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I hadn’t been into the information center since I’d returned. I’d been too much of a wimp to face Heather Braddock. With Blair at my side, acting as guard dog, maybe I could manage it.
We said our goodbyes to Arthur and walked the short distance to the information center. I froze in the doorway, spotting a small group of people at the front desk.
Liam.
His golden arms flexed as he gestured animatedly to his mother. I swallowed and backed up a step. A woman stood beside him. Based on her blonde hair, I’d guess it was Summer, but I couldn’t see her face from where I stood. Standing to the side was Asher, smiling for once—although perhaps that was because he hadn’t seen me yet.
“Um,” I murmured, about to suggest we come back later, but words escaped me.
“Shit,” Blair said, noticing the same thing I had. He wrapped an arm around me. “Come on. You can do this.”
The Braddocks looked up as one. Asher’s expression distorted into that familiar scowl. Summer’s eyes lit up with excitement. Heather pursed her lips. And Liam….
Well, if I didn’t know better, I’d think Liam looked jealous. But then Asher grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out the side exit. Summer followed them, mouthing an apology.
Damn. I guess things hadn’t improved all that much between Liam and me after all.
ChapterTwenty-Six
LIAM
Sometimes I wonderwhether I’d give you a second chance if you begged me to take you back. Some days I don’t think I could say no. - unsent text message from Liam to Kennedy
“What was that?”Summer called from behind us. “Why did you walk out? I thought you guys were working out your differences.”
“They’re not ‘working out their differences,’” Asher snarled. “She’s wrapping him around her finger all over again, and he’s letting her. He needs to keep his distance.”
Summer jogged around in front of us, cutting us off. “Don’t you think you should both be more mature about this? You’re grown men. Why not just hear her out and then decide what to do next?”
“Because—” I started to reply, but Asher had already launched into a response of his own. I stood and watched while they argued over what I should do next. Asher was clearly in a mood, but Summer had taken exception to his attitude and wasn’t about to back down. They raised their voices, waved hands, poked fingers, and I looked around, realizing we’d garnered more than our fair share of attention.
“Guys,” I said. “Maybe we need to move.”
“What we need is for you and Tweedledum to act like adults,” Summer snapped.
Asher’s complexion was bright red. “We don’t need to hear whatever bullshit That Woman has to say.”
“But what if—”
“Enough!” I roared, quieting them both. “Both of you need to calm down. You know what? It doesn’t matter what Kennedy has to say. Nothing would change the fact that she broke my heart so she could stay in Hollywood and become a goddamn icon. The type of person who does that isn’t someone I want anything to do with.”
It was the hitched breath that alerted me we weren’t alone.
I turned.
Kennedy and the man she’d arrived with were standing a few yards away. She had her hand clasped to her mouth, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
Fuck.
She’d heard everything. And based on the thundercloud expression of her companion—whom I now recognized as her brother, Blair—so had he. I meant what I’d said, but I’d never wanted to hurt her. Not like this, and especially not in public.
A sob burst from her chest, and she pivoted and ran. I took a few steps after her, but Blair blocked my path.
“I need to—”
“You need to leave her the fuck alone,” Blair rumbled. He had a raspy voice and a build that was difficult to reconcile with the scrawny fifteen-year-old kid I remembered. Apparently he’d been a late bloomer, because this guy looked like he could crush me one-handed—and had every intention of doing so. “You have no idea what went on in Kennedy’s life.” His chest heaved with emotion. “She had to go through shit that nobody that age should have to deal with. You think she dumped you for the Hollywood dream?” His face twisted with distaste. “The past decade has been far from a fucking dream.” He shook his head. “You don’t have a clue, and I’m ashamed I ever looked up to you.”
My lips parted, but I had no idea what to say. What the hell was he talking about? Kennedy had been the one to leave me. She’d ditched me in this town that was too small for her while she went on to earn millions of dollars and become a household name.
