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Liam smirked. “I thought you were going to tell me something I didn’t know.”
“Okay. If you’re so smart, then why are you letting a perfect woman like Cora slip through your fingers? No, don’t try to deny it. I’ve seen you around her, and I know you’re into her, so what’s your problem?”
He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off.
“Yourrealproblem, not the savior of humanity woo-woo stuff.”
“Cora’s too good for me.” It was the only truth he could give her that she’d believe. “A man like me doesn’t deserve her.”
“Of course not,” Suzette said easily. “She’s brilliant and beautiful. She’s kind to people even if they don’t appreciate it. She’s witty and funny and brave. She donates her time to charities and helps the community. I mean, if anyone deserves a halo, it’s her, but just because she’s too good for you doesn’t mean you can’t try to be deserving of her. Liam, she really likes you.”
“I’m sorry.” He glanced away, steeling himself. With a sick sense of resignation, he said the only thing he could. “I just don’t feel that way about her.”
Suzette snorted and gave him a “get real” look.
He forced himself to drive his point home. “Look, Cora is all the things you said, but I can’t give her what she wants. I’m tied up in something else and can’t be in a relationship with her.”
“So, it’s another woman, then.” She said it like it was the only thing that made sense. The only way he’d even consider not jumping at the chance to be with Cora.
“No,” he said hesitantly. But Suzette was like a dog after a bone, and Liam had a feeling she wasn’t going to stop unless he shut her down. The best thing he could do was fall into the role she already expected. The role of a man unworthy of Cora. “It’s more than that.”
Suzette’s mouth fell open, the fleeting astonishment on her face quickly morphing into distaste. “You’re seeing multiple women right now?”
“Look, I’m not going to get into it with you because, with all due respect, it’s none of your business. Just understand that I’m a man who likes his freedom. There’s a lot of fish in the sea, and I don’t want to tie myself down. Not now, and maybe not ever. I like Cora fine, but I’m not the right man for her.” He hoped the truth in that last part would convince Suzette he was sincere about the rest.
“But—”
“Jesus wept, woman. Leave me be already. Cora and I are never going to be together.” His tone was harsher than he’d intended, but if he said anything more, he’d be “overselling it.” Suzette glared at him like an angry lioness. He admired her for fighting so valiantly for Cora’s happiness, but if she continued to press him, he wouldn’t be able to keep up this facade of nonchalance. How strange. In the past, he’d never had a problem covering up his feelings and telling lies. The longer he stayed in this half-baked life the angels had thrown him into, the less he recognized himself. Cora was right. He had changed. Deep down, he should be glad of it, as it probably indicated he was becoming a better person, but it didn’t make it any less disturbing.
“Fine.” Suzette flipped a lock of flaming red hair over her shoulder, an angry flush across her freckled cheeks.
Liam made a show of checking out the two women who’d just sidled up to the bar. Even just the pretense of looking at other women made his insides roil with distaste, but he was playing the role and had to see it through.
The bartender set another round of beers in front of them. Suzette thanked him, then slid off her bar stool to leave. “I was wrong when I said you were a complete idiot, Liam. You are wise about one thing.”
Liam dragged his beer closer, refusing to make eye contact lest she see the turmoil eating him up inside. “And what might that be?” he asked with an amused drawl. He made sure to sound arrogant, lazy, and slightly bored. Never let it be said he couldn’t act.
“Cora is too good for you.” Suzette looked at him like he was unwanted muck on the bottom of her shoe. “And from now on, I’m going to do everything I can to make her see that.” She caught the bartender’s attention and tilted her head in Liam’s direction, snapping, “He’s paying.”
If he weren’t so twisted up inside, he could’ve laughed at the irony. He was paying, all right. Suzette had no idea how much it cost him to push the woman he loved into the arms of another man. He took a long swig of beer.
She stalked away, leaving Liam to stare into the pale amber liquid, watching a teardrop of condensation slide down the glass until it disappeared into the wooden countertop like it never existed at all.
11
PROVIDENCE FALLS STATE PARK was at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just west of the city. The lush foliage and picturesque trails made it a popular summer destination for local hikers, as well as a hot spot for traveling tourists. There were several hiking trails that branched out and reconverged, meandering along the river, with footpaths leading across charming wooden bridges flanked by a vibrant medley of evergreen, maple, beech, and oak trees.
For the more adventurous hikers, like Cora, the park had a gorgeous trail leading up toward a cliff overlooking a stunning waterfall that had been featured in many North Carolina magazines and travel guides. Aside from a handful of abandoned mines sprinkled throughout the area, the forest looked the same as it had for hundreds of years. To Cora, there was something awe-inspiring about standing in the middle of nature that had existed long before her and would go on existing long after she was gone. It was like stepping outside of her own life and being suspended in a secret world where time had no meaning and mankind was barely even a blip on the radar. Just as she’d hoped, getting out into nature today helped her to feel more grounded. With everything going on at the station, not to mention her personal feelings about Liam, this was exactly what she’d needed.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into hiking at this hour,” Suzette grumbled as Cora led the way up the waterfall trail around eight o’clock on Saturday morning. “In my book, weekends are a sacred time for rest and reflection.”
“This is restful,” Cora said, gesturing to the beautiful forest around them. As if on cue, a cardinal swooped overhead, its brilliant red feathers glowing against the backdrop of greenery as a refreshing gust of wind rustled the leaves in the trees. They were about two-thirds of the way up the trail, and the air had grown cooler due to its close proximity to the waterfall.
“Not this kind of rest,” Suzette said. “I’m talking about the cucumbers-on-your-eyes variety. The kind where you lounge around with a mud mask on your face while you reflect on the poor choices you made the night before.”
Cora glanced at her friend, who was huffing and puffing along beside her with reddened cheeks. She couldn’t be sure if the heightened color was just from exertion, or if Suzette was blushing. “What kind of poor choices are we talking about?”
“I saw Rob last night,” Suzette said, holding up a hand to add, “By accident. I was on a blind date at Rookies, and it was awful. Seriously, Cora. This man danced like one of those inflatable windsock people at the auto dealership, and he was supermean to the servers. Anyway, I left early and ran into Rob on the way out. He said he wanted to talk, and I wasn’t quite myself after dealing with Windsock Guy, so one thing led to another...” Suzette pulled a bottle of water from the pocket of her hoodie, took a long drink, and shrugged.
