Page 80 of Meet Me at the Grand

“How do you know about that?”

“Oh. Well, I accidentally heard you talking about it with Cody after our first kiss. When you were in my aunt and uncle’s kitchen. I was in the other room still. I’m sorry. I really didn’t intend to eavesdrop.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like I wouldn’t have told you about it.” He sighed. “But I still stand by what I said then. Long distance doesn’t work.”

“And what about what Cody said? I think he’s right. You go after the things you really want. And I thought you wanted this. Unless it was all a lie?”

Flashes of smooth-talking Ryan MacBride crowded out her reason. He had never really cared about Mom. He’d fooled her, preying on her deep desire to be loved and cherished when her own husband had gotten too busy.

Whoa. How was she actually having compassion for Mom in this moment?

Dani shoved the thought aside and focused on Liam, the man who was breaking her heart. Again.

“Of course it wasn’t a lie. But if you heard what I said to Cody, then you know that my last long-distance relationship failed so miserably.”

“I’m not Tiffany.”

“I’m not saying you are. But I’m still Liam, and this job is going to require more of me than any I’ve ever worked. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. I don’t want to promise you something and then fail to be the guy you want—or need—me to be.”

“Liam, you’re letting fear control you again.” She dropped his hand and fisted his shirt before realizing how desperate she looked.

“I’m sorry, Dani. I care about you. I do. But I just…”

“You have to go.”

Just like Mom. Dad. Her siblings.

Why should Liam be any different? And why had she been dumb enough to believe that he would? To believe that broken hearts could ever really be mended?

Chest tight, Dani pulled away from Liam and turned, moving toward the couch. Pacing. Ugh, this apartment was way too small. She headed right back for the kitchen, and her eyes narrowed in on the lasagna.

Once full of promise. Now burned.

Dani touched the glass. No longer hot. Good. She took the pan and marched it to the garbage can, which she opened with a mash of her foot against the step. Overturning the pan, she shook the food into the trash. It took a moment, but it finally slid out into the can with a plop.

“Dani…” Liam moved closer, as if to help.

She must look crazy, throwing away what he thought was perfectly good food. “I can’t believe you’re just leaving. That you’re not even willing to try. But that’s what you do, huh? You leave when things get hard.”

“That’s not true. I don’t want to leave you. I was willing to stay. But if I don’t go now, I won’t leave. And I have to.”

Dani placed the pan in the sink and leaned against the counter. “Don’t you get it? I’m not mad that you’re leaving. Sad, sure. But not angry. I understand your need to be in L.A. I really do. But the fact that you’re letting this play out just like you did with Tiffany?—”

“It’s not the same at all.” Frustration edged his voice.

“It’s exactly the same!” And she couldn’t keep the shout out of hers. “Tiffany asked you to commit, and you broke up with her. You get close to somebody, and then you run. That’s what you do, Liam. You’re just a coward pretending to be a hero.”

She hated the look of horror on his face—disbelief—but she couldn’t find it in her to apologize. Not when he was determined to leave her alone…again.

“Sheesh, Dani.”

Her insides felt numb. “You’re going to go, Liam. So just…go.” Then she pointed at him. “But one day, you’re going to look back and see that this was the biggest mistake of your life.”

Then again, it didn’t seem like anyone else who had left her regretted it. So maybe Liam wouldn’t either.

* * *

She’d survived before. She’d survive again.

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