just….” I sigh as I turn to look at him. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
His eyes search my face as he considers my question. “I don’t know how to answer that without sounding like an asshole.”
My brows pinch. “It’s a simple yes or no question, Liam.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not. Mia’s a friend. Do I care about her? Of course. She’s a good person. Do I still have feelings for her? No. And we didn’t date.”
I scoff. “Please don’t.”
“Vanessa,” he growls. “Clearly you are upset if you can’t even eat your lunch. Listen to me. I wasn’t expecting to have this conversation with you so soon, but since you can’t even look at me, we’re having it.”
“I don’t want to hear about your sexual relationship with my coworker—my friend.”
“Stop. I haven’t touched her since January. When I was home for the wedding, I told her about you. That I was still in love with you. We parted ways as friends.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I know. She told me.”
“You and me?” he asks.
That was our way of saying we loved each other. That it was us against the world and nothing could tear us apart.
I turn to face him, eyes wide. “Now’s not the time to have that conversation.”
He raises his brows. “It’s a simple yes or no, Vanessa,” he throws my words back at me.
“There’s nothing simple about it.”
He just stares at me expectantly.
“Yes, okay? Yes. I never stopped, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” he exclaims. “It changes everything. Say it, Vanessa.”
“No. And keep your voice down.” I look around to see if we’ve attracted any attention before turning back to him. “It doesn’t change the fact that you broke my heart so fucking bad, I didn’t think I’d ever recover.”
Dipping his head, he leans closer, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you, but to be fair… you hurt me, too. I’m asking you to give me another chance—to give us another chance. I know we have a lot to work through, and we’ll take it slow. In the meantime, if you want to lash out at me, do it. I’ll take whatever you throw my way, because as long as you’re fighting, it means there’s something worth fighting for.”
“I can’t have lunch tomorrow,” Liam says. “I promised Cam I’d help him paint the baby’s nursery.”
Liam was waiting for me again today, and together we walked over to the deli. Except today, he held my hand.
Yesterday, I spent the rest of my lunch break considering his request, and when he walked me back to work, I told him I was afraid, that I wouldn’t survive another heartbreak, but I would try.
We have a lot to work out, but hashing it out over lunch isn’t ideal; Liam and I are both stubborn, and I can only imagine our conversation would get heated and we’d end up causing a scene.
“Mia will be thrilled. You’ve been monopolizing her girl time,” I quip.
He chuckles, softly. “She’ll get over it.”
“Why doesn’t Cam just hire someone to paint the nursery?”
“I asked him the same thing, and he said he wants to do it. I’m pretty sure this is the only child he’s going to get out of Emerson, so I think he wants to be involved in everything. He says it’s the least he can do for my sister since she’s carrying his son.”
My heart melts. “Aww. They’re having a boy?”
He nods. “Yep. Jameson Trace Parker is due next month.”
“That’s a very strong name. I like it.”
“I’m sure it’s going to take us a few hours, at least. How about I take you to dinner instead?”
Damn it. I was hoping to get through this date with Noah unscathed, but of course, that’s not going to happen.
I take a sip of my water before admitting, “I can’t.”
He narrows his eyes. “Why?”
“I, uh….” I clear my throat. “I have a date.”
His expression turns downright murderous. “With whom?” He enunciates the m.
“Noah Riley.” I wince.
Lips pinched and nostrils flared, he growls, “You’re dating Noah Riley?”
“No.” I bug out my eyes. “I wouldn’t be having lunch with you these past two days if I was dating Noah. It’s our first date.” I hold up a hand. “And before you freak out, I agreed to the date before I even knew you were in town.”
He jerks forward in his seat so he’s just inches from my face, and I flinch. Reaching up, he pushes a stray hair behind my ear, his angry green eyes flicking back and forth over mine. “Go on your date, Vanessa,” he says softly, but I don’t miss the angry undertone. “Put on your sexiest dress, order the most expensive thing on the menu, order dessert, have a drink—but not too many—and dance. At the end of the night, after he drives you home and walks you to the door, thank him for a wonderful date.” His jaw clenches. “Kiss him good night if that’s what you want. Because after Friday, the only person you’ll be dating is me.”
“Liam—”
“Vanessa, we’re supposed to be working on us. There’s no chance of being an us again if you’re dating other men.” Pushing back from the table, he stands and gathers our trash, dumping it in the can as we head out. Then, as if nothing happened, he takes my hand in his, fusing our fingers together as we walk in silence back to the medical center.
Stopping at the door, he kisses me on the forehead and says, “I’ll call you,” before walking away.
Shit, I still haven’t given him my new number.
“Good luck on your date tonight,” Mia calls out to my back, and I toss her a wave as I head to my car.
Work was crazy busy today. I hardly had time to stress over my date with Noah tonight or the fact that I haven’t heard from Liam since he left me standing at the doors of the medical center yesterday. I should’ve canceled with Noah after my first lunch date with Liam, but I decided to take Gabbi’s advice and go anyway.
Last night, I called my dad and asked him to send me Liam’s number, and then I sent Liam a text with my new number. He didn’t respond, and I decided it was best not to poke the bear.
I’m going on my date. I’ll deal with Liam later.
I pluck a new dress from my closet and hang it on the door. It’s one Kelly bought me for my birthday, an emerald green bodycon dress with spaghetti straps and a drape neck. “Put on your sexiest dress.”
Ugh. I press a palm to my forehead.
My phone rings from the nightstand where it’s charging. I walk over to check the screen, hoping it’s Liam, but it’s Jake. Crap. Unplugging my phone, I swipe the screen and bring the phone to my ear. “Hello.”
“Vanessa,” LJ’s sweet voice comes through the line.
“Hey, LJ. How’s it going?”
“We’re going for pizza. Can you come with us?”
I exhale a puff of air through my nose. “No, sweetie. I can’t. I moved, remember?”
“Oh. Where did you move? Can you drive here?”
“No, I can’t. I’m sorry, buddy. I miss you, though.”
“I miss you, too.”
“Have fun tonight at Fuzzy’s, and have a big slice of pizza for me, okay?”
He giggles. “Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Va—” I stab the End button just as Jake’s voice cuts in and then put my phone back on the charger.
“Wow,” Noah says from the doorway. He blinks a few times. “Damn, Vanessa.” He whistles through his teeth as his eyes rake over me from head to toe. “Who knew you were rockin’ all that under those scrubs?”
> “Thanks,” I say with a laugh as I close the door behind me and lock it. I paired the dress with a silver choker and nude heels. Like the dress I wore the night of my birthday dinner, this one is very flattering. I should let Kelly pick out all my clothes from now on.
Noah opens the passenger door of his sleek sports car and helps me inside before rounding the front and slipping behind the wheel.
“So where are we going?” I ask as he backs out of the driveway and heads toward the island.
“Private Affair. Is that okay?” My stomach rolls at the memory of Jake down on one knee asking me to marry him.
“Sounds good.” I offer a polite smile before turning to look out the passenger window.
“Have a drink—but not too many.”
Oh, I’ll be having a drink.
LIAM
“This place is poppin’ tonight,” Dylan says as he looks around Private Affair in amazement.
He’s right. The place is booked solid for the entire night, including the VIP rooms. Dylan and I stand at the railing, drinks in hand, watching as servers scurry from table to table. The dance floor is empty, but once the dinner rush is over and the lights dim, the floor will be packed. I look over my shoulder at where Cam sits in the booth tapping away on his phone, most likely texting my sister.
“I still can’t believe you own this place,” he continues, shaking his head, and I can see the wheels turning. He’s practically salivating to get his hands on Mac’s.
Dylan wants to turn it into an amphitheater to host live music, and he’s looking for investors. My mother would easily hand over the money he needs, but Dylan says he’ll only ask her as a last resort. Personally, I think it’s a good idea, which is why Cam and I are investing. Mac’s has been around for a long time and is mostly overrun by high school and college kids. With all the restaurants and clubs in Pelican Cove, the competition is getting tougher, and I agree it’s time for a change. The building is owned outright by Max, a gift from my mother when he first opened Mac’s. When Marcus died, he left King Records to Jay and Alex, with Jay as a majority shareholder, so Dylan definitely won’t be hurting for talent. I see success in his future, and I’m happy to be part of it.
