Page 49 of Peyton's Price

Caroline turned on her heel, heading for the door. Once there, she paused, determined to have the last word. “I would wish you the best and hope you will find what you’re looking for, but knowing you, you’ll ruin that, too.”

Chapter 23

The next time, Liam opened his eyes he was staring at the Chrysler building. He groaned, putting his hands on either side of his head. At least the view was familiar this time. He was in his own hotel, the penthouse suite of the Caislean New York.

There was a knock at the bedroom door. “Anyone alive in there?”

Calen poked his head inside. He walked in, wrinkling his nose at the smell. Empty liquor bottles dotted the tables of the room. “Did you drink the entire liquor cabinet?”

“It feels like I did.”

Calen shook his head. “I was afraid of this. I knew you shouldn’t have called Raske for help.”

“Not you, too.” He groaned.

“What?” Calen frowned. “It’s only natural you’d feel this way after seeing him again—even if it was only for a little while.”

Calen was the only person who knew what had happened between Liam and Matthias. He’d been encouraging Liam to come out of the closet ever since.

Liam hadn’t had the words to explain it wasn’t going to happen because he wasn’tinthe closet. He liked women—and one man. That was it.

But his best friend was tenacious. He’d sworn his support up and down, lecturing Liam about living ‘his truth,’ telling him he’d be a happier and better-adjusted person if he would just admit he was gay.

Calen’s earnestness about his sexuality had been caring and infuriating in equal measure. There had been times when Liam had wanted to strangle him, but Liam didn’t have that many friends, so he let him live to bitch another day.

As far as he knew, Calen had kept his secret. But now he was going to have to tell him a much bigger one. “Peyton left with Matthias. She’s back on theOrmen Langeheaded to God knows where.”

Calen froze in the act of sitting next to Liam on the bed. “Are you serious?”

“Yup,” Liam confirmed with a dark scowl. “They’re probably fucking their way through the south seas as we speak.”

Calen sank into the chair. It took him a long time to respond. “Huh. I wondered why Maia hadn’t heard from her. The wife invited her to dinner night before last, and nada. I figured you were keeping her busy.”

Liam snorted. “I should have been. It was stupid to give her time alone. I turned my back for a few hours, and she was gone.”

“Ah.” Grimacing, Calen scratched his head. “Well, I guess Peyton and Raske got close on the trip back from the auction. Not surprising, I guess. You mentioned Raske swung both ways. He’s got good taste.”

“Fuck you.”

Calen shrugged. “You’re not my type.”

Liam shook his head, but he immediately regretted it. “I can’t believe you’re being so cavalier about this. He tookher. He took Peyton.”

Calen appeared at a loss. “Well, it sounds as if she went willingly. And it was only a matter of time. I know you care about her in your own way, but this is for the best. Once you and Caroline marry, forget it—”

He stopped short.

Liam shrugged, not want to live in denial anymore. “Because Peyton’s in love with me, or at least she used to be.”

“Err…” Calen opted to not to reply. It was something they never discussed. Calen always kept his mouth shut because he thought of Liam as gay and uninterested. That, and he wanted to protect Peyton, not wanting to expose her tender feelings for Liam’s callous dismissal.

“And I love her, too,” he said.

“I know, man,” Calen dared to reach over and pat him on the arm. “In your own way.”

Fuck, this bullshit between them was now the size of a mountain.

“No, I mean Iloveher,” Liam emphasized. “As in ‘I want to fuck her until she’s having my baby’ love her.”

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