Page 15 of Under My Skin

“Wow. What a hard life. If only you were ugly and with less money and fame. Right, Liam?” Reid sarcastically huffs and then slaps Liam on the shoulder as they both laugh at me.

“It’s not like that, and you know it. I’m just not interested in getting involved with a woman in any capacity right now. I’m just trying to settle in and get my life back in order.”

“I get it, man,” Liam says after taking a long gulp of his beer. “I wouldn’t let you go near Lexi anyway. She is trouble with a capital T.”

“You speaking from experience?” Reid asks with a grin.

Liam is a perpetual bachelor. Loves women but doesn’t want anything long-term. Marriage and kids are a big fat no, even though he loves my girls, and they love their Uncle Liam. He’s probably scarred from his childhood and watching his dad leave, in which case, I can’t really blame him.

“Hell no, Reid. Lexi is a piranha, and I have never led her on or let her think I’m interested.” Liam almost shouts this, fire coming out of his ears, with a look of offense on his face. “I don’t actually sleep with everyone I come across, especially if they’re from Brantley Falls. When I want to get laid, I go elsewhere.”

“How very mature and sensible of you,” I tease as Lexi drops off my drink and then scurries away. He glares my way, and I lift my hands in surrender. “Fine! Chill.”

“Why have you been so touchy lately, man? It’s like you’re always ready to go off.” Sympathy and concern lace Reid’s voice, which lets me know Liam has been off recently and reminds me I need to be better at checking in with them.

Liam lets out a long breath and takes a drink of his beer, leaving us waiting in anticipation of his response.

“Remember when I visited you last year in Chicago, Reid? When you got called away for an emergency at the hospital while we were out to dinner downtown?” He turns to me to explain. “I decided to stay and have a drink before heading back to my hotel. And…”

He pauses again, and I’m getting really annoyed with all the suspense.

“Well, I met someone that night. She was totally game with one night. We only exchanged first names and not our numbers. She was adamant that it didn’t go past that night—or morning.”

“What’s the problem?” I ask impatiently, wanting him to get to the damn point.

“I can’t stop thinking about her, and I have no way to find her. I haven’t been able to sleep with anyone since. It’s like my dick refuses to work.” I exchange glances with Reid, and we both want to laugh but manage to hold it in. “Yeah, right. Go ahead and mock me. I’m fucking hung up on this girl, and I don’t even know who she is.”

“Sounds like a real problem, man, and as a doctor, I’d say you need your dick checked.” Even Liam laughs at that. “But I think you need to find a way to get over her. It’s been a year and a half. What are the chances of meeting her again randomly in Chicago?”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying. It doesn’t seem to be working, though. And thanks for worrying about my dick, asshole,” he replies, but there’s no bite to his words. He almost seems relieved to let go of all of it.

“Listen.” I grab Liam by the shoulder and give him a little shake to get his full attention. “If it’s meant to be and she’sthe oneor something, you’ll meet each other again.”

“Nice pep talk, Cam,” Reid says sarcastically.

“Thanks, man,” Liam says, raising his glass to mine in cheers. “It’s good to have you home. Reid lacks the empathy that I’m looking for in a friend.”

“That offends me, by the way. Seriously, though, you haven’t been yourself and I wasn’t sure how to come up and ask you about it.” Reid squeezes Liam’s shoulder, similarly to what I did a few seconds earlier.

“Maybe you just need to get laid. Pick someone from town and move past this mystery girl. I’m sure Karen is available,” I say with some humor, knowing Liam would never sleep with Karen. Not again, at least.

“Fuck, no. Once when I was twenty was enough. I feel like I still have scars on my back from her nails that night.” Liam shudders, clearly reliving that experience in his head.

“Nail scratches aren’t that bad. I kind of enjoy those,” Reid says as a joke. “And what is the mystery girl’s name? In case I run into her.” Liam gives him a look. “That’snotwhat I meant. Jeez.”

“Ellie. I’m not even sure if that’s her name or a nickname.”

“Well, to Ellie and hoping you two cross paths again.” I raise my glass and Reid and Liam join me. I use this moment to segue into a more upbeat conversation. “Now, I can’t get drunk tonight because I have to drive home and wake up and be a dad in the morning, but for the next couple of hours I just want to catch up and forget about all the shit that’s been happening in our lives.”

“Sounds good to me.” Reid clinks his glass with mine.

“Yeah, sorry, Cam. I don’t know what I was thinking laying all that on you.” Liam clinks his glass with mine and Reid’s as well. “My problems are nowhere near as bad as what you’ve had to go through lately.”

“Don’t do that. Twenty-five years of friendship means we go to each other about anything and everything, no matter what. Even if Reid gives shit advice.”

“Why are you ganging up on me tonight? But yes. Always,” Reid states.

“Alright, so what’s new with you, Cam?” Liam asks.

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