Page 62 of I Can't Even

Soph closed her eyes as if praying for patience. It must have worked because Em swiveled her vibrant blue head in my direction and frowned.

“Jules is the only one who’s had a frat guy, right Jules?” she asked. “While I missed it all because I was living at home with Babs and Soph missed it because she was pushing out the twins, you got all four years at an Ivy League school with some of the best and the brightest. I bet you humped your way through Suckma Cum Lauda—”

Liam stiffened beside me as my past was dragged forth and dropped in between us like steaming pile of dog poop.

“And we’re done, Em-C Hammer!” I grabbed Em’s arm and marched her to the parking lot.

Soph jogged up beside me and used her fob to unlock her car. She opened the door and I put my hand on Em’s head to protect it as I pushed her into the nearest seat. I felt like a cop making a bust. Then I closed the door.

“I’ll meet you back at the house,” I said to Soph. “I have to do some damage control.”

“Gotcha,” she said with a side-eye at Liam.

“Oh, and you’d better give Em a bag in case she hurls again,” I said. Soph yanked her door open and dove into her car, undoubtedly hoping to spare her leather interior if she put the pedal to the metal.

Liam was walking toward his motorcycle. When we’d arrived, I had ditched my phone arm band in one of the bike’s side compartments. Now it was my excuse to see if Em’s words had riled him or not. Oh, joy.

“Hey!” I called out.

He spun around, looking surprised to see me headed his way. Surprised but not mad. That was promising.

“I just wanted to say thanks for your help and for giving me a lift and all,” I said.

“No prob,” he said.

“Can I ask one more tiny favor?” I put my finger and thumb together as if to show that it was miniscule, really.

“What?” He looked wary. Smart boy.

“Well, I don’t really want to be in the upchuck bus,” I said. “And I didn’t really get to enjoy the motorcycle before because I was too busy freaking out about Em, so I was wondering if you were headed home, could I possibly hitch a ride with you?”

We stared at each other for a moment and then he nodded as if he knew resistance was futile. He plopped the helmet on my head, and I slid onto the bike behind him. This time when I wrapped my arms about him, I wasn’t freaking out about my sister and I could savor every sight, every sound, every touch.

Liam put on his helmet, fired up the engine and we shot out of the parking lot. It took everything I had not to whoop and yell as I wrapped my arms tight around my man as we blasted through town. Yes, he was my man—even if he didn’t know it yet. With the cold, dark ocean on our right, the rolling hills on our left, and the sweet scent of spring blossoms thickening the air until it tasted like spun sugar, it felt as if there was magic all around me.

The lights of the towns along the California coastline shimmered. As much as I loved my sisters, there was a part of me that wanted desperately to ride all night long, not stopping, just flying down the road, and feeling free with him.

We arrived at the house all too soon. Liam parked the motorcycle in his driveway. I glanced next door and saw Soph’s car at the curb and a light on inside. I removed the helmet and turned to thank Liam, but he took my elbow in his hand and led me across his yard and over the short wall that separated our properties.

“I’ll just make sure you get in okay.,” He sounded almost shy and again I got the feeling that something had shifted between us.

“Thanks.” I walked slower, trying to make the sweet moment last.

This was a kinder, gentler Liam than the man who had wanted to fuck and forget me. I wondered what had changed. Had I worn him down with my constant presence in his life? Did he just feel badly that my family was obviously imploding in the aftermath of our matriarch’s death? I had no idea. I just knew that I really, really liked this version of Liam. This guy was very much like the boy I’d given my heart to so long ago and, damn, I had missed him.

The door was unlocked so we strode right in. Em was lying face down on Babs’s divan while Soph was in the kitchen, whipping up a cure for stupid drunkenness. We paused in the doorway and Liam glanced first at Em and then at me.

“Remember when she used to follow us around on her bicycle?” Liam’s voice was low, and I had to lean in close to hear him. “She was the pesky little sister I never wanted, particularly as I was trying to make time with you.”

I laughed. Em had followed us, exhaustingly, but Liam had never been anything but kind to her.

“You were so great about it,” I said. “You never lost your patience. She worshipped you.”

“I just treated Em the way you did,” he said. “She was a good kid, so it wasn’t hard, but it was clear that you adored her, so I did, too. She’s lucky to have you and Soph.”

My throat got tight. Was she? I’d been so self-involved; I’d barely noticed the pain she was in. If Liam hadn’t helped us find her tonight...I couldn’t even think about what might have happened to her.

“Thank you for everything,” I said. “You went above and beyond the call and were...well... you were really great tonight.”

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