Page 100 of The Wedding Engagement

Unusually for Liv, the desire to tell them everything she’d told Arran surfaced, and she paused to assess it. It was normally something she would suppress, but today felt different. As if Arran had opened the dam gates.

She eyed her best friends, summoning the courage to voice what she’d been avoiding for years. Her instinct to bury it came to the fore, her reluctance to burden those she loved taking hold.

But then she remembered how good it had felt to confide in Arran. She took a deep breath to bolster her nerve, her heart hammering. “However, it did make me face up to my issues.” She cleared her throat, trying to ignore the whoosh of blood in her ears. “The ones related to me having been a massive commitment-phobe for most of my adult life.”

She paused, unable to believe that admission was finally out there.

It hung in the air between the three of them, as she glanced from Maya to Elise, trying to gauge their reactions, her nausea intensifying at the idea that telling them this was selfish.

Maya was watching her curiously. “Commitment-phobe? You?”

Elise smiled gently. “Tell us more.”

Liv swallowed. “It’s not something I’d told anyone, until Arran and I discussed it last night. But the whole Dave thing…well. Tocut a very long, complicated story short, I’ve always worried that Sam takes after Mum and I’m more like Dad.”

Maya frowned, taking Liv’s hand. “You arenot.”

Elise lifted a hand to tuck a strand of Liv’s hair behind her ear, and Liv absorbed the warmth of her friends’ affection and support.

She took a breath. “I know it’s dumb. But stuff kind of added up, then snowballed over the years, and all the daddy issues must have twisted it in my heart and mind. Especially with some issues between me and Mum and then when I broke up with Dean in a less-than-constructive way and he told me I was just like my dad.”

Maya narrowed her eyes, putting on a Liam Neeson–esque voice. “I will find Dean. And I will kill him.”

Liv smiled, squeezing her hand. “That’s okay. I’ll allow him to live.”

“Our minds can play tricks on us,” Elise said, giving her a soft smile. “And they’re sneaky little buggers, because they make us believe things that couldn’t be true in a million years. What you’ve told us isn’t dumb, but we can assure you it is one hundred percent untrue.”

A lump formed in Liv’s throat, making her eyes prick with tears. She blinked a few times in quick succession.

Maya leaned in to kiss her cheek, making a noisy slobbering sound. Then she did the same to Elise. “You two are the bestest people ever and I love you both.”

Liv blinked again, as the tears began to fall. Elise passed her a tissue. “Thank you.” She drew a breath to steady her wobbly voice, dabbing at her eyes. “I love you guys too.”

“Same,” Elise said, smiling, her voice also a little unsteady.

Maya leaned back, giving one of Liv’s curls a gentle tug. “You can tell us anything, you know? We wouldn’t ever judge you. And for the record, I agree that it doesn’t sound dumb. I totallyunderstand where you’re coming from because I know how your beautiful mind works.”

Liv studied Maya’s face. “You do?”

“Yep. You’re such an empath that you always take on board and agonize over other people’s opinions of you. You validate them even when it’s a load of absolute bollocks.” She kissed Liv’s cheek. “Because you are such a fucking delight.”

Liv laughed. “Thank you.”

Elise squeezed her shoulder. “I’m really glad you’ve told us, Liv.”

She nodded, her voice catching again. “Me too.” Taking a breath, she realized that her whole being felt lighter somehow. As if she were the freest she’d been in years.

The scones on their plates caught her gaze, and she gave Maya some side-eye. “I just remembered that I forgot to tell you guys that Arran discovered some important scone-related intel.”

“Oh yeah?” Maya said, raising an eyebrow, as Elise gave them both a wry smile.

Liv nodded, pausing for dramatic effect. “Queen Elizabeth herself used to put the jam on first.” She grinned. “I figure Liz was the greatest authority. Hence, I win the great scone debate.”

Elise laughed. “I think she’s got you there, Maya.”

Maya stared at Liv for a couple of seconds, then narrowed her eyes. “Adebayo is going to get it for this.”

Liv blinked. He got it, all right. Twice. Or was it three times? The shower probably counted as a separate encounter. Heat rose in her cheeks at the thought, and Elise gave her a curious look.

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