Page 123 of The Import Slot
Ryan opens the door and Vicky gasps audibly. Liam Preston is standing there with an overnight bag and a suitcase.
The entire room goes quiet, and Ryan breaks out into a laugh, pulling Liam into a hug.
My eyes dart to Vicky, who looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her knuckles are white from holding her glass so tight, and she shakes her head in disbelief.
“Everyone, this is my brother, Liam. Liam, this is everyone.” Ryan goes around the room, giving everyone’s name, but I can tell Liam isn’t listening because his attention is locked on Vicky.
As soon as Ryan gets to Vicky and Gary, he pauses.
“—And you, of course, know Vicky, and this is Vicky’s date, Gary.”
Vicky and Liam stare at each other, and she downs her drink, pouring another into her glass before downing that too.
“Liam, it’s so nice to meet you in person. Here, let me take your bags,” I say.
“I got it. I got it,” Ryan says, grabbing Liam’s luggage and tossing it into his room.
“Jenna! Come here.” Liam hugs me, and the first thing I notice is how different it feels. He and Ryan look identical, but the feeling I get from his hug is different. My stomach doesn’t twist into knots, and my body doesn’t tingle with excitement, not until Ryan is back at my side and brushes my hand with his.
“We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I pulled some strings, and here I am.” He gives an awkward wave.
“Drink?” I ask, and he nods, following me over to the fridge.
“So, you’re the one who cracked him, then?” Liam says.
The chatter has started again, and someone has put music on.
“I guess?”
I’m honestly not sure what to say to that. Liam takes a beer from the shelf, and I hand him a bottle opener before replacing the missing bottle with a warm one from the box on the counter.
“Hey, could I use the washroom real quick?”
I point him in the direction, and he excuses himself, giving Vicky ample opportunity to sweep in.
“What the actual fuck, Jenna? What is he doing here?” Vicky says, her nostrils flaring.
“I invited him for Christmas. He wasn’t due until tomorrow, but—”
“Why would you invite him? Why?”
“Because he’s Ryan’s brother, and Christmas is about family and—”
“Vicster.” Liam stands behind her, putting his beer down on the counter. “Do I get a hug?”
I brace myself, thinking she will kick off, but to my complete surprise, she hugs him.
It’s not a hug that someone would give a friend, though, because it’s literally three minutes later that they break away. I know this because the oven timer had three minutes left when they started, and now it’s beeping to say it’s done.
Poor Gary is standing there like he’s witnessing a car accident in slow motion, but he doesn’t look away.
I grab the mitt and pull the tray of party food out of the oven and call to the crowd that it’s ready trying to move the focus away from Vicky and Liam.
Johnny cuts in, giving Liam a quick hug before they chat, Ryan moving to join their conversation.
Vicky heads for the fridge and grabs another bottle of white wine. She pours herself a glass, keeps the bottle clutched, and returns to the sofa.
