by Dana Delamar
I spotted an empty table across the club. I checked in with some other tour members along the way, asking how things were going and if they needed anything. To my immense relief, everyone appeared to be having a great time and were looking forward to the England portion of our trip.
I settled onto a stool at a tall table to listen to the band that was starting up and await Carter’s arrival. The lead singer and the guitarist were both quite cute, and I could see why Ken liked their music. As I finished off the last drop of my margarita, a fresh one was placed in front of me. My eyes shot to the waiter. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but I didn’t order this. It must be for someone else.”
“No mistake, ma’am.” The waiter pointed to a tall, blond man standing at the bar. “That gentleman sent it over.”
“Is that so?” I smiled at the blond. What could it hurt? I was hardly alone, and Carter would be joining me soon. Raising the drink in his direction, I mouthed “Thank you.”
Drink in hand, the blond approached, stopping just short of my table. He indicated the empty stool across from me. “May I?”
His accent was American, from New England, if I were to guess. I held my hand out toward the stool. “Please.”
My heart skipped a beat when he took my hand and kissed the back of it. Laughing nervously, I pulled it out of his grip and tucked it into my lap.
Relax, Paige. The man was flirting with me, that was all. As he took a seat, I introduced myself. “I’m Paige. From Miami.”
“Hello, Paige from Miami. I’m Carter from Vermont.”
His deep voice washed over me like a warm ocean wave, and it took a few seconds for what he’d said to register. “Carter? What a coincidence. I’m… traveling with a Carter.”
The man grinned. “Don’t tell me he’s from Vermont too.”
Was he? Had Carter ever said where he was from? For some reason, Vermont sounded right.
“How strange,” I murmured, before saying a little more loudly, “Either way, I imagine there are quite a few Carters in Vermont.”
“And they’re probably all better-looking than me,” Carter said, his mouth drawing down into a sad expression.
Obviously, he was joking. The man had to know how attractive he was. “Oh, I don’t know about that.” Playing along, I batted my lashes in an exaggerated fashion. “You seem pretty good-looking to me.” Would Carter like him too? He did remind me of Hamish, who Carter had definitely been attracted to. Maybe the threesome we’d fantasized about could come true.
“Why thank you, Paige. I must say I wasn’t expecting to meet someone like you here tonight.”
“Oh?” Did he mean someone old like me? Granted, I wasn’t the youngest patron, but I wasn’t the oldest either. Besides, this Carter looked to be only a few years younger than me, if the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were to be believed.
“Are you kidding? I was expecting to have to wade through a bunch of twenty-year-olds with shaved heads and bad teeth. You, my dear, are a definite breath of fresh air.”
“My, my. You are quite the flirt. Are you a politician, Carter, or maybe a diplomat?”
He scoffed and took a drink of his beer. “Hardly anything quite so lofty. I’m just your average over-worked, under-paid public school teacher.”
From where I sat, there was nothing average about the man. He was gorgeous, with his broad shoulders and trim waist. “A teacher. Really?” I cocked my head to the side, observing Carter, imagining him in a classroom full of children all clamoring for his attention. It fit. “I’ve always admired teachers. I don’t know how they deal with so many kids at once. I’d go crazy.”
He chuckled. “The kids are nothing. The parents?” His eyes widened and he shuddered. “Sca-aaary.”
“I can imagine.” I smiled, remembering my own clashes with the parents of some of Emma’s classmates. “What do you teach?”
“Special education. I’ve specialized in children with developmental disabilities, such as autism and intellectual disability.”
“Intellectual disability. Does that include Down syndrome?”
“Yes, among other conditions.”
“What made you specialize in that direction?”
“My younger brother has severe autism, and I realized that there are fewer programs available for kids like him, who have little chance of mainstreaming. I feel like they often get forgotten in the shuffle, which certainly doesn’t help them as they get older.”
Hearing Carter put into words everything I’d felt about Emma’s education, my heart contracted and heat spread throughout my chest. There’d been so many struggles, so many ups and downs. And in the end, I’d felt almost blessed that Emma had mosaic Down syndrome rather than one of the other types. Her intellectual disability was minimal compared with that of many other people with Down syndrome.
I swallowed to clear the emotions clogging my throat. “No child left behind has left more than a few behind,” I said.
“Are you a teacher too?”
“Oh no. But, I have a… niece who has Down syndrome, and I’ve heard a lot about her difficulties with the school and various government programs.”
Carter’s bright blue eyes connected with mine, seeming to see everything I wanted to keep hidden. He placed his hand on top of mine where it rested next to my glass. “I’ve had some delightful and very memorable students with Downs over the years. There’s something so joyful and honest about them. They make you see life through their eyes.”
“And it’s all one big party, isn’t it?” Emma had been a bundle of excitement during our earlier video call as she’d explained to me her entire visit to the zoo with Ari. I sipped my margarita and thought about Carter’s words. He seemed to really understand what it was like to have a child with special needs like Emma.
If we didn’t live hundreds of miles apart, I could really see myself becoming friends with him. His quiet confidence made me feel safe, like I’d met a kindred soul.
“So.” Carter cleared his throat. “You’re on a trip? Work or pleasure?”
How to answer that? This trip had turned out to be both work and pleasure. More pleasure than work, if I were being honest. Carter had seen to that. I couldn’t help the small smile that curved my lips. “I’d say this has been one heck of a vacation so far.”
His eyes glimmered with mischief as he leaned in close and whispered, “I have a question for you, Paige from Miami: How do you feel about vacation flings?”
“As it turns out, Carter from Vermont,” I said with a wink, “I rather enjoy them.”
RILEY
Man, I can’t wait to see her again. I walked into the Cavern Club, scanning the crowd for Paige. When I spotted her, my stomach did that funny little flip I’d been getting ever since I’d first met her. What did it mean?
You know what it means, Kendrick.
Maybe. Maybe that’s what it meant.
She was talking to someone, a man whose back was to me. It definitely wasn’t Kenji, Mr. Clark, or David Laughton. The broad shoulders and thick, flaxen hair made that clear. I stepped sideways so I could see the guy’s profile, and my heart leapt to my throat. It was Carter. Holy shit!
My pulse pounded with excitement. What was Carter doing in Liverpool?
And why was he talking to Paige, of all people?
I started toward them, then stopped. Maybe I ought to observe them for a second before I barged over there.
Carter already knew about Paige, but what was I going to tell her?
I went over to the bar and ordered a vodka Collins, then sipped it while I studied them.
Carter was smiling at Paige, casually touching her arm. And she was definitely smiling back. He was listening to her attentively, his eyes focused on hers. God, he was a good listener. He sucked you in with those blue eyes, the depth of his attention…
Shit. Carter was hitting on her. I was almost sure of it. When he leaned in and whispered something in her ear, his arm brushed the side of her breast. Classi
c Carter move. I’d seen it often enough to know.
A strange thrill ran through me. Shouldn’t I be jealous? But that wasn’t what I was feeling. Not at all. They looked good together. They’d look even better naked together in my bed. I took another sip of my drink. I’d fantasized about the three of us before. I’d written scenes of us together in the story I was working on right now.
And the idea turned me the fuck on.
Maybe it could really happen. I’d have to figure out how to approach them, how to broach the subject with her. She’d already sort of agreed to it…
Carter turned and our gazes clashed. His face lit up, and I was off the barstool and over to them before I could give it too much thought.
He rose from his seat and opened his arms to me. “Man, did I miss you, Riley,” he said, tugging me into his embrace and planting a big kiss on my mouth.
I kissed him back, my eyes flicking to Paige, whose jaw was hanging open. Fuck.
I pulled back from him and looked at her, trying to think how to explain.
“Riley?” she said, her eyes widening. “Oh my God. You’re Riley Kendrick. And all this time, you’ve been calling yourself Carter Templeton.” Her gaze swung to Carter. “Let me guess. That’s your name.”
Carter stepped away from me, his gaze darting between us. “What the hell, Riley?”
Paige rose from her chair, her eyes blazing. She grabbed her purse. “You can add ‘liar’ to the list.” She stomped off, and I started toward her when Carter’s hand clamped around my bicep.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” he asked, his tone clipped.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I turned to him. “Yeah it’s her. What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d surprise you.”
I half smiled. “I’m surprised, all right.”
“I’ll bet.” He crossed his arms.
I needed to talk it out with him, but right now I needed to talk to Paige more. She was at a severe disadvantage. She’d had no idea about Carter.
And I should’ve told her before now.
I touched his cheek, and he jerked back. Damn it. “Listen, I have to go make sure she’s okay. But stay here. I’m coming right back. I’ll explain everything.”
“There’s nothing to explain.”
I took a deep breath. This might earn me a punch in the face, but it was worth the risk. I stepped close to Carter, placed my hands on his cheeks, and kissed him. “Please wait for me. We’ll talk when I get back.”
He reached up and took hold of my hands, gently pushing them away, his eyes pools of hurt. “Fine. Not like I have anything else to do.” He picked up what looked like a shot of whiskey and downed it, before shouldering past me and heading for the bar.
Goddammit. I watched his retreating back. I’d fucked this all up, hadn’t I?
Maybe I could fix it. I had to try.
I hurried over to the hotel and up to Paige’s room. I pounded on the door. “Paige, open up. It’s me, Riley.”
I waited, listening to her approach the door. She yanked it open. “Go back to your boyfriend. I’m going to bed. Alone.” She slammed the door in my face.
“Paige!”
The door flew open again, and she stepped out, jabbing a finger into my chest. “I asked if you were involved with someone, and you said no.”
“You asked if I was married. I’m not.”
“You have a boyfriend!”
“We were on a break.” I hesitated, then added, “But, yeah, Carter is my boyfriend.”
That was the first time I’d said it. Boyfriend. It felt… right. Hopefully Carter would think so too—if he ever gave me the time to explain.
“On a break? Boyfriend? Not married?” She threw her hands up in the air. “Semantics!”
“I’m sorry, Paige. I should have realized—”
“That you weren’t being honest? Yeah, you should have realized that, and you should have had the decency to try it out for a change.” She shook her head. “But what should I expect from the infamous Riley Kendrick?”
My shoulders slumped. I was so tired of people believing all the lies. I’d hoped she’d be different, now that she’d spent some time with me. “What you see in the press, that’s not me.”
“But the books? That is all you, right?”
I nodded. Had she read the third book yet? Did she understand what had happened? “Did you finish the trilogy?” I asked, my voice rasping in my throat.
“Not yet. And I’m not going to now.”
She went to slam the door shut, and I put out a hand to block it, wedging my foot against the wood at the same time. I could barely look her in the eye. I’d never meant to hurt her, and I had. I was every inch the asshole Ken had accused me of being. “Please finish them, Paige. And then we should talk.”
Something softened in her gaze. “Okay.” She pushed against the door, tears starting to well in her eyes.
Please don’t cry. I reached out, touching her cheek. “I fucked up. I’m sorry. Please… Let me explain.”
She sighed, and put her hand over mine, holding my palm against her cheek, closing her eyes for a second. Then she nodded. “We’ll talk tomorrow. When I can think straight.” She stepped back and I released the door. It swung shut, and I stared at the white painted wood for a moment, my gut one big knot.
Could I fix things with her? With Carter?
I hoped to God I could. I headed down the hall, back to the Cavern Club.
Carter, please wait for me to figure this out.
CARTER
Standing at the bar, I deliberately avoided looking toward the exit. I didn’t want to see Riley chasing after Paige. For fuck’s sake, I had come all this way, over three thousand miles, to see him, because after the calls and text messages, I’d felt certain our relationship had reached the next level. What had happened? Less than five minutes after our “epic” reunion, I was alone.
Again.
Should I have gone after Riley? Insisted that we talk then and there?
Isn’t that what you always do? Chase after Riley?
That was what made this so awful. Seeing him run after Paige like that… I pressed a hand to my chest in an attempt to massage away the ache in my heart. This proved it then, didn’t it? Our so-called relationship didn’t mean to him what it meant to me. I’d come after him, only to have him dump me and go after Paige.
It was her Riley wanted.
And could I blame him? Hadn’t I been flirting with her myself? Hadn’t I secretly, in some twisted part of my brain, been feeling her out as a potential third for me and Riley?
Guess the joke was on me.
It was finally my turn at the bar. I glanced at the menu. “I’ll have a pint of Green Beret IPA and a shot of whiskey, please,” I said to the bartender. I was definitely in need of the hard stuff tonight. “Make it a double.”
Would Riley even return to get me? I hoped so, or I’d be sleeping on some park bench tonight. Good thing it was warm and not raining.
A thought hit me, sudden and hard, like lightning. What if Riley and Paige were sharing a room? I shook my head. I really hadn’t put enough thought into this trip. What a fucking stupid idea it had been to fly to Liverpool.
Someone bumped into my side. A good-looking Asian man, tall and lean, with a swimmer’s build. He looked to be about Riley’s age. He flashed me a broad smile, showing his gleaming pearly whites, as he laid a twenty pound note on the counter. “Drinks are on me.”
I frowned and reached for my wallet. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
“Please. No one should ever be as sad as you look in the birthplace of the Beatles.”
“Man’s got a point, mate,” the bartender said, palming the cash.
Knowing when it was best to go with the flow, I acquiesced. “As long as the next round’s on me.”
“I do love a man who knows when to submit.” The Asian guy ran his hand lightly along my arm. “By the way, I’m Kenji.”
“Kon’nichiwa, Kenji-san,” I
said, totally showing off the bit of Japanese I’d learned from watching anime.
“Please, no need to be so formal. I’ve lived in the States too long for that. Ken or Kenji will do.” Ken smiled and rested his head on his hand as though waiting for something.
“Oh, right. Sorry.” I held my hand out. “I’m Carter.”
“Oh, so you’re—” Ken’s smile broadened, and he pressed down on his bottom lip with his teeth. “Not Chris Hemsworth’s younger brother Liam.”
I blushed and put on a bad Australian accent. “Unfortunately not, mate.”
Kenji picked up his drink. “I’ve got a table over here. Join me?”
What the hell. I was alone anyway. I followed him to a table for four near the stage. Two women sat there, giggling as they checked out the men gathered in front of a band performing some sort of indie rock. I had never been into music much, but when I did listen to it, I preferred ’70s classic rock or ’80s pop. Yeah, yeah. I was old school, and I knew it. No wonder Riley and I had been doomed. The guy embodied everything young and cool.
As we took our seats, I expected Kenji to introduce me to the women, but instead, he leaned over to one and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and helped her friend gather her things, and together they exited the club.
“What was that about?” I asked with only mild curiosity. I was far more interested in my double shot of whiskey.
“Lori’s had too much to drink, and I promised a friend I’d make sure she got back to the hotel safely. Vicki agreed to see her to her room.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Was it?” Ken grinned. “Maybe I just wanted you all to myself.”
I raised my glass, and clinked it against Kenji’s sweet-looking green drink. “Looks like you got your wish.”
“Lucky moi.” Kenji winked. “So tell me, what brings you to Liverpool?”
