Page 39 of Perfect Score

Liam waits next to me.

I scan the key, and the light turns green on the door handle. I reach out and turn the door handle, pushing it open as I enter.

Liam pushes the door behind me to widen the entry. He doesn’t walk inside; he just ducks his head in and looks around.

“Nice place,” he says. “It feels weird to have you down the hall in a room with someone else.”

I guess I'm at least relieved that he feels some of the weirdness that I do.

"It could have been different, you know?" I say, emotions finally bubbling to the top.

I hate that in a few seconds, he'll turn around and leave, walking back to his room to climb into bed with her. I feel my eye attempting to fill with tears, but I hold them back. Crying won't help the situation and if I start, I might not be able to stop.

As far as Liam knows, I'm in a relationship with Brent.

He nods and then his eyes lock onto something on the floor.

I follow his line of sight to see that he’s looking at Brent’s open luggage further into the room near the mirrored desk.

His jaw tightens for a second and then he turns away, letting the soft-close door go.

“Night, Zoey,” he says.

The door closes behind him. The sound of the door clicking closed between us has those held back tears demanding an exit.

By now, most people at the bar have probably left to rest up for tomorrow. Brent will be back any time, and I have no idea if he’ll be expecting more honesty but all I have energy for now, is a long soak in the bath.

Chapter Eleven

Brent

By the time I get down to the bar, Phoebe and David had already left and went to bed.

A few of the other people in the wedding party are still in the bar but have disbanded into smaller groups and they all seem to be in deep conversation that I’d rather not disrupt.

I walk up to the bar and take a seat.

I feel someone take a seat next to me. In the corner of my eye, I see him—Ben.

“Hey, Brent," he says, slapping my shoulder.

“Hey,” I say back and then glance toward the bartender.

I need a drink.

“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t think it was a big deal. Seems crazy that you and Zoey ended up together in the end,” he says, taking a drink off the beer that Phoebe must have given him back.

I turn to him.

“What does that mean?” I ask, defensively.

He puts up his hands.

“Sorry man, I don’t mean any disrespect. I just meant that it’s good to see you two finally getting together. I thought she was going to end up with Liam, and he’s a fucking tool. I always thought Zoey was too good for him.”

That puts a smile on my face.

“She is too good for him," I agree.

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