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All of a sudden, I’m self-conscious. Embarrassed. Hooking up during daylight hours feels intimate in a different way. Feels like a relationship.
“I, uh, I should go,” I say, watching him adjust his clothes.
Liam pulls his bottom lip in between his teeth. Nods. “Thanks for this.” He picks up the sweatshirt he dropped before.
“That’swhat you’re thanking me for?”
Liam is all man. I wouldn’t describe anything about him as boyish—except for the flush working its way across his cheeks. He grins, and I feel the smile settle everywhere. “The blowjob was nice too.”
I laugh. “Yeah. You’re welcome.”
He leans forward and kisses me again. It’s nothing more than a quick peck—the type of affection you show someone you know you’ll kiss many times again.
I offer him a quick smile when he pulls back.
Then turn around and walk away.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
LIAM
Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine…
“Hey, stranger.”
I reach fifty and relax my arms. Relief flows through my tired muscles as I flip onto my back and squint up at Maeve.
She’s being dramatic. We sleep in the same house. Eat dinner together every night. We’re family—the furthest from strangers two people can be.
But I know what she means. It’s been a long time since we felt like siblings. Since it felt like we were on the same team.
“Hey.” I sit up, grabbing the water bottle I set on the stairs and propping my elbows on my knees. It’s nearly dark out, the sun almost finished with its descent. The temperature can’t be more than seventy, but my skin is steaming from the push-ups I just completed and the set of sit-ups before that.
Maeve kicks the edge of the deck. “How’ve you been?”
“Busy, you know. Fine. You?”
“Yeah. Same.”
I gulp some water, wipe my mouth, and sigh. “Spit it out, Maeve.”
She sighs as well, sinking down onto the bottom step. “I have a favor to ask, and I need you to keep an open mind, okay?”
I nod.
I can add together favor and open mind. It will equal something I don’t want to do.
Maeve picks at a stray piece of paint peeling away from the railing. “It’s Wes’s birthday in a few days.”
Yep, there it is.
“Oh, no! My gift will never arrive in time!”
Maeve spears me with a glare. I mime zipping my lips.
“I want to throw him a pool party at the country club.”
“Great,” I drone. “You’ve got Girlfriend of the Year in the bag.”
