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Liv deliberated over this a moment. She’d never really given much thought to their previous lack of funds; not that she was so far removed from reality that she didn’t recognize the class differences that had existed when they were all in school together, but overall, Liv saw people, not stock portfolios.
So she told Tristan, “I sincerely appreciate your generosity and am thrilled to the bone that you chose so wisely. Just know it’s never expected.”
He was quiet for several suspended seconds. This perplexed Liv.
“Tristan?” Had she said something to offend him? She was appreciative. But she certainly wasn’t anticipating the royal treatment just because these guys now had money. It was their money, after all. Hard-earned and well-deserved. Not only did she comprehend that, but she was happy for their success.
He eventually told her, “Men like to give gifts, Liv. And you’re worth every penny.”
She practically melted in her Jimmy Choo shoes. “Such a sweet talker. I will simply say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I can’t wait to wear this sensational dress at your party. On Nate’s yacht. Damn.” She let out a soft laugh. “What movie set did I inadvertently stumble upon?”
“You’ll like the Ariana. Every amenity you could possibly dream of, but best of all? A three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of Bayfront, the cove, and the big blue ocean beyo
nd.”
As gorgeous as Tristan’s big blue eyes. Liv said, “I will admit, I am dying to take in the scenery from all those angles. You know how I love the water.”
“You were the one who coerced me and Nate to take out a small sailboat in the harbor when we were eleven.”
“Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about that. Though . . . I wouldn’t say coerced. That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think? I prefer the word charmed. I charmed you into sailing. And it was a beautiful experience, wasn’t it?”
“From whose point of view?” he asked. “Nate tacked; failed to warn me. The boom came flying my way; I failed to duck. And—holy shit! Over the side of the boat I went.”
Liv spewed the wine she was sipping. Her laughter filled the condo.
Tristan chidingly said, “That was precisely your response from the pier. I could hear you!”
“You were perfectly fine. You were wearing a life vest,” she reminded him as she grabbed a dish towel to sop up the mess on her counter.
“I couldn’t swim.”
“You lie. You dog-paddled your way to the dock, and Fallon and I hauled you out of the water.” Then Liv had hopped into one of the other yacht club courtesy sloops to guide Nate back into the marina before he’d crossed into the choppier ocean.
“I loved our little excursions,” she told Tristan. “You guys were willing to try anything I suggested.”
“Let’s not reminisce about the debacle that was our first ski trip.”
“It was a sprained ankle, not a broken one. Nathaniel—Nate—” she had to get used to that—“even agreed to give snowboarding a whirl a couple months later, after he was fully healed.”
“I swear, you could have talked us into climbing Mt. Everest with you.”
Liv splashed more wine into her glass as she said, “I solemnly believed you two could do it. Neither of you were short on steel nerves or avid curiosity, that’s for sure.”
“Only because you goad—charmed—us.”
She laughed again. “Just admit that you always had fun, no matter the outcome. I mean, even that less-than-stellar landing you had when skydiving cannot mar the fact that you actually jumped out of an airplane at thirteen thousand feet on the day we graduated high school. Those tandem freefalls were epic!”
“I heaved in the men’s bathroom ten minutes later.”
“But the point, Tristan, is that you did it! You jumped!”
“Why yes, I did. And it was epic. Completely and utterly reckless, but epic nonetheless.”
“We were with trained professionals,” she deadpanned.
“I’m not entirely certain that’s a valid rebuttal, honey.”
She sipped, then said, “No guts, no glory. Come on, you like walking on the wild side.”
