Page 81 of Claiming Her Cougar
He just grunts in reply as he takes the keys out of his pocket.He opens the truck door for me as he always does, but he doesn’t kiss me or make a naughty suggestion.He’s coldly polite.I wonder what’s up.I assume he’ll tell me when he’s ready.
Teagan and Jake are waiting for us when we arrive at Francisco’s.We decide to order a buffalo chicken pizza and settle in a booth.Jake and I slide in first on opposite sides.I expect Liam to slide in next to me, but he sits next to Jake.Teagan sits next to me and glances at Jake, who just shrugs.
“So, the three of you grew up together?How was that?”I ask to ease the awkward silence we find ourselves in.
“Ugh, horrible!”Teagan says.
“No, it wasn’t.It was great,” Jake insists.
“Great for the two of you, maybe,” Teagan says.She leans toward me like she’s going to tell me a secret.“These two had a racket where they’d work together to get girls.They’d go to the boardwalk.Jake would shift into his seagull and harass whatever girl Liam had his eye on.Liam would ’rescue’ her and be her hero.Jake would shift back and hang out with her friend.”
I burst out laughing.“How old were you guys?”
“Thirteen, fourteen.We were kids.”Jake shrugs.
“You’re a seagull shifter?”I ask.I’ve never known one before.
“He’s a beach chicken,” Teagan teases, shooting her straw wrapper at him.
“Nah, beach chicken is too cute.Seagulls are more like devil birds.No offense, Jake,” I say.
“None taken.Devil birds.Huh.I like it.”He looks to Liam and Teagan, who nod.I don’t know what that’s about, but our pizza arrives, so I don’t ask.
We chat about hockey and general stuff as we eat our pizza.It’s nice.I know Jake and Teagan aren’t a couple, but it would be so much fun to hang out with them socially.I wonder if either of them is in a relationship.I’ll have to ask Liam later.
We get back in Liam’s truck, and I expect to go directly back to the office.Instead, Liam drives us to a local park and pulls in near the walking trail.
“Liam, I need to get back to the office.You know I only get an hour.”
“I know.I just need to talk to you.I don’t know when we’ll get another chance with my crazy schedule and your crazy sister.”Liam undoes his seat belt and leans against the driver’s side door.
“Hey!She’s not crazy.She’s just going through some stuff.I swear when she’s not heartbroken and bitter, she’s fun.”
“If you say so.”
I turn toward him, expecting our lips to meet.But they don’t.Liam has his arms crossed over his chest, and it feels like a brick wall is erected between us.What the hell?
“What’s up?”I ask.
“I know how important your career is to you.”
“It is.I’m so excited to be working on the pier project.This is what I’ve been hoping to do.It’ll bring a lot of jobs and opportunities to the region.We’ll be able to work on it together!I have so many ideas.It’s going to be great.”
Liam somehow seems to retreat even further away from me.The cab of his truck isn’t that big, but the couple of feet between us on the bench seat may as well be the Grand Canyon.What is going on?
“Yeah.I heard from Uncle Mike how your goal was to be involved in the selection of tenants and not have ‘cookie-cutter’ centers.Well, you got that now.”
It’s almost like he’s accusing me.
“It was my goal.Ismy goal.I’ve never made it a secret.I want to do well at work.Why is it an issue now?”
“I’m not saying it’s an issue.Just acknowledging you got what you wanted.Look, I’m going to be busy with the centers, so I won’t be here that much.When I am here, I’m going to be focused on the pier.I care about my career too.We should each focus on our careers for the time being.”
Where is this coming from?I know we never said anything out loud, but I thought we were something to each other.I thought our silence was only because of my reluctance to talk about it.I thought he was ready to move forward and was just waiting on me.I think I’m ready now and was hoping we could finally figure out a way we could be together.Maybe there’s a way we could be a couple openly without it impacting my career.If I do a good enough job on the pier, then I’d prove I deserved the job and it wasn’t just handed to me because of being with Liam.
The silence draws out.I know my heart’s still beating, but I’m not sure how since it’s broken in two.Liam is breaking up with me.Not that we were together, but I thought he wanted me.I thought he wanted to claim me.
Wrong again, Mallory.He wanted to fuck you, not be with you.Not love you.I knew I wasn’t enough.I’ve never been enough.Hell, I’m not enough for my own family.That’s fine.Lesson learned.
