Page 28 of Taming Liberty

“Anyway.” She waves a hand dismissively. “You’re home now. Do you have to work today? I was wondering if maybe we could go hiking. I’ve been wanting to check out the island but didn’t think it would be safe without you close by.”

“Good call.” I take another sip of coffee and regret it. Did she use the whole bag for this one pot? Fuck.

“I’d love to take you,” I say, feeling better. Maybe that’s all this is. She’s bored out of her mind and doesn’t want to admit it. She’d rather hang out with me than waste more time and energy fighting.

The time apart may have done us some good.

“There’s a waterfall that has a nice plunge pool you might like. It’s about a four-mile hike, but it’s worth it.”

Sawyer and I found it months after he bought the island. It’s a great place to escape. And, not that I’m anticipating anything, it’s a great place to fuck.

Her face lights up. “That sounds great!”

My lips curve into a smile, a genuine one this time, before I take a third sip of coffee without thinking about it. I cough and set the mug on the table, scooting it away before I make a fourth mistake.

“I do have some work to get done, but it can wait. Let me just throw some shoes on, and we’ll go, okay?” I begin to stand, but Lib’s frown has me pausing.

“Don’t you want to finish your food?” she asks.

No.

“Yes, of course.” I sit back down and pick up the tostada that reminds me way too damn much of my home. Still, I’d rather force it down than hurt Lib’s feelings, or worse, explain to her why I don’t like the reminder.

I take a bite and lean back in the chair.

“Besides, I want to hear about your trip first. Did you get everything taken care of?”

I chew, swallow, and shake my head. “No.”

She stares like she’s waiting for me to continue, but I have no intention to. It wasn’t a vacation, it was a business venture that ended up being countless hours of wasted time and investment. None of which concerns Lib.

“Oh,” she murmurs when I don’t go on, her face falling. “I’m sorry.”

I shrug and take another bite of the tostada, bigger this time. The sooner I’m finished, the sooner we can leave. I’m actually excited. I should’ve thought of taking her to the waterfall weeks ago.

“What did you go for exactly? I mean, you and Sawyer are business partners, right? Wasn’t he already in Shanghai?”

There go the alarm bells.

I chew slowly, thinking through my next response. I don’t want to overreact, but I’m sensing a little too much curiosity from Lib.

I swallow. “It’s just business. I promise you don’t want me to bore you with the details.”

“Your life isn’t boring to me, and honestly, it’s exciting to hear about anything not taking place here. It feels so weird sometimes, being isolated from the outside world. At least let me live vicariously through you.”

“Hmm.” I sit straighter and place the plate on the table. “Well, in that case…”

I start telling her about the plane ride, the restaurants I ate at, the size of the buildings in Shanghai. I talk about how the traffic was horrendous and the pollution that made me appreciate the island, about the fancy bottles of shampoo left in the hotel bathroom, and every boring detail I can think of until I’m sure her head is going to explode.

I watch her frustration build, watch her once curious eyes glaze over, and when I’m positive she won’t ever ask me about a business trip again, I pause to take a fake sip of the coffee, letting the bitter liquid splash my lips.

I wait, giving Lib the chance to politely move the conversation in another direction, but when she doesn’t, my face falls.

“Wow,” she says, a fake dreamy sound in her voice. “That sounds really cool. And Sawyer was with you? Did you guys go out anywhere or do anything fun?”

Why?

“Sawyer and I were only there for business.” I make my tone just firm enough so she’ll understand I don’t want to talk about it, but she either misses it or ignores it.

---