Page 99 of Mostly Loathing You

I don’t bother knocking, a formality I’ve long since abandoned over the past few weeks. Liam and Jackson have grown used to me just walking in, so I can’t imagine today would be any different. My heart races in anticipation as I step inside, knowing that I am seconds away from sharing the biggest accomplishment of my life with the two most important men in it.

As I scan the room, my eyes instantly land on Liam. Where I expect him to be hunched over his computer, tapping away at the keys with laser focus and precision, the sight in front of me is much, much worse.

Veronica Tatum, the constant thorn in my side since Istarted at the firm, is currently leaning over Liam’s chair with her ass pressed against the edge of his desk and her lips pressed to his.

I want to scream, I want to yell, I want to throw the fucking stapler positioned at the corner of his desk at their freaking heads. But as I struggle to breathe amidst what I just walked into, I do none of that…I just turn around and walk away, delicately shutting the door so as not to be heard.

Jackson passes me in the hallway as tears stream down my face. I need to go to Stephen; I need to put in my notice so that I can start planning my move to start what was supposed to be one of the biggest, most exciting moments in my life. However, as Jackson’s eyes meet mine, I just shake my head at him, managing, despite it all, to not want to throw Liam under the bus when it comes to us. It’s not the first time Liam has made me cry, so when the words flow off my tongue, Jackson doesn’t even question it.

“Liam is a fucking asshole.”

His look of concern morphs into amusement, no doubt clearly thinking that Liam and I just got into one of our bickering matches. Little does he know that he’s managed to rip my heart out twice in the span of seventy-two hours.

“Yeah, bug. I know.” He wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me into a hug.

I hug him back, but all I want is to leave this building and never come back.

Fucking asshole.

FORTY-FOUR

LIAM

I freeze when I feel the warmth of Veronica’s lips on mine. Everything around me stops as my brain frantically attempts to process this unfamiliar sensation. Instead of the tantalizing taste of Hannah’s favorite Starburst candies, all I can taste is the sharpness of peppermint toothpaste. The shock of reality hits me like a ton of bricks, and I instinctively push her away, slack-jawed and wide-eyed as I stare at her.

“Veronica, what are you doing?”

Her flirtatious tone from before is nowhere to be found as she gazes at me, doe-eyed as shame washes over her. “I…I thought—”

“You thought what?”

“I thought you were…into me.” Veronica diverts her gaze to the mahogany of my desk. A pink tinge washes over her cheeks, but it’s not the kind that brings a smile to my lips. She’s embarrassed and I don’t have the bandwidth right now to try to reassure her and make her feel better.

“Veronica,” I sigh, “I’m sorry that I made you think that. I should have been more clear.”

Tears begin to well in her eyes as she looks at me. I anticipate a response, but she doesn’t say anything as she stands. I expect her to leave without a second word, but she turns on her heels halfway to the door.

“Is there something wrong with me?” Her usually confident gaze is replaced with vulnerability as she asks me the question. Her full lips quiver as she waits for an answer, and I feel my stomach sink.

I don’t know what to say. My hands curl into fists as I rub my brow in frustration, not at her, but at the situation we have found ourselves in.

“No, V,” I finally manage to say. “It’s not like that. If I were single, maybe, but—”

“You have a girlfriend?!” A look of utter disbelief replaces the pain on her face as she steps back and opens her mouth in shock.

“Is that surprising to you?” I quirk my brow, trying to keep any potential insult I might feel at her shock at bay.

“Yeah, kinda.” Veronica rolls her ankle in a circular motion as she stares down at her foot, the simple motion giving her some level of calm in an otherwise uncomfortable situation. “In the entire time I’ve known you, you’ve never even mentioned a girl in your life. The only woman I hear you talk about besides your mom is Hannah, and we both know you’re not dating Hannah. I realize my surprise may have come off a little crass, but Liam, you’ve never even mentioned her.”

Her statement about Hannah stings and I realize for the first time that maybe my refusal to be outright about us has put our relationship in danger. In my fear of damaging my career, my fear of causing chaos in our families, I have been so adamant that we not be open about our relationship, so muchso that, apparently, I managed to give a perfectly kind and attractive woman the wrong impression about my availability.

“Well, I do have a girlfriend. I’m a private guy, but that doesn’t change that fact.”

Veronica gnaws at the inside of her cheek as she nods. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have assumed.”

I nod, but I don’t find enjoyment in agreeing with her.

She offers an awkward bob of her head, shifting her weight between her feet. Her eyes flicker to the door, and she takes a small step toward it. With fingers that betray a slight tremble, she clasps the polished brass doorknob and slowly turns back to face me. “Whoever you’re with is a really lucky girl. I’m sorry for not knowing that.”

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