by AJ Alexander
“Hey, Liam. What’s going on?”
“I need to do something, anything! Football, video games, beer pong, I don’t care. It needs to be as manly as possible,” I shout into the phone.
“Ah, you’re sitting around waiting for Rachael to call, aren’t you?” Wyatt chuckles in response. “How about you meet me at College in thirty, I’ll call Cole. The girls went to do their thing today anyway.”
“Thank fuck, man, I owe you one,” I sigh as I grab my keys and head out the door, my laundry forgotten.
“I’ve been there. It won’t be the last time you’re sitting at home all torn up over Rachael. Trust me, my friend, those women have us by the balls.”
“And we love them nonetheless,” I respond as I hit the down button on the elevator.
“That we do. That we do,” Wyatt says before hanging up the phone.
It’ll be nice to get out with the guys for a little while. I’ve been so focused on getting Rachael back I haven’t spent time with anyone but her. Maybe they can give me some insight into what it’s like to chase after the woman you love. I’m damn sure both of them would still be chasing after their woman if they had to, I hope Rachael is ready to be caught soon.
24
Rachael
“You’re here!” The hotel room door flies open as Morgan barrels into me, knocking my helmet and bag to the floor. I barely miss slamming into the adjacent wall in the hallway.
“Down tiger. I’d like to make it inside this fancy room you booked for us.” I unwrap Morgan’s arms from around my neck, grab my bag and helmet off the floor, and step into the room. When Morgan said she would get us a room, I didn’t imagine it would be at the Four Seasons. “Mo, I know you want me to feel better, but this room is costing you a fortune.” I turn around to see my best friend smiling sheepishly at me.
“The thing is, I didn’t pay for the room here. Theo did.”
“Come again? I thought he hated you?” I ask, curious about what’s going on between Morgan and her boss. Things are not adding up, not even a little.
“I thought so too, but when I went to work today, I was talking to Consuela, the cook, about hotels in the area. According to Theo, nothing nice and safe was in my budget. He said he would pay for us to stay here for as long as you needed.” Morgan’s face brightened with a smile. “He even gave me tomorrow off so we can spend the day together.”
“Mo, what’s going on with you and your boss?” I continue farther into the room, dropping my bag and helmet onto the bed before having a seat.
“Besides the fact I think I’m in love with him, nothing.” Morgan’s eyes fill with tears.
“Oh, Mo.” I hold my arms open, and she joins me on the bed, burying her face into my shoulder.
“Rach, I never meant for this to happen, but he’s just so perfect. He is like the prince in Beauty and the Beast. He can be all growly sometimes, but mostly, he is so kindhearted and gentle.” She sniffles before sitting up and wiping her eyes. “He doesn’t want me, that’s for sure. I need to get over my schoolgirl crush and be done with it.” She attempts to plaster on a fake smile.
“Mo, if you want to talk about something, anything, I’m always here for you.” I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her in for another hug.
“I know, babe. But enough about me, tell me about Liam and what he’s done to have you all tied up in knots.”
Just by asking me that question, the flood gates open. I hold nothing back and tell Morgan everything. About how I’ve been feeling toward Liam when things started to change, and how the lines are blurring.
“I should still be angry with him, right? I shouldn’t be able to forgive him so easily.” The panic from earlier this morning is setting in again.
“Take a deep breath. There is no right or wrong answer. What you need to do is decided if you are ready to take that chance again. Is he worth the risk?” Morgan gets up from the bed and heads toward the mini bar in the corner. “Since Theo is paying for the room, you want to get wasted on the mini bar and forget about all of this for a little while?”
I laugh at my friend before I push up off the bed to join her. “I can’t remember the last time I let loose. Let’s do it.”
Morgan bends over to reach into the mini fridge and pulls out a bucket of ice. “Okay, we have tequila, rum and some red wine with a name I can’t pronounce.”
“Wait, I thought you said I was an alcoholic for having one drink?” I laugh, but Morgan gets a serious.
“It’s not that, it’s more that I can see the changes in you. I was afraid I was losing my best friend to my replacement, I mean Heather,” she responds with a shy smile.
“Come here.” I grab the bottle of tequila, a glass, and drop a few ice cubes in the glass before pouring the bottle over it. “Drink this. Once you’re finished, you will be part of the club.” Morgan gives me a skeptical look before snatching the glass off the counter and throwing it back. She swallows and gags almost simultaneously.
“What in the world was that?”
“That, my friend, was an initiation. The same one Heather and Addison gave me when they accepted me into the family. There is no need to feel like you are being replaced anymore, now you’re family.”
Morgan smiles and says, “I thought I was family before?”
“You were, but someone had a dumb idea she was being replaced.” I giggle before grabbing another bottle of tequila and pouring myself a drink.
I’m still no closer to knowing what to do about my situation with Liam, but it’s good to know some things will never change. No matter how far apart we are, Morgan will always be there for me — through thick and thin.
“I now remember why I don’t drink that much anymore.” Morgan and I roll out of opposite sides of the king-size bed in our suite at the Four Seasons.
“Don’t be such a baby. We didn’t drink that much,” I whisper because speaking any louder would make my brain explode.
“Speak for yourself. Food?” Morgan whispers as she heads toward the bathroom.
“Yeah, I’ll order. I don’t think I can take people right now.”
“I second that. Make it greasy.”
“You got it, Mo.” She closed the door behind her as I head for the room service menu.
As I examine the menu, I think back to the craziness of last night. Other than drinking our weight in alcohol, we spent most of the night talking about all the dumb shit we did as teenagers and before Jeremiah died. The funny part is, it all involved Liam, and it all stopped after he left.
It’s like the fun left me that day, which is understandable. I mean my brother died, and my boyfriend left me without a word, but I went on with my daily routine. I was functioning, but I wasn’t living. I keep thinking back to something Morgan said before we called it a night.
“You weren’t dead, but you might as well have been. When Jeremiah died, you were coping. You took care of your dad, the house, and helped make the arrangements. But when you went to Liam’s and found out he left, you died inside. It was like something extinguished if the light in your eyes.”
“You’re exaggerating. Yeah, I was heartbroken, anyone would be, but it’s not like I’d kill myself or anything.” I throw a pillow at her for good measure.
Mo catches the pillow but has a serious look on her face. Obviously, she isn’t joking. “No Rachael, I’m serious. You were just going through the motions, but you weren’t all there. My best friend Rachael has just come back to life in the last few months since Liam came back into the picture.”
“What are you saying? I should take him back just because you guys all thought I was depressed or something?” I’m getting defensive, but I thought I was better at hiding the pain I was feeling from those around me.
“No, I want you to think about what it would be like to go back to being the shell of a person when you push him away this time. Do you think he will stick around, or will he leave to make things easier for you?”
I’ve been thinking abou
t the question all night and still haven’t come up with an answer. Can I live the rest of my life without that pain again? Yes. Can I live the rest of my life without Liam? I have no idea.
“How long does it take to order breakfast?” Morgan’s voice startles me from my thoughts.
“Sorry, I was daydreaming again.” I give a nervous laugh before picking up the phone and placing our order. “They said it would be here in about thirty minutes.”
“That’s not long at all. You can take a shower now. Other than my head still pounding, I feel a lot better. I also found some Tylenol in there and left it on the counter, maybe take two before you hop in.”
I smile at her before giving her a huge bear hug. “You’ve always been here to take care of me, even when I didn’t want you to. Thanks.”
“Meh, if I didn’t do it, who else would?” We both laugh before I let her go and head toward the bathroom to shower. After I finish, I head out hoping the breakfast has arrived.
“Perfect timing, the food just got here. Feel better?”
“Much. Thanks for the Tylenol. It will be just enough to get me home.”
Morgan takes a bite of bacon but smiles at me. “So, you made your decision already? I was hoping to get more best friend time.”
I wish I could stay longer, but I know my dad needs me at the shop. I’ve made my decision, I don’t want to keep Liam waiting.
“Yeah, but since you have the day off, you could always hop on the back of the bike and come down with me. You don’t have class ‘til Tuesday.” I give her a hopeful smile.
“Thanks for the offer but riding on the back of a bike for four hours does not seem like something I want to do on my day off. Next time, bring the truck, and you have a deal.”
“You got it. Now give me some of that bacon, I’m starving.” I snatch a piece of bacon off her plate and shove it in my mouth. Morgan gives me a playful growl before she continues eating. We sit in silence for a little while enjoying the food, but if I know my friend, she won’t be able to wait much longer to ask me.
“I can’t take it any longer. What did you decide?” Morgan drops her fork on her plate, waiting for my response.
I smile at her and wait. “Can’t you guess? I’m sure you knew what my answer would be before I even came out of the shower.”
“Smartass. Just make sure you invite me to the wedding.” She picks up her fork and continues to eat.
“No one said anything about a damn wedding.”
“Yet.”
I opened my mouth to respond but decided against it. We could continue like this for hours if we wanted to, it’s better to leave it alone for now. One of us will be right and get the last word.
Finishing up my breakfast, I push back from the table and head over to the bed to grab my stuff. “I need to get going. I want to get home before it gets dark. California drivers have no respect for people on motorcycles.”
“It doesn’t help you like to lane split in traffic.” Morgan rolls her eyes. The two of us have had this conversation a million times.
“It’s perfectly legal. It’s not my fault people can’t learn to check their blind spot for a bike and cars when driving.”
Morgan rolls her eyes as she walks over and hugs me. “Call me when you get to Liam’s. I want to know what he has to say when you tell him.”
I pull back with a shocked expression on my face. “How do you know I’m going to Liam’s and not home?”
“I know you, remember?” She gives me a wink and a smile. “Now get out of here before I change my mind and force you to stay until tomorrow.”
I head for the door, but before I open it to leave, I say, “Thank you, Bitch.” Then blow her a kiss for good measure.
“I love you, Jerk,” she says as the door closes behind me.
25
Liam
It’s been almost twenty-four hours since I last spoke to Rachael, everything seemed to be fine, but I can’t seem to shake this feeling something was off. Not that it’s anything out of the ordinary to want to visit your best friend, but unplanned visits aren’t Rachael’s thing. Besides, when the two of them get together, it means nothing good for me. I’m sure the two of them are trying to figure out a way for Rachael to walk out of my life, but I’m not letting her go without a fight.
I’ve barely gotten any sleep since then. Been doing nothing but tossing and turning, as thoughts of her never coming back or choosing to be with the suit keep running through my head on a continuous loop.
“How’s it hanging?” I’m startled by Heather’s voice directly in front of me.
“Princess, you should wear bells or something. Can you at least wave or something to get my attention, the shouting can kill someone.”
“If you weren’t daydreaming about Rachael, you’d have heard me have a seat in front of you.” Heather huffs before crossing her arms and leaning on the bar. “Afraid our girl has turned tail and ran like you did to her?”
“Way to put things into perspective, Princess. Are you here for a reason or did you need someone new to torture?”
“Wyatt is meeting me here for lunch. Can I say I’m excited he has the job of his dreams, but I wish we had more time to spend together?” Heather looks off into the distance.
“Trouble in paradise? You know Wyatt would never do anything to hurt you, right?” I ask as I make her signature drink. She hasn’t ordered one yet but it seems like she needs a pick me up.
“Of course, he wouldn’t. He may be dumb, but he doesn’t have a death wish. It would just be nice to see each other more.”
“I miss seeing you whenever I want too baby.” Wyatt places a kiss on Heather’s head before taking a seat on the stool next to her.
“What can I get for you man?”
“I’ll take a Red Trolley on Tap. It’s nice to be on the other side of the bar for once.” I chuckle as I turn to grab his beer. Once I fill his glass, I place it in front of him.
“What can I get for you two to eat? You don’t need menus. You spend just as much time here as I do.”
“We’ll take two specials, thanks,” Heather chimes in.
“Did you tell him yet?” Wyatt raises his eyebrow at her waiting for her to do something.
“Tell me what? Are there wedding bells coming?”
Heather scoffs. “Wedding bells are a big no; I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me I want to spend the rest of my life with Wyatt.”
“Nice try, tell him, or I will,” Watt deadpans.
“Fine, be that way. Rachael called Paul and Michael; she is on her way home today from Los Angeles.” Heather waits patiently for me to respond.
“Well that’s good to know. I figured she was ignoring me because of what happened the other night.” I lean over on the bar, releasing the breath I was holding.
“Excuse me? What happened?” Heather looks like a lion ready to pounce.
“Chill out, Princess. I tried to have a serious talk with her about where things were going, and she panicked. Took off and I haven’t heard from her since then.” There is no way I will tell Heather what Rachael and I shared.
“Well now you can stop stressing about what is going on,” Wyatt begins before I cut him off.
“What said I was stressing?”
“Possibly the fact you’ve been cleaning the same section of bar since we began this conversation?” Heather says pointing at my right hand.
I notice I’m rubbing circle on the same section of bar. Immediately stopping, I open my mouth to respond when Heather’s phone rings with “Gangster’s Paradise.”
“What the hell kind of ring tone is that?” I ask.
“The best kind,” she deadpans before answering the call.
I turned to Wyatt and decided to catch up with him while she is on her call, there’s no telling how long she will be on the line.
“Don’t get your hopes up. That’s her general ring tone, if it were Rachael her phone would have blasted the theme song to Wizard of Oz.”
> “‘Cause we are from Kansas.”
“Is it beginning to scare you that she’s starting to make sense?” He smiles before picking up her glass to take a sip.
“Yes, thoroughly,” I chuckle before heading toward the other end of the bar to take another order. I’m gone for maybe five minutes before I catch my name being shouted. I finish taking the order and turn to put it in the system, but before I can get that far, I see Wyatt hop over the bar and come barreling toward me.
“You need to get your shit and go,” he says with no additional explanation.
“I don’t understand. You don’t even work here anymore. You can’t be back here.”
“I already called Tim. I’ll work the rest of your shift. You need to go. Now.” He takes the order slip from me and lifts the bar door and pushes me into the restaurant area.
“What the fuck is going on?” I shout, the confusion clear in my voice.
Heather steps into my field of vision and grips my cheeks, holding my head in place. “Liam, I need you to listen. Rachael was in an accident.” The world seems to stop moving right at that moment. “Take a deep breath and don’t panic. She’s okay, nothing major is broken. Just some road rash and some bumps and bruises. That was Paul, that called. I assumed you would want to go see her immediately.”
I feel someone push a set of keys into my hand, turning to my right I see Wyatt standing there. “Take my truck. You’re in no condition to be on the bike right now.” I nod my head in response, still trying to process everything that is going on around me.
Heather pats me on the shoulder to get my attention again. “Remember everything will be okay. She is at UC San Diego, it’s only a few blocks from here. I think she was coming to see you.” She gives me a wink.
“This is no time to be making jokes,” I grumble, trying to hold back my smile at the thought of her rushing to see me.
“He lives! I was waiting for you to say something. Now get out of here and make sure our girl is alright. I’ll hang out here with Wyatt for the next hour or so until your shift is over.” Heather places a gentle kiss on my cheek.
