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Liam flung a friendly arm over my shoulder and guided me across the parking lot to his truck. “My pleasure. How are you feeling?”
“Tired. Embarrassed.” I told him all about falling asleep in my car when I should have been meeting the girls for happy hour. “I still can’t believe it.”
His laugh came out deep and rumbly, like honeyed bourbon. “That’s another skill,” he said with a shrug.
“Now you’re just trying to be nice.”
“Not at all. The ability to sleep anywhere has served me well, in foster care and in the Navy.”
“Foster care? But you said your dad…,” I smacked my forehead. “Sorry. Not my business.”
“It’s all right,” he said and started the engine. “My dad had shit taste in women for most of my life. Because of that, I spent a few years in the care of the state.”
“How many is a few?” I knew I was interrogating him but I was genuinely curious.
“Worried about the baby’s bloodline?”
“No, I just want to know how long it took him to get his shit together.”
His lips curled into a soft smile that did wicked things to my body. My nerve endings. “Aw, worried about nine year old me?”
“Are you gonna answer me?”
“Six years,” he said easily, as if it was no big deal.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need your pity Olive.”
“It’s not pity,” I told him. “Believe me. Growing up with an indifferent aunt who only took me in because it was the good Christian thing to do, was probably more worthy of pity.”
Liam’s grip tightened on the steering wheel and his jaw clenched. “Let’s save comparing those battle scars for another night.”
“Never, you mean.” It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did though I kept that to myself. “Fine by me.”
Liam let out a heavy sigh that I couldn’t quite decipher and honestly, I didn’t think I wanted to know what he was thinking. “I didn’t mean…never mind.” Ah, there it was. He was frustrated, possibly annoyed so we made the rest of the short drive in silence. Tense, awkward silence.
As soon as the car came to a stop in front of my house, I pushed open the door and jumped out as if was an escape attempt. I had to, the tension was too thick and I felt too…on edge. Liam had a way of making me feel silly and ridiculous and I hated feeling that way, promised myself I would never let anyone make me feel that away again. And I’d doubled down on it after the disaster known as Wyatt. “Thanks for the ride,” I called over my shoulder, still moving towards my front door.
“No problem,” his deep voice sounded right behind me and I gasped, whirled around with a glare aimed right at him.
“You scared the bejeesus outta me! You’re not working Liam, no need to go into ninja mode.” His lips twitched in amusement and there it was, that feeling of being laughed at. Again.
“Sorry. What’s the hurry?”
“No hurry,” I told him and turned away once again. The front door was just a few short steps away and if I hurried, I could end the interaction right now. “I’m home and I’m sure you have places to be or whatever so, thanks for the ride.”
“You already said that.”
“I’m grateful, deal with it. Thank you, Liam. Again.”
“Come on, Olive. I feel like I’m always saying the wrong thing around you.” The remorse in his voice stopped my feet. “It’s not my intention.”
I nodded because I knew that. He might have issues with commitment but otherwise, Liam was a good guy. A decent man. “I know it’s not. We just seem to bring out the worst in each other.” Not a good start to raising a child together, but asking for a good working relationship might be too much and I should settle for civility. “That’s all right, you know? This was unexpected and I don’t expect you to like me just because I’m carrying your baby.”
Liam opened his mouth to say something but I didn’t want to hear some half-hearted attempt to make me feel better and more than that, I didn’t want it. “Olive.”
“It’s all right Liam, really. We’ll figure it out.” I rushed up the steps, nearly tripping over nothing but my own feet.
“Careful,” he said as one big hand wrapped around my arm. “Maybe take this as a sign that you shouldn’t keep running from me.” Liam laughed at the glare I sent his way and it made me mad.
No, I wasn’t mad. I was pissed. I wasn’t some joke to be laughed at. Maybe it was time to throw him off his guard. “Why not? You seem to prefer the distance Liam.”
“That was then.”
Wasn’t there some ancient proverb warning women to be wary of handsome men making overnight changes? If not, there should be. “Okay.”
