Page 32 of Veiled in Brick

“Oh, fuck off,” I muttered, and Liam’s freckles somehow stretched even further. “I just think I’m actually starting to like him and I don’t—I don’t know.”

He appeared to be chewing on the inside of his cheek before he said, “If ya like him, why are you all…” He waved a hand at me, gesturing toward my general discontent.

“I dunno,” I stated rapidly. “Don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Mmkay.” His immediate acceptance of my aversion to this conversation put me at ease, and I watched while he lifted his beer glass to his lips and took a sip. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his lips darted out to catch the foam that remained there, and I averted my gaze. “Think I may go back to Southport here soon.”

“Yeah?”

His hometown of Southport, North Carolina—a stone’s throw away from where Claire and I had moved from—was one that everyone knew he was fond of. The strain within his family unit that he rarely spoke of aside, it was clear that he enjoyed visiting home for he took the chance to return as often as he could.

Liam nodded at my clarification. “Haven’t gone back in a bit. My sister moved into a new place a few months back.”

“Cassie?” I spoke his sister’s name with an upward inflection to confirm it.

“Mhm.” He grinned at the mention of her, and the reminder that Liam appeared to be a protective older brother at the mere sound of her name made me smile. “She keeps calling, I’ve just been—” Liam looked into my eyes and then briefly behind me, and the grin fell off of his face. “Fuck.”

“Lee?”

His brown eyes went wide, and he whispered, “Oh, fuck.”

“Liam, what—”

“Liam?!”

The last questioning of Liam’s name did not come from my mouth. I followed the screeching voice behind my shoulder to find that Liam’s gaze of abject horror had been directed at a woman and she was, without a doubt, striking. Wavy, brunette hair without a strand out of place framed her face. She had glowing, tanned skin, a button nose, and bright, almond-shaped blue eyes. She stood from the table she was seated at and long legs that were scarcely covered by dark shorts revealed themselves. They led to what was clearly a very toned abdomen that was concealed with a tank top.

I hated myself for thinking it because I wasn’t typically envious of other women, but this one? I wondered if this one had spent her time walking a runway at a fashion show. This one was an exception, and I subconsciously wrapped a single arm around my waist, feeling the slightest bit inadequate.

“Fuck-shit-fuck,” Liam hissed under his breath as she walked towards us.

“Lee,” I crooned quietly, “care to clue me in here? Who is this?”

“Ah,” he mumbled quickly, “can’t say. Don’t-remember-her-name.” His anxious eyes darted around the room.

“Jesus, did you hit that?”

He gritted out, “Several times,” and I grimaced at the unwelcome thought of Liam buried within this woman. “Over a weekend a few months back and that was it,” Liam told me rapidly, “but I think it was a mistake because she’s been kinda-on-my-back—hey…there.”

Liam looked upwards at the woman who approached our table and forced a smile on his face.

“Liam,” she crossed her arms underneath her perfect chest. “Who the fuck is this?”

She pointed a French tip manicured nail in my direction, and I couldn’t help myself from wondering if it had scraped its way down Liam’s back at some point. The irritation from the mental image combined with her immediate rude tone made me square my shoulders and narrow my eyes in her direction.

“Uh—hi. It’s Zoey, first of all. And who the fuck might you be?”

“Liam’s girl—”

“Oh-ho-ho,” Liam chuckled a bit, cutting her off and muttering, “Oh, sweetie, no-no,” before he collected himself and stated, “Listen, we…had a good time, right?”

“I have been messaging you,” she spoke between her teeth, glancing at me with a side eye, “for months.”

“I…didn’t get those,” Liam told her, adding on, “lost my phone, er—I’m off the grid.”

“Isn’t that your phone?” she asked, gesturing at the black faux-leather case that was face down on the table.

It was his phone—and I should have felt bad for her. I really should have—but I didn’t. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing outwardly and listened as Liam continued speaking with her.

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