Page 87 of One Billion Reasons

“Hey, Buster.” I crouch down and accept his full-body wiggling hug.

“It’s hard to say whether he’s more excited about seeing you or seeing Lane.”

My head jerks up at Liam’s voice. “She was here?”

Liam rounds the side of the porch and gives me a hug, clapping me on the back. “It’s good to see you, man. It’s been months.”

“It’s good to see you too.” And it is. I used to see Liam every day. Now I see him once every few months. He’s tan from time spent surfing and working on the water and lean from twelve-hour days of physical labor. “She was here?” I repeat, and he smirks slightly.

“You just missed her. She left an hour ago. Back to the apartment she said you’re lending her?”

“Yeah. She’s struggling.”

Liam scrubs a hand over his face. He looks tired and worn around the edges. “Thank you for helping her. You’ve always done it.”

I nod. I have always done it, and I’ll keep doing it. Unless she refuses my help. “I might need you to convince her to keep the apartment.”

He crosses his arms. “What the hell did you say to her?”

I wince. “She told you?”

“Yeah, but I want to hear it from you. Did you come clean?”

I swallow, hard. “Come clean about what?”

Liam laughs softly. “You’re an idiot. So’s Lane, by the way, but you’re the bigger one. Come have a beer with me.”

We crack two cold ones and sit on his back porch. He’s got two comfortable chairs and a handwoven rug. Liam’s life looks so much simpler than mine on the outside.

“Maybe I should move here.”

He looks over at me, amused. “Yeah? And what would you do here?”

“I don’t know. Become a real salt-of-the-earth kind of guy.”

He laughs at that and shakes his head. “Give up all the corporate takeovers and the scheming? You’d be bored in two minutes flat.”

“Maybe not. It could be nice. I’m tired.”

“It’s lonely, though.” Liam’s gaze is on the trees when he responds.

“You don’t seem lonely.”

“I am, when I have time to remember that I am. But you wouldn’t have to be.” He gives me a direct look. His dark eyes see way too much. I forgot how heavy his stare is when he wants to make a point.

“What are you trying to say? Spit it out.”

“You love her.” He keeps me pinned with that stare while I shake my head.

“No. I don’t. I’m obsessed with her. There’s a difference.”

He scoffs. “No there isn’t. Besides, I know I’m right.”

I give him a dark look. “Why don’t you tell me what you think you know, then?” Liam is like a dog with a bone. He doesn’t let go of things.

He looks all too pleased at the prospect of telling me how smart he is. He even sets his beer down so he can put that hand in the air. “One, you’ve never been able to look away from her.” He puts a finger down and I grimace.

“You weren’t supposed to see that.”

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