Page 103 of The Reno
Liam blushed. Actually blushed. “Don’t mention it.”
“I am going to mention it. This is the best gift ever.” I slapped my hands on either side of Willa’s face. “I’m so excited to show you around. I can show you the house!”
“Can you let go?” Willa said, her speech muffled.
I pulled her into another hard hug. She said she hated public displays of affection, but I was one of the rare approved people.
Liam said, “I thought we could look around the market. I’ve made you a cheese board for later. I got some wine in. I will be out with Abi, so you two can catch up. I’m taking her to see the latest Marvel film.”
I squeezed Liam’s hand. My eyes threatened to well up. He’d thought of everything. He was willing to give me space to hang out with my best friend.
“Thank you,” I murmured, filled with gratitude.
I turned to Willa. She was staring at Liam and me with morbid fascination. I dropped Liam’s hand and felt him tense beside me. I glanced up at him, but I found his resting bitch face firmly in place.
Fuck.
I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t deny that I was struggling with this. This was not casual. None of this was casual. I’d been lulled into a false sense of security in Everly Heath. But with Willa here, someone from my old life, I felt on display. I wanted to blame it on Liam and send my walls swinging back up, but it was my fault, too. I felt comfortable next to him. I felt loved and seen and looked after.
I was down bad, too.
“So, are we going to talk about it, then?” Willa cocked an eyebrow as we sat watchingCluelessand sipping the Sauvignon Blanc Liam had left us in the fridge.
I’d tried to distract Willa all day to avoid this conversation. I knew it was coming, but I wasn’t ready to face it yet—not for the questions that Willa would ask me bluntly. We’d walked through the markets, looking at each stall in detail. We’d gone for a drink at the club, and I’d introduced her to Sandra and Brian, who were having a pint of lager. I’d even introduced her to Peter, who’d grunted in welcome. With Liam gone, we’d got a cab to the house, and I’d shown her the progress on the renovation. I’d watched Willa’s face as she’d looked around, nodding, and I nervously repeated that it wasn’t finished yet.
I ignored her comment, leaned forward, picked up a piece of Parma ham, and threw it in my mouth. I chewed slowly, trying to focus on the salty taste.
“That man is half in love with you,” Willa said, sipping her wine.
I choked. “No, he’s not.”
“Kat,” she said, her tone flat. “Don’t pretend you don’t see it, too. I know you do. You’re lying to yourself.”
“I’m not… I know he cares about me. But we’ve agreed to keep it casual.”
Willa scoffed. “It’s more than that. I watched him today. He pays attention to you, anticipates what you need, but gives you space at the same time. I mean, what man would pay for their best friend to come up from London, First Class, if they weren’t in love with them.” Willa threw some pepperoni in her mouth.
“He paid?”
“Yep. He didn’t blink an eyelid about the cost. He just said he would send me the ticket. I was sure he would flake—” Willa looked away, and I knew she was thinking about all the times fuck-face John had let her down. Promised her the world on a string, then bailed. “The tickets came through ten minutes later.”
“I mentioned I missed you.”
“And then he emailed me, begging for me to come up here.”
“I doubt he begged. Liam doesn’t beg.”
Willa held out her phone. “Do you want to see the email?”
“No,” I said too quickly.
Willa shook her head. “Only you would be like this.”
“Like what?”
“All avoidant.”
“I’m not avoiding.” I stood up, needing to move.
