Page 137 of Begin Again, Part 1

"This shit won't end well. You need to tell Liam the truth and quit finding reasons why you can't."

Lydia agreed with Sienna, nodding her head emphatically. "I'm usually okay with bad decisions, but this is starting to stink bad."

Eden opened her mouth to defend herself, but her mind drew a blank because they were right. Now that she knew Liam wasn't married, she had no reason to keep the truth from him. When she met him tomorrow for lunch, she'd ask Isaac for his legal expertise on co-parenting and shared custody.

"I just need to find the right moment," she said.

"There'll never be the right moment!" Sienna snorted. "Two years, Eden! How much longer will you keep them apart? Liam's trying to meet you halfway. Why don't you do the same?"

Eden wished she could make them see there was more to Liam's over the top romantic gestures. But since they didn't know her real reasons for taking the job at Anderson Logistics, they were under the illusion that Liam was pursuing her romantically.

"Maybe it's time you quit," Lydia suggested. "I mean, focus on Aiden's book, and try to get it published, and then you can live off the royalties."

Eden laughed, ignoring the dull ache on her cheek. "You've got jokes."

"But Edie, you were assaulted at work, and things with Liam are getting messy," Cassandra said in her fatherly tone. "Maybe it's time to pack this shit up. The three of us can help you for a while till you find something. I mean, the studio isn't doing so well, but I can make a plan."

Eden was touched by the offer, and the thought of quitting had crossed her mind a lot over the past few weeks and more times than she cared to count today. But she couldn't leave Anderson Logistics. Not until Liam had worked through his issues with his therapist.

"I have a bunch of money from my videos, and the soapie is paying me well so you can be my sugar baby for a while." Lydia tried to persuade her when the other two failed.

"Guys, I'll be okay," Eden said, hoping she sounded convincing.

She didn't. Her friends' frowns remained on their anxious faces the longer they stared at her.

"Anyway," she said in an oddly cheerful voice, considering the day she'd had. "Isaac's back in town. I'm seeing him tomorrow for our rain check."

"You've been holding out on us, St. Eden. Spill!" Lydia said as they all turned to her, demanding details.

Eden gave them her vague plans with Isaac, and they spent a few minutes planning her date, from her outfit to what she should eat.

"You have to look cute tomorrow!" Sienna said. "Wear your LBD and the leopard print heels."

"Pull up your hair to show off your neck," Lydia offered. "Necks are a thing now. Guys go crazy for necks."

"And don't eat anything messy," was Cassandra's only piece of advice.

"Guys, relax. I've got this," Eden assured them as she placed Aiden in his stroller and picked up his toys. "It's just a sandwich lunch to make up for the coffee chat Liam crashed last month."

"It's a date!" they said in unison.

She laughed, shaking her head. "No, it's not. It's a handyman interview."

"Then he's a fucking hot handyman," Lydia said as she drooled all over Isaac's photos on his Instagram.

"Wait, so where does this leave Liam?" Sienna asked. "I mean, if you're going on a date with Isaac, he'll lose his shit."

"A girl has to have options." Lydia saved Eden the trouble of answering.

They spent a few more minutes filling each other in on their plans for the week.

"Liam wants a meeting with your handlers," Eden said, and brought Lydia up to speed on his plans to sign her as Anderson Logistics' brand ambassador.

Lydia wasn't too keen. "Edie, what do I even know about shipping? Would I have to pose with delivery boxes and shit?"

Sienna and Cassandra collapsed on the bench, cackling their heads off. The image of their friend wearing a hard hat and carrying delivery boxes was too funny not to laugh.

"I don't think it will be as bad as that." Eden tried to convince her. "Just meet with the marketing team, hear them out, and then decide."

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