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“That’s nice,” Anna said. “I don’t see your skates, though.”
“That’s because I saw you when I was heading in, so I haven’t gotten some yet.”
“I see. Well, I hope you have a great deal of fun skating here. It’s a wonderful rink.”
“As do I.” Affixing her with a squirm-inducing smile, he nodded toward the building they’d been heading toward. “I am still getting the hang of skating, though. I was hoping you might stick around and give me some tips.”
“I’m sorry,” Anna said, sounding not at all like she was, “but we’ve been here a while, so we were on our final circuit when you arrived. Maybe we’ll run across one another again here sometime.”
At that moment, he and Anna possessed telepathy. Because the words“hopefully not”rumbled through their minds simultaneously.
“You couldn’t stick around a little longer? I did just arrive, so it almost feels like it was fated for us to run into each other like this.”
Good God,Liam thought, resisting an urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. He knew what was to come next.
“I’m sorry, but we’ve skated enough for today. Maybe another time.”
“If your friend here is done and wants to head out, let him,” Trent said obstinately. “I know how much you love skating, so I’m sure it wouldn’t be all bad if you spent a little longer on the ice. I’d be thrilled if you’d offer me some of your expertise.”
So, hedidat least have the capacity to know that Liam was here with them. He still hadn’t looked at him, though.
That was about to change. Liam might be pretty far from hotheaded, but seeing Anna’s distress urged him into action. His own disdain for Trent Alden certainly didn’t help.
“We’ve got plans—and places to be. It just didn’t work out this time.”
Annoyance pinched Trent’s expression as though he found his voice grating. His gaze, and Anna’s, swiveled toward him, though Liam focused on judging Trent’s. At first, vexation, but not recognition. A few seconds later, however, that, too, changed.
“You!” he hissed, eyebrows knit together with shock, then further irritation. “Your Avril’s stooge.”
“Liam, actually,” he said, blood boiling because of the remark. “Now, have a good time skating. But Anna and I are heading out.”
Whether he heard or understood what Liam had just said, he didn’t show it. As if enough pieces had formed in his mind for him to realize that Liam wasn’t just some random nobody whom he could meet once and then forget about forever, he latched his gaze back upon Anna, turmoil flashing in it.
“Anna, who is this person?” he demanded.
“He just told you, Trent,” she answered, unaware they’d already met. “His name is Liam.”
Trent’s tumultuous expression remained, and Liam took no small pleasure in it.
“Yes, but whoishe? Why is some guy from Perrymont spending so much time with you and Avril?”
“Pardon?” Anna asked, though her attention had shifted to him.
“Avril and I bumped into Trent at the mall on the twenty-third,” he explained. “It was a super brief meeting.”
“Oh.” Anna frowned, though it was no longer because of Trent’s presence. Not all of it, at least.
“I should have mentioned it,” he continued. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s… all right,” she said, returning her attention to Trent. She was just in time to see him cross his arms and glare loathingly at Liam.
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded. “I’ve never heard of you, so why do you keep popping up around Anna and Avril? What are you, some kind of pity project?”
“Trent!” Anna shouted objectionably. It was the first time he’d ever heard her voice raised in such a way.
Sorry, Anna,he thought, already aware of the trouble that he was likely to cause her. As mild as he usually felt that he was, even he had a limit for sneering douchebags.
“No,” Liam growled, trading volume for gelid sharpness. At least for that part, Victoria would have been proud. “I’m her boyfriend. Now fuck off.”
