Page 139 of He Loves Me Knot

And when he’d turned toward her and kissed her, she’d felt something in his kiss that she hadn’t before—even with all the passionate kisses they’d shared.

He’d kissed her like he cared about her.

Was that enough? To know that maybe he’d cared enough to let her go before she got hurt?

Because I don’t want to be the woman who became carefree and bold because of the man in her life.

She wanted to be the woman who had come to this place and found her confidencebecause I deserve to be confident.

Callum had been a part of that, of course. Thinking differently would be foolish.

And so had Sergio. Even when she’d told him their date wouldn’t be happening, he’d called her beautiful and told her to look him up if she changed her mind. Even after everything.

Hell, he drove hours to come see me today.

But it wasn’t as though men had never complimented her. Wanted to sleep with her.

Callum might have encouraged her to jump off the top of the waterfall, but in the end. . .I was the one who jumped.

Granny might have shoved her ass out the door to go surfing . . .but I still did it.She’d face-planted, but she’d done it.

Nothing this past week had gone according to plan. And she hoped she’d learned something from it.

“Well, ladies, I don’t know about you, but I am ready to consume ridiculous amounts of alcohol and get this party started,” Hunter said, interrupting her thoughts as she finished folding the fabric.

“I don’t know that I have anything to wear,” Liddy said, standing and straightening with a grimace. All she wanted was to go back to her bungalow and crawl into bed, but she wasn’t about to ruin Elle’s last “single” night.

“Don’t worry.” Hunter winked at her and reached into the shopping bags he’d brought back. “I picked up a couple of sexy little numbers for my girls while I was shopping. Yours is yellow. And it’ll definitely get you laid again.” He handed Liddy a silky golden yellow dress.

“Wow, that’s gorgeous, Hunter.”

“I know.” He turned and gave Taryn a grin. “And now that Quinn’s friend Jasper is here, Taryn, you have someone to hook up?—”

“Can it, Hunter.” Taryn shoved him. “Let’s meet back here in like fifteen minutes. Elle should be back by now.”

“Want to share an umbrella?” Rebecca asked Liddy.

“I’d love to.” Liddy started toward the door, then startled as Rebecca pulled an umbrella from where it’d been propped against a wall in the corner of the room. Together with a couple other umbrellas, it had covered some bags sitting there, which Liddy instantly recognized as Callum’s.

Liddy’s heart gave a painful lurch.

He really did leave the bungalow.

She’d been doing her best to avoid thinking about it, but seeing the bags there made it hard to breathe.

Wow. Why does this hurt so much?

A part of her had been stupidly hoping he’d change his mind. Or that things could return to the way they’d been this morning.

Rebecca watched her closely. “You all right?”

Liddy avoided her gaze, trying to think of a suitable response as they stepped outside. Sharing an umbrella put them closer proximity wise.And besides, I trust Rebecca.

“Callum and I had a fight,” she said at last. In some ways, it was true. It’d been less passionate than that, really. Callum had that defeated, emotionless mask on his face again. And she’d been too frustrated to argue back. Especially when he’d been trying to tell her to go out with Sergio, as though it was nothing to him.

“Another one?” Rebecca grimaced. The lights on the path cast deep shadows on the walkway and Isla had warned them earlier to watch out for frogs, which sometimes came out on the paths. Liddy kept her gaze down, using that as an excuse not to look at Rebecca.

“We butt heads easily.” Another truth. Lying by omission might be easy enough.

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