Page 97 of Twisted Beauty

“You’re not starting a love column,” Garrett said from a few feet away. “Christ, Sebastian.”

“Heavens no. We’re talking about the Antichrist, sweet cheeks,” Sebastian called back, and then winked at Matt. “Does this have to do with your little love muffin? Did you say something boorish to send her rushing off like that?”

Matt sighed. Was he really going to have a conversation with a guy who thought he was the modern day Dr. Ruth? “That’s her ex-fiancé over there. He’s on camera announcing he’s still planning to marry her, that she agreed to meet with him.”

“If that were true, would she have scurried away like a scared kitten?” Sebastian waved his hand in a flourish.

Matt shrugged. “Fuck if I know.” He took a breath. Maybe Sebastian had a point. Still, Liv had been acting strange all day.

“He may be right,” Nate chimed in. “Although women don’t tend to make a whole hell of a lot of sense. God knows what her problem is.”

“Word,” Zach said.

Sebastian waved them off. “Don’t be so obtuse. I saw how she looked at you this weekend, hot stuff. I saw her eyeing your package.”

“Sebastian—” Garrett called out in a warning.

“Mind your own business, lover. We’re talking here.”

Matt glanced at Garrett and caught Elle watching him with sad eyes. Damn, could this day get any worse?

“All I’m saying,” Sebastian said as he turned his back on Garrett and folded his arms dramatically, “is that was not the face of a girl who’s planning to accept a proposal from some other schmuck. Have you tried calling her?”

“No.” Matt shoved his hands in his pockets. What the hell would he say at this point? He’d already asked her what was wrong and she’d walked away. He’d texted her and gotten no reply.

“Gracious. You men are all alike.” Sebastian hung his head.

Matt couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I can’t call. It’s too damn loud out here for a deep and meaningful conversation. Maybe I’ll just head over to Katie’s and talk to her face-to-face.”

“Hallelujah.” Sebastian threw his hands in the air. “I knew you were more than just a pretty face. Go get your girl, tiger.”

“I’ll give it a try. And thanks, Sebastian. You’re not terrible at this advice game after all.”

Sebastian fluffed his hair like he was preening. “That’ll be forty pesos. Of course, I’d accept a shoulder massage instead. The kind you gave your honey in the bubbles last night, with those big, strong hands.”

Matt gaped at him for a second. “You were out— Never mind. I don’t want to know. I need to get going.”

“I’ve got a three-hundred-pound duffel to drop off at Katie’s,” Zach said, gesturing to an overstuffed bag on the ground by his feet. “If you give me a lift, I’ll distract Katie long enough for you to have a chat with your love muffin.”

Sebastian clapped his hands. “It’s a sign from the universe.”

“It’s a sign his girlfriend spends too much on clothes,” Nate said.

“Fine, but let’s go.” Matt picked up his duffel, said his goodbyes, and started toward his house.

Zach followed behind. “Jesus, man. Slow the hell down. It’s not like she’s marrying the guy in the next five minutes.”

Maybe not. But he wasn’t waiting any longer for answers. “Do you want a ride or not?”

23

Liv

“Tequila Therapy. That’s what you need.”

Liv didn’t reply as the taxi pulled into the driveway to drop them off. Tequila was the last thing she needed right now.

She slid out of the taxi and slung her duffel over her shoulder. While she waited for Katie to settle up with the driver, she reread her latest text message from Grant, as if it might have changed in the ten minutes since it popped up on her screen.