Page 32 of Had To Be You

“Um, what was that look all about, Ells?” Kate leans across the table, pinning me with a stare.

I try to keep my tone even. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you smoking the flower-food packets you stuff into bouquets? Liam just looked at you like he was picturing you naked.”

“Okay fine, it was something,” I admit, deciding to come clean. “But I don’t know what kind of something. Therefor I don’t know what to tell you. But we hooked up.” I cover my eyes with my palms, shaking my head. “Twice.”

“What?!” Olivia whisper yells, stretching the word out into five syllables. “And you didn’t tell me? Were you ever going to tell me?” Her voice escalates with every word, clearly hurt that I didn’t spill the beans.

“I’m sorry, Liv. It just happened. I didn’t think it would happen again, but then he asked me to dinner last night…and it happened again.” It all comes out in a rambling mess of a way and I inwardly cringe.

“What?” Olivia repeats herself, digging her fingertips into the sides of her forehead, her eyes wide in an oh-my-gosh expression. “You went on a date with my fiancé’s brother, the guy I’ve been trying to sell you on for months, hooked up with him last night, and we’re just hearing about it now?”

“Yes, last night. Now, can we stop talking about this while he’s sitting twenty feet away? Where’s your chill?” I exhale, leaning into her, doing what I can to stop this before Liam hears us.

“We’ll stop for now, but we are nowhere near being done with this topic. I have a lot of questions that you can answer over coffee tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

“But can I just add, the man’s hot. Look at him over there oozing confidence and class,” Kate adds, not helping in the least. She glances over at Liam’s sister. “Sorry, Jules.”

Poor Jules is going to be scarred for life. She mimes throwing up, while looking in the opposite direction of her brother.

“Doesn’t he look handsome in his suit?” Olivia adds. “Men of the world could learn something from the Bennett brothers. There are way too many clueless guys out there wearing black socks with runners.”

Olivia is right. Liam looks like pure sex in that suit. His crisp white shirt is open at the collar, the cuffs rolled up his forearms. He is breathtaking.

“Don’t forget the guys wearing cargo shorts,” Kate adds. “Ugh, or those hideous baggy dad jeans.”

“And the polyester polo shirts and boat shoes,” Jules chimes in.

“What about tank tops?” I add, because it needs to be said.

“Men should never wear tank tops,” Olivia answers. The rest of us add, practically in unison: “Never.”

“The guy to Liam’s left is cute, too,” Kate says, taking a sip of her drink.

“He looks like he’s sixty, Kate,” I point out, shooting her a look. “Stop perving on the DILF.”

Kate raises her shoulders in a think-what-you-want shrug, reminding me why I love that girl so gosh darn much. She’s never given a fuck, she just is exactly who she is. She’ll happily ogle the “dad-she’d-like-to-fuck” without a care in the world. And she is constantly putting herself out there, trying to find the guy for her. She’s done it all: speed dating, blind dates, online dating. You name it, she’s tried it. You’ve got to give her credit for putting herself out there.

An hour or so later, I knock back the last of my martini just as I notice Liam getting up from his seat and heading straight for our table. I feel his eyes on me. I swear my face must be the shade of a stop sign.

“You ladies look like you’re having a good night. Much better than mine, talking business deals and negotiations,” he says in his swoony, low voice.

“We always do,” Kate says. “We’re warming up for Saturday night when we all sling back beers and dance our brains out.”

“That’s right, the club. I don’t know how I will get through the next two days with all the anticipation. Dancing my brains out is very high up on my list of favorite things.” Liam smirks. With his height and broad shoulders, he fills up the room. He stands inches away from me, so close I can barely think straight. His scent floods my brain. Goosebumps cover my skin.

“I’m taking off. Can I give anyone a drive home?” he offers. His eyes casually peruse the table then land on me.

“I’m late to get home to Parker, but I said I’d drive Ellie home. You wouldn’t mind giving her a ride home for me, would you?” Olivia’s smile turns into a devilish grin.

Subtle, Olivia. Real subtle. My first instinct is to kick her under the table, but I can’t lose my cool. Barely able to meet Liam’s eyes, I stay quiet in hopes someone else will start talking.

“Not a problem. I’d be happy to,” Liam replies.

My face on fire, I slip my phone out of my purse. “It’s fine, honestly. I’m happy to call an Uber.”

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