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In his sedan, Callie sat in the front, and Sam and Meg sat in the back.
“Sam, how are you feeling today?” She glanced back over the seat.
“I feel better than I have in months.”
“That’s great.” Callie squeezed Liam’s hand, but he concentrated on traffic. The truth wasn’t just eating at him; it engulfed his soul, thoughts, and probably the lining of his stomach.
Sam wrapped an arm around Meg. “Can’t wait to climb Everest next spring.”
Callie’s head swiveled to Liam. They stopped at a stoplight. “Next spring?”
Meg’s voice came out tight, “I’m sorry, what?”
“I’m planning to climb Everest next spring. Gonna be a great time. I’ve been trying to talk Liam into going with me.”
The car quieted.
“I knew it.” Meg moved away from Sam. “You’re not dying.” There was a pissed, but hopeful, twinge to Meg’s statement.
Sam caught Liam’s eye in the rearview mirror. “Shit. Sorry, bro.”
He didn’t want to look at Callie. She’d trusted him. He hadn’t lied, but he didn’t stop the fabrication. Guilt by omission—the term wasn’t in the law books, but maybe it should be.
“Liam, what’s going on?” Her hand settled on his.
Telling her meant taking the hit. Trent knew that. Liam had played along and hadn’t had the guts to say something because he didn’t want to give her a reason to leave. He needed her and wanted her, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the truth, and no argument would ever be enough to make her stay.
Liam opened his mouth, but a car behind them honked when the light had been green for a while.
“Your ex-boyfriend lied to you, Cal.” Meg beat him to the punch. “Again.”
Callie’s eyes clouded with confusion. “What? Liam?”
Liam never froze in court. He’d been thrown curve balls by litigators, and he’d never missed a beat. But now, his heart skipped beats, and he struggled to come up with a good reason to argue.
There’s no good reason.
“Stop the car and let us out, Mr. Young.” Meg tapped on his shoulder.
“I don’t understand. Sam doesn’t have cancer?”
Meg slipped forward on the leather seat. “Callie, Trent lied about Sam being sick. I’d guess he fucked up and his bride wanted her brother at her wedding, so he lied to you about Sam’s health to pull at your heartstrings and he could be the fucking hero.” Meg put the pieces together too perfectly. But it was still a broken story in the end. “I said, stop the fucking car, Liam.”
“You lied to me?” Callie stared at Liam. He pulled on his tie. “Sam’s not dying?”
Callie seemed to want to go back to when she thought his brother was sick. Liam didn’t. The truth was out. He would salvage this.
“Callie, let me explain.”
Sam shook his head. “I never was sick, Callie.”
Callie opened her door while the car was moving. “I … I can’t.”
Liam slammed on the brakes. “Just let me pull into a parking lot, please.”
“No, I can’t be near you. I trusted you.”
He shoved the car into park with cars honking behind them.
