Page 78 of The Reno
And I was realising I’d really like to be welcomed back.
“If I tell you something, you promise not to tell anyone?” I asked, meeting Lydia’s eyes, the mirror of mine.
She frowned. “Sure.”
“I kissed Liam,” I announced, cringing. Lydia’s jaw dropped. “It was a silly drunken mistake—my drunken mistake. He was horrified, and I am very, very embarrassed. So I guess I’m saying that Liam and I aren’t going to happen. No chance.”
Lydia scratched her arm. “That just doesn’t make sense.”
“Trust me, it makes perfect sense. Besides, he still has a thing with his ex,” I said casually.
I wasnotfishing for information at all.
Lydia snorted. “Yasmin? No way. They are over, over.” Lydia’s eyes widened. “Did he tell you about Yasmin? ’Cos he never speaks about that. Not to anyone.”
Well, that made me feel marginally better.
“I met her. Thanks for the heads-up, by the way. He never even told me he had a daughter. Yasmin and Abigail came around, looking for Liam, and Yasmin basically slut shamed me, assuming I was one of his one-night stands—”
“Oh my god,” Lydia exclaimed, bordering on laughing, even though I knew she didn’t find it funny.
“Yep. She basically called me a slag and then asked if Liam had been drinking.”
Lydia cringed. “Yeah, I could see how she got there. If she didn’t know you were staying in the annexe…”
“Who just jumps to that conclusion? It all seemed a bit intense.”
Lydia sighed. “Look. There is some… baggage between Yasmin and Liam. Hangovers from years ago, from when they broke up. I never got the full picture because Liam isn’t the biggest talker.”
He always seemed pretty open to talk to me.
I bit my lip. “What do you mean?”
Lydia glanced away. “Liam should explain, but he went through the wringer a few years ago. He wasn’t in a good place after Yasmin broke it off. But then, he got his shit together, quit drinking. Since then, he’s been a fucking saint.” Lydia rolled her eyes. “Borderline boring, if you ask me. It’s like he’s shrunk his life. Taking on your project was probably the most rogue thing he’s done in years. It’s usually just work or Abigail.” Lydia’s eyessoftened. “He adores that kid.”
“I accused him of being a bad dad,” I blurted out as guilt swirled in my gut.
Lydia’s blue eyes bugged. “You said what?”
My head fell in my hands. “I was already wound up about the stupid drunk kiss, and then this beautiful woman appeared with this cute kid, and it was so confusing because he’d never mentioned a kid.” I get it out in one breath. “Then it occurred to me I had been living with Liam for over a week, and I hadn’t seen the kid—which you have to admit is weird—so then I accused him of hiding her and essentially being a bad dad.”
Lydia gasped. “Okay.”
“I know.” I groaned. “I think I just projected all of my daddy issues onto him and Abigail.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. I did apologise but it was completely irrational, and I can’t believe I did that. I’ve known the man a few weeks, and now I’ve just swooped in, making assumptions about his life. He’s going to hate me. He should kick me out.”
“He won’t kick you out. He’ll live. Liam’s got thick skin.”
My head fell into my hands. “I’m the worst.”
“You’re not the worst. Just say sorry. He could have mentioned Abigail, at least in passing.”
“Right?” I exclaimed. But I didn’t feel much better.
Lydia sipped her coffee. “You’ll figure it out. Hopefully, in time for Sunday lunch. Or that could be awkward.”
