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“Scotch. Neat.”
“Manhattan for me,” she told the bartender, who got to work on our drinks.
“So what’s the deal with them?” I gestured toward Liam.
I already knew what the deal with them was, but I needed to act as if I’d just met them mere days ago, especially around Melanie. A twinge of guilt settled in my stomach over the idea that I wasn’t just deceiving Imogene, but also Melanie.
She was truly innocent in all of this.
Although lately, I’d been having doubts about Imogene, too. Maybe she hadn’t betrayed me like I originally thought.
Maybe she hadn’t forgotten about me.
“It’s complicated.”
Melanie thanked the bartender as he handed us our drinks. Then we returned to the table.
“Gin’s has always felt a sort of responsibility to Liam. His mother was killed when he was ten. The victim of a serial killer.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I responded, feigning compassion.
“I assume you know who Imogene is. Her…background.”
I kept my expression even. “What makes you say that?”
“You somehow knew she all but salivated over the dress she’s currently wearing and sent it to her. Call me crazy, but I don’t think it was a coincidence.” She gave me a pointed stare.
“And what makes you think I was the one who sent it?”
“There was a note wishing her a happy birthday. WishingImogenea happy birthday. And since you’re the only one who calls her Imogene…”
I studied her for a beat, then pushed out a breath, knowing full well she wouldn’t let this go. Melanie Burnham was nothing if not tenacious.
“I’ve had a few guards following her from a distance,” I confessed, then quickly added, “but only this week. I wanted to make sure she was safe. That’s all.”
I didn’t tell her the person I was trying to protect Imogene from was currently parading her around the patio like she was yet another one of his prized possessions.
“I can only assume if you’d go to that much trouble, you probably also ran a background check and learned precisely who her sperm donor is.”
I nodded subtly.
“Well, he killed Liam’s mom. As part of coming to terms with who she was, Imogene reached out to all of her father’s victims, Liam included.”
“And they became friends?”
She pinched her lips together in contemplation. “I think they gave each other what the other was looking for.”
“And what’s that?”
“Answers. Understanding. Forgiveness.”
“I see.” I brought my glass to my lips and took a long sip, my gaze focused on Imogene.
“I understand that Liam can be a bit…intense. And sometimes Imogene acts the way she does because she feels a certain level of responsibility to him. Or maybe guilt. Take this party, for example.” She waved her hand at our surroundings. “If it were up to her, she’d spend her birthday on her surfboard. Or holed up in some cabin with no electricity or cell service where no one could find her. She doesn’t need all of this.”
“But she puts up with it to make Liam happy.”
“More or less.”
