Page 44 of The Summer I Destroyed You

A muscle ticks in his jaw. “I have no memory of making that clear.”

For fuck’s sake, Liam. You just made it clear about five minutes ago.

“At your house. I asked why you were being nice to me and if it was just because you wanted to get laid, and you acted like it had never even occurred to you.”

“You were questioning my motivations, princess. I can want you fed and dry and not getting swept off the road in a flood simply because those things matter to me. It doesn’t mean I’ve never thought about bending you over the back of my truck and fucking the snide smile off your face.”

Gulp. “You know I could fire you for saying that.”

“I could countersue for sexual harassment. You just admitted to propositioning me.”

I reach for my purse. “That’s ridiculous. Why would I sexually harass you when I’ve got my mother’s pretend boyfriend to meet my needs?”

His teeth grind audibly. That muscle in his jaw ticks again.

I’m not sure what I like more: the fact that this whole thing is eventually going to infuriate my mom, or the fact that it’s already infuriating Liam.

23

LIAM

“You’re making that face,” says Bridget.

I sigh. “What face?”

“The face you make when you’re pissed but you won’t admit it.”

I nod toward the door and she opens it so I can carry the nightstand out. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, that’s what you always say when you’re pissed and you won’t admit it.”

I love my sister, but she has a way of needling me like no one else. You’d think on a day when I’ve driven all the way out here to help her, she’d give this shit a rest. “Maybe I’m pissed because you’re accusing me of feeling something I don’t feel and refusing to take no for an answer?”

She shakes her head. “Nah. You looked like that before I said anything.”

Yeah, I was thinking about Emerson, but I wasn’t pissed. I was just…vaguely frustrated. I mean, why the fuck is she actually going out with this guy? Sandra’s a shrew who, as far as I can tell, has never been decent to her daughter, so why does Emerson give two shits about her opinion? And Emerson is so busy insisting that Elliott Springs is terrible and she hates marriage, and suddenly she’s talking about marrying this guy and settling down here?

I guess she was joking, but it frustrates me anyway.

Or maybe I’m just frustrated by the fact that I don’t think she was joking about sleeping with him.

“It’s a girl,” Bridget says. “Oh my God. Is it Holly? Did you go out with her? Are you fighting? Why are you already fighting? Is it her kids? I know. I should have warned you. The younger one is cute, but the second grader’s a little bitch.”

“Bridget, you realize that you just described a seven-year-old as a little bitch, right?”

She shrugs. “I just wanted you to know that I got it. I don’t like that kid either. But it’s a phase. She’ll grow out of it.”

“It’s not Holly and I haven’t met her kids, nor will I meet her kids. She was nice, but we had nothing in common.”

“Why do you need to have anything in common with her?” Bridget demands. “Scott and I don’t share a single interest.”

I raise a brow, my way of pointing out that she’s hardly the poster child for marital bliss—I haven’t seen her husband in this house since the holidays.

“Fine,” Bridget says. “I’ve got one more girl for you to meet. Mel. She surfs. And her dad’s a builder so she’ll get what you do.”

I sigh, running a hand over my face. Mel does sound like a better fit than Holly, and she’d sure as hell be a better fit than Emerson.

I just wish…I don’t even know what I’m wishing for anymore. I just know that I’m not gonna get it.

---