“Not at all. You need to text me her number later. I promised to be in touch when I could schedule a ride for her, and…”
I got up to walk outside. I wanted to talk to him without my sister in my face. “And you always keep your promises. I get it.”
Vivienne made a move to follow me.
I pointed a finger at her, warning her to stay. It might not work, but it was worth a try.
She didn’t follow me outside, probably only because we hadn’t paid yet. She couldn’t have them thinking she was stiffing the restaurant.
“How’s your morning?” I asked, pushing open the door and moving to the sidewalk.
“Good so far.”
I pressed the phone harder to my ear. It was loud out here. “I’m glad you called. I wanted to say I’m sorry——”
“Stop right there, Sunshine,” he interrupted. “What did I tell you last night?”
“That you meant what you said,” I answered.
“Later. When I was leaving.”
My brain went blank.
“Look forward, not back. No more apologies necessary,” he said.
I nodded, which was stupid, because he couldn’t see it. “Okay, but I feel bad about——”
“Maybe in your family you needed to apologize multiple times, but that’s not how I was raised. You’re better than that. Once is all you need with me.”
“Okay, I’ll try… It’s good to hear your voice.” I’d longed to call and talk to him this morning, but had decided to hold off until tonight or tomorrow. The clingy, demanding woman was not a good look for me.
“When you say that, now I feel ten feet tall,” he responded.
I smiled, even if I didn’t understand him.
“The reason I’m calling, besides that I just wanted to hear your sweet voice, is that I need you to move in with me.”
He said it like we were discussing the weather. It was a simple statement——not a demand, or even a request. Just that’s was how it was going to be.
I was too dumbfounded to respond.
“Pack what you need for the first two weeks, and we’ll figure the rest out later. I’ll collect you at your place. What time can you be ready?”
Unpredictable didn’t begin to describe Liam. Tuesday night he had fucked me into next month. Wednesday he had tried to take my company away, and Thursday he had offered to save it. Last night he had said the most unbelievable things about me and then declined to even kiss me. My head was spinning.
“Sunshine,” he said through the phone. “What time works for you?”
“Four,” I told him. “What about four?”
“That’s a little late. Can we make it three?” he asked.
Late for what?“I guess,” I responded.
“Three it is. See you then, and don’t forget about Viv’s number. Bye now.” Then he was gone.
I leaned against the glass of the restaurant on wobbly legs.What just happened?
After taking a minute to regain my bearings, I returned to the booth.
