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Liam stands. “Same again?”
I nod and my stomach knots at his shift in attitude. I’ve pissed him off. I hate that he’d confided in me and I told Lou.
When he returns, Liam sits a little further from me, and a prickly heat of disappointment travels across my back. We sit quietly for a while as the group around us grows louder. The more awkward this becomes, the more I drink. I should’ve stayed at what counts as my home currently.
“I should’ve stayed at home,” remarks Liam.
I look up. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Oh? Didn’t you want me here?”
“No, I meant me. I don’t fit here.”
Liam laughs. “Neither do I. I never did before, and I still don’t now.”
“What do you think you would’ve done if Blue Phoenix hadn’t found success? I can’t imagine you sticking around here.”
“Dunno. Maybe worked as a mechanic like Dad.”
“I could picture that,” I say.
“What? Scruffy and covered in oil?”
“You always were scruffy and in need of a shower.”
“Cheeky! I was a teenage boy. Plus I had my up and coming rock star image to maintain.” The teasing smile Liam often has returns.
I bite my tongue away from commenting how that same image is now hot as hell, but I expect he knows. A Californian actress certainly does. It’s killing me not to ask about her, but judging by his reaction ten minutes ago that’s be a bad idea.
The atmosphere between us relaxes as we continue chatting about the past. The friends around us paired off and discuss the ins and outs of their lives, issues, and people I know nothing about. I couldn’t join in the conversation if I wanted to. How amusing this single mum has more in common with a rock star than the people around her. Neither of us belongs even though we’d like to.
“Do you think nobody is talking to me because they’re in awe of my fame?” Liam whispers and when I turn to admonish him, I spot the glint in his eye.
“No, probably because you’re not very interesting.”
He gasps and places a hand over his heart, rings catching the light. “That hurts!”
I shake my head. “I’m not exactly the life and soul of the party.”
“I don’t mind. This means I can keep you all to myself.”
The comment comes as I’m drinking and I gulp down the tonic attempting not to choke. I glance at him, eyes watering. “Don’t,” I say quietly.
“Why? It’s true.” Liam’s hand rests on the table and our fingers touch. He curls his little finger around mine sending a shockwave through my body and my life. If he’s worried news his engagement is off will spread, cosying up with me in public strikes me as odd.
I tug my hand away and sit on them both. “How much have you had to drink?”
He smirks. “Not as much as you, Cerys.”
“It’s not fair of you to tease me.”
“I’m not teasing you. Why do you say that?”
I rub my lips together and lean forward to whisper, “The kiss. Now talking about Honey. This isn’t fair—I told you in the garden yesterday.”
“I don’t want to talk about Honey. I don’t even want to think about her.”
Every time Honey is mentioned, I think of Craig and I don’t want to. Then I think of Ella and guilt seeps in that I left her alone tonight. What if she wakes up frightened as she’s in a strange house without me there?
