Page 14 of Kiss the Bride

That’s because you weren’t my Liv, any longer.“What do you want me to call you?”

She waits a beat and I will her to say,yours, but it’s too late and too soon. I had my chance and second chances don’t happen to a guy like me. “Best friend?” Liv tries to smile. “But if that’s a mouthful, thenLivwill do.”

“I wonder what they’ll do with all the food?” Liv asks, sipping on one of her vodka cruisers. It’s her second, but I’ve finally encouraged her to eat the rest of her burger and all the fries. Shecan have one more drink, and then I’ll encourage her to go back to shore and find a decent coffee.

“At the reception?” She’s been silent while I steer my boat along the shoreline, past our old picnic and secret camping spots.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to go?”

“No,” Liv snaps, before adding calmly, “I just hope the food doesn’t go to waste. I hope Mum and dad get to have at least one dance together and remember that once upon a time he wasn’t with that witch.”

“They’ve been together for over a decade, I think she can be upgraded from witch to step-monster.”

“Whatever. She cheated with a married man.”

There’s no correct response to that, not today. Not to a woman who has just come face to face with infidelity.

“I wonder why Mum doesn’t hate him more.”

“Your dad?”

“Yeah.” Liv opens her third cruiser. I’ve still got half a dozen bottles of water in the hull. The first chance I get, I’m replacing the bottles in her hand. “She just accepted that he moved on with someone else and put her life on hold for Marcus and me.”

“Your parents always seemed like good friends, like the marriage made them sad but whenever you guys came over to my family’s dinners, your dad always seemed to get on better with your mum than his new wife.”

“I used to think that mum and dad had an arrangement until the witch decided to pressure him into marriage.”

“Is that what you would have wanted?” I have to ask.

“Did you know?”

“About your dad—how could I?” How many times will she ask if I knew about Mitch and Lina?As many times as it takes for her to process their betrayal.

“No, about Mitchel. You can be honest with me.” She waves her arms around. “We’re in the middle of nowhere and I won’t hold it against you. I know if you didn’t tell me there’s a reason.”

“Seriously, I didn’t have a clue, and I doubt the other guys did either. Pete seemed pretty pissed at Lina dumping him. Guess she couldn’t stand being at her boyfriend’s wedding with a different boyfriend.” Fuck. Why did I say that? I couldn’t have been more of an asshole if I’d tried. “Sorry, that came out all wrong.”

Instead of more tears, Liv holds my gaze with the pale green eyes I still love. To know Liv’s mood, I’ve only ever needed to see the shade of her eyes. “I know I keep asking,” she says, “but I need to know the truth. Did you, did any of the guys know?”

“No, and I don’t know what we would have done. Hit him, threaten him, or tell you. I don’t know.”

“I know.” Her forlorn smile makes me want to kiss her better wherever she hurts.

“What?”

“You would have figured out what would have hurt me the least. Probably told my dad so he could have a chat with Mitchel before you both got the evidence to show me.”

“You wouldn’t have believed me?” I clutch at my chest in mock offense.

“Probably,” she shrugs as I quickly duck downstairs and grab two bottles of water. “But I needed to see it. To see them in full flight. Now I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. I can’t pretend that things can go back to the way they were, even one day ago.”

“Liv.” I open and hand her a bottle, replacing alcohol with water. We’re almost back at the marina and it’s time to bring her back to reality before handing her over to her mum or dad’s loving arms.

“Hunter.” Liv uses her tone usually reserved for when I screw up—or when she wants me to confess or continue a conversation that I want killed.

“How about we text your mum, let her know you’re okay, and that she should pack a bag.”

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