Page 39 of Because of Liam

Chapter Twenty-Five

We’re donewith our late lunch and just waiting for the check when we hear voices from the booth just on the other side of us. At this time of the afternoon, between lunch and dinner crowds, King’s Pub is empty and the voices carry easily over the thin dark wooden panel that divides the sections of booths. The wall is about six feet tall and runs the length of this section, giving people on both sides privacy. Normally we wouldn’t be able to hear the people on the other side of the panel, but in the quiet afternoon their voices are clear. Both Logan and I notice when Skye freezes and tenses. She looks at him and mouths one word: Jon.

I have no idea who this person is, but Logan seems to recognize the name. He nods once and stays quiet, so I follow his lead and tilt my head to better hear what the two men on the other side of the wall are saying.

“You’re not going to believe who I saw yesterday,” one of the men says.

“Who?”

Skye flinches when she hears his voice.

The other guy replies, “Your ex.”

“Which one?” The asshole snorts. I don’t even know him and I already hate his guts.

“The one who got away,” the other guy says.

“Skye?” Jon asks him back.

“The one and only. You never tapped that, did you?” The other guy laughs.

“The little bitch put up a fight every time I tried. Cold as a dead fish.”

Logan fists his hands on the table and Skye covers them with hers. My lips press in anger.

“She wasn’t putting up a fight with the guy I saw her with yesterday, right outside Pat’s Cafe. In fact, it looked like she was really enjoying all the mauling and groping that was going on.”

Logan smirks at this and Skye blushes.

“Who’s the guy?” Jon sounds pissed.

“Don’t know. He looked older. I don’t think he’s an RU student. Big dude too. Maybe you’re just not big enough for her,” the other guy teases.

“Well, her sister didn’t complain about it,” Jon retorts, venom dripping from his words.

Skye’s mouth opens in a small gasp. I shift in my seat, ready to take the wall down and beat the living shit out of this Jon guy. It’s Logan’s turn to grab my arm and still me. The two on the other side of the partition continue talking, ignorant of our presence and how close they are to a beatdown.

“River? No way you tapped that. She hates your guts.”

“Maybe she didn’t. Maybe it was all a front because she wanted me but couldn’t have me thanks to her sister. I wouldn’t have minded double-dipping into the twins.” He laughs.

“No way, man. I don’t believe you. River hates your guts. When did this happen?”

“About a year ago.”

“No, it didn’t happen. If you had said last week, I might have believed you. But a year ago, there’s no way. Those two are tight and—”

“It did and I have proof.”

“Proof? What kind of proof? Did you get a video or something?”

“No, nothing like that. But she has a birthmark shaped like a heart in a place no one would be able to see. And I saw it.”

I look at Skye, hoping for denial and finding confirmation. The shock in her face is enough for me to know it’s true. The asshole had, at the very least, seen River naked and her heart-shaped birthmark, wherever it is.

“Dude, where’s this birthmark?”

“Not telling you and if you say anything about it to anyone I’ll kick your ass.”

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