Page 4 of The Arrangement
“Liam?” I gasped before I could catch that single word. My brain had locked up at the possibility of Liam fucking Rose standing right next to me.
The man’s head whipped toward me, his familiar hazel eyes so fucking wide. “Rome?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” We’d grown up in a suburb outside of Providence, Rhode Island. The idea that we were both in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the same time, attending the same event, was preposterous. It wasimpossible!
“I work here,” he growled. Wrinkles formed between his brows and along the ridge of his petite nose. “What are you doing here?”
“Attending my friend’s performance.”
“But you don’t live here, right?” There was an edge of desperation in his voice that brought a predatory smile to my lips. He took a nervous step away, as if he were afraid that I would jump on his worthless ass.
“I’ve lived here for a few years now.” My eyes slowly scraped down his lean frame from the top of his deep-red hair to the toes of his polished loafers, curling my upper lip as I returned my gaze to his face. “However, I’m reconsidering. It seems the local population has taken a turn for the worse.”
“Trust me, you’d be doing the entire state a favor if you pulled yet another disappearing act and left the area.”
The block of ice that had formed when I’d realized I was standing next to myformerbest friend and the first person to ever break my heart melted in an instant as rage rushed through my entire body.The fucking asshole!
“Rome? There you are!” Allie’s sweet voice cut through the din and stopped the scathing words that had risen to lodge in the back of my throat. She hurried over and threaded her arm through mine, oblivious to the fact that I was seconds away from punching Liam in the nose for his brutal betrayal and heartless abandonment. “Oh! Are you Rome’s violinist friend?” she inquired, turning her attention to Liam.
“No, he’s not my friend,” I bit out.
A harsh scoff broke from Liam’s throat, and his face twisted up into an ugly, pained expression. “You fucking ruined my life, and you’re not even gay.”
“No, I’ve leveled up, bitch.” I flashed him a broad smile that was all clenched teeth. “I’m pan. I find all types of people sexy. Just not douche bags.”
My hand gripping Allie’s where she held my arm, I pulled her along with me, leaving behind the drink I’d ordered. Thankfully, she didn’t speak as we cut across the rotunda to disappear in a thick grouping of event guests.
“Has Pierce left?” I asked.
“Uh…yeah. He left a minute before I came to find you.” She sounded as if she were still trying to process what she’d witnessed.
I grunted. “Let me congratulate Simon, and then we’ll get out of here,” I replied. Hate and rage bubbled in my veins, and my jaw ached from where I was clenching my teeth, but I couldn’t leave without at least saying a few words to Simon. This was his first performance in Cincinnati. One of his friends needed to be there to support him. He was a grown man, though, and probably didn’t give a shit if any of us were here for him. Still, Sawyer would have appreciated it.
Sebastian and Byron would have been there, but they were out of town for the weekend, visiting Byron’s brother. Declan had canceled at the last minute because Joy had come down with some nasty virus. Considering how bad the last one was, I was glad he hadn’t come. He’d be a germ carrier, and I didn’t want to be the virus’s next victim.
“Rome, I’ve had a fun night, but if you’re not up for doing something after this, I understand. That guy seemed like an asshole.”
A hint of a smile lifted one corner of my mouth. Okay, maybe I’d misjudged Allie a bit. “Thanks. Maybe we could have a rain check on the second half of our night. Try something with more excitement.”
Her hand tightened on my arm, giving it a squeeze. “That would be nice.”
Anything to help me forget about Liam fucking Rose.
2
LIAM ROSE
My hands were shakingas I carried the rum and Coke I’d barely remembered to pick up along the corridors of the museum and through an employee door. At last. Away from the guests who were wandering the building following the concert.
Rome.
Rome Ashbridge.
Here. In Cincinnati.
That should have been impossible.
How was hehere? He shouldn’t have been here. The asshole should have been living far from here, like New York or LA. Possibly even London or Tokyo. I thought his family was still in Rhode Island. Why wasn’t hethere? Why did he have to behere?
