Page 49 of Begin Again, Part 2

They drove in silence for a kilometre or two until Eden grew restless, and she found herself babbling away to distract herself. She was so afraid that her hurt, and anger would take over again if she stayed still too long.

She'd cried enough for Liam for one night. So she feigned a huge smile on her face as she asked Isaac random questions. He was happy to answer them all as he negotiated the car through the nearly empty streets. Eventually, the conversation moved on to their respective jobs, and Isaac updated her on his latest divorce case. A couple with mega-millions on the line, but the only thing they wanted to wrangle over was their ten-year-old Sphynx.

"I get it," Eden said. "I would have fought for Snow if I knew there's a custody battle."

"Who's Snow again?"

She was happy to fill Isaac in on the brutal ending of her engagement to Simon and their weeks-long battle over the Maltese poodle they'd jointly adopted.

"What a dick!"

"Right?" Eden chuckled, amazed that she could laugh about it now. There was a time when she thought she'd die from heartbreak, and days when she couldn't imagine a life without Simon. Now, her ex was nothing but a memory, and perhaps her biggest lesson learned and a beautiful mistake. A mistake she was so afraid she'd likely repeat with Liam if she wasn't careful.

Aware of the broody direction her thoughts were taking, Eden forced herself to snap out of her gloomy mood. She clasped her hands on her lap and said, "To be fair, I think I was more of a tacky-ass dick than he was."

"How so?" Isaac asked, glancing briefly at her before focusing on the road again.

"I kept the ring and wore it for two years. My friends pawned it for me just a few weeks ago. But I still feel guilty for keeping all that money, so I haven't touched it."

Isaac laughed. "Think of it as compensation for all your pain and suffering. If you guys were married and ended up divorcing, you'd have gotten a settlement of some sort."

"I guess." Eden chuckled. "Thank you, wise counsel!"

"I wish I took stuff from my ex. But it was either that or Zoe."

"You did well." She touched his arm to reassure him. "You did right by her."

"Thanks," he nodded, his eyes narrowing when they turned into her street and saw the long line of cars parked outside her place. "I didn't know Lydia is such a megastar she moves with an entourage."

Eden sighed, already dreading the looming confrontation with Liam. "It's my boss and his security detail."

Things got a little tense when Isaac insisted on walking her to the door, and Liam slipped out of his car and approached them.

"Is this the time to come home?" he asked, but his eyes were on Isaac.

"Mr Anderson, it's good to see you again," Isaac smiled and extended his arm. Liam shook his hand, and for an uncomfortable minute, Eden had to watch their testosterone-fuelled contest as they stared each other down.

She cleared her throat, hoping to end the standoff. "Thanks for the movie, Isaac. My treat next time."

"Sure," he said as he released Liam's hand and walked back to his car. "I'll call you soon. Let's do lunch later this week?"

"I'd like that." Eden waved at him and turned to her house.

But Liam had her in his grasp so fast, startling as he spun her around, his mouth fluttering too close to hers for comfort.

"Why is he still around? I told you to end it with him," he growled, and she could smell the bourbon on his breath, and she desperately wanted to kiss him then and taste it in her mouth. She was so close to reaching up and wrapping her arms around him. But then she remembered Laura on her knees, doing stuff to him, and her heart hardened as all her anger stirred to life.

"I won't end it." She pushed him away from her with all her might, and he staggered backwards. "You don't get to tell me what to do. And don't you ever come to my house uninvited again."

"Are you shitting me right now?" He snarled, and she rounded on him.

She gritted her teeth. "Listen carefully, Liam. We are done. Whatever we had, we were, we did, it's done! Over! Don't touch me in any way. From now on, let's stick to work and not complicate things."

His brow furrowed, he scoffed, "are you honestly angry with me over something I didn't even do?"

"That's exactly it, Liam. I didn't see you doing shit! You looked happy to have her on her knees!" Eden snapped, and tried again to head back inside, but he quickly blocked her path.

"Please," he pleaded. "I know it looks bad. But whatever you think you saw in my office isn't true. I didn't touch Laura. She means nothing to me."

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