Page 79 of All Signs Point to Malibu

The phone chimes again and Liam sends me a look. “You need to check that?”

“Nope,” I say, my eyes locked on the action on the court. I take a swig of beer.

Four minutes left on the clock.

“You hooking up with anyone these days?” he asks casually as he watches the game.

I nearly choke on my drink and sweat pools on my lower back. He can’t possibly know. I know Hailey wouldn’t tell him... Maybe she told Sonia? Am I being set up here?

Shit.

“Um...no one special.” The lie punches me in the gut. Hailey’s become surprisingly special to me, but it’s the safest answer I can give. If he is testing me, it’s my way of reassuring him that the hookup with his ex meant nothing and won’t be happening again.

Because of her lack of interest...

“Hey, I uh, wanted to say how cool it is that you and Hailey have put aside your differences for Sonia and I. Means a lot.”

I nod, feeling guilty as shit. “She’s not so bad.” She’s fucking incredible actually.

Liam sends me a shocked look. “Did you just say she’s not so bad?”

I shrug.

He shakes his head and returns his attention to the court. “Never thought I’d see the day.” His tone is slightly off—as though he’s not thrilled that Hailey and I are no longer trying to kill one another. My gut tightens, but it must just be my own guilt deflecting.

Liam’s cell rings and he immediately takes it out of his pocket. I glance at the caller ID and see “William.” I check my watch. It’s after ten p.m. “Ignore it. You’re off the clock,” I say.

Two minutes left in the game and our team has the ball.

Liam looks tempted to follow my advice but then sighs, gets up and moves to take the call, away from the noise.

Is he fucking serious? There’s less than two minutes left.

I stare at him moving past the fans seated courtside, pissing everyone off as they try to watch the game.

My friend’s in over his head and it’s not going to get any better. As opposed as I was initially to whatever scheme Hailey was hatching to try to mess with this wedding, I hope she’s succeeding tonight in these final seconds.

The crowd erupts around me and the horn blasts indicating the final buzzer.

I turn back toward the court in time to see that I missed the game-winning basket.

Damn it.

Half an hour later, after dropping an apologetic but distracted Liam back at the hotel, I stare at the fountain near the resort’s front entrance, sparkling with neon lights. Impressive, but not what he wants for his career.

As I drive along the streets, my thoughts switch from Liam to Hailey. I wonder how her night out with Sonia is going and resist the urge to crash their evening by driving to Brooks’s Bar and joining them. They’re definitely having more fun than Liam and I did. It’s not even 11:00 p.m. and I’m headed home, as Liam declined drinks, saying he had work to do.

I still haven’t read the text messages on my phone—four have come in now—and I know I could be naked with any one of the senders in about eight minutes if I felt so inclined, but I can’t get Hailey out of my mind and I don’t think casual sex with someone else is going to help this problem. All I’ll be thinking about is her and that wouldn’t be fair.

I pass a convenience store on my right and my eyes narrow as I see a group of teens hanging out near the back.

Marcus.

I sigh as I slow the Jeep and peer out the window.

He’s with his crew and I see empty beer bottles on the ground next to them. They play fight and act rowdy...typical teenager behavior.

Then I see Marcus pull a pipe and small bag out of his pocket. Drugs.

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