Billionaires Dollar Series

“Go, then,” Ethan murmurs. “Give my kids some cousins.”

“Screw you,” I tell him, but we’re both grinning.

I glance from my book to the phone next to me. Still nothing. No email, no texts, no calls. Shaking my head, I flip the page and try to return to the flow of the story. I never have time to read, so this weekend should be a godsend.

Another glance at my phone.

Blowing out a frustrated breath, I put down the book altogether. There’s no way to concentrate after the past couple of days I’ve had.

And whose call am I waiting for?

The institute’s?

Or Liam’s?

My mind has been replaying the events of the past few days nonstop. The confrontation with Jason at Cole Porter’s, the argument with Liam yesterday, the sauce that didn’t emulsify. It all stings, but the worst of it is his no-show. That he didn’t text me beforehand.

The realization that we’re not what I’d hoped we were.

I push away from the bench in my parents’ garden, tucking my book under my arm. Perhaps I’ll go for a run instead, clear my head and race from my troubles.

A car engine roars on the street outside my parents’ house. I look over the hedge, frowning. My parents’ house is on a cul-de-sac-and no one drives fast in Fairfield. A black sports car parks outside our house, familiar in its sleek shape.

No. No. No.

But yes, because here he is, stepping out of the car and stretching to his full height. A gray button-down clings to his frame, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Liam locks the car behind him and runs a hand through his hair.

He looks like something out of a magazine.

I rush out to the sidewalk on half-steady legs. “Liam? What are you doing here?”

His lips quirk when he sees me, and he shoves his hands in his pockets. “I couldn’t let our last conversation stand.”

“But why here? My parents are just inside!”

“Then let’s go say hi.”

I just stare at him. “Of course not. They don’t exactly know what we’ve been doing.” Grabbing his arm, I pull him down the sidewalk. “Come on.”

“I’m not adverse to a walk,” he says. “Exercise is important.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“No, you are. But I want to get back in your good graces, so I’ll refrain from pointing it out.”

“You just did.”

“Right. Well, I’ll be on my best behavior from here on out.”

I look over my shoulder. My parents haven’t come out to investigate the car-no doubt they’re still planted on the back porch with the Saturday crossword and the ocean view.

“You drove all the way out here?”

“Yes. Do you know I haven’t been back in Fairfield since I left?”

“Yeah, I do know. My parents would have informed me the second they heard you’d been in town.”

Surprised green eyes meet mine, but hmm is all he says. And then I’m the one who has to catch up with him, hurrying as he strides down a grassy path between two houses to the cliffs beyond. I tug my sweater tight around my body as an ocean breeze sweeps over us. It’s always nippy this close to the Pacific.

Liam’s voice is pleased. “Remember all the time we spent out here?”

“We tried to fish off these cliffs once. Your dad told us it wouldn’t work.”

“He was right.” I shake my head, looking at him. “Liam, why are you here?”

He gives me a crooked smile, devoid of calculated charm or slickness. It’s self-deprecating. “I made the wrong call the other day. I suspected it the second I got in the car, but by then it felt too late. I figured putting out one fire was better than nothing at all.”

I swallow. “You didn’t call me to let me know.”

“I thought about it.” Liam shoves his hands in his pockets, the wind tousling his thick hair. “But I was… well, I was afraid to.”

“Afraid?”

“I know you’d tell me I’d made the wrong decision.”

“That’s not for me to decide.”

“No,” he says, smiling, “but you would have made it clear nonetheless.”

I look away from him to the blue ocean beyond. It’s calm, nothing like the storm inside me. “What are we?”

“We’re friends,” Liam says. “We’ve always been friends. Not seeing each other for a decade hasn’t changed that-not for me.”

“And sleeping together?”

“Not very friendly of us,” he admits. “Awfully fun, though.”

A small, breathless laugh escapes me. “See, that’s what complicates it for me. I thought I’d be able to separate things, to just have fun… but that’s not me.”

“I know, Maddie.”

“And I can forgive a friend easily for yesterday-for making the wrong call. Of course I can.”

Something in his shoulders relaxes, green eyes warming on mine. I force the next words out. “But I don’t know if I can forgive someone I’m… sleeping with doing that. I can’t have anything like that happen again.” My words take on a frantic tone, but I can’t stop it, can’t stop my fingers from fisting in my sweater. “I can’t get hurt again.”

“I know, Maddie, I know. And I don’t ever want to be the one who hurts you. I won’t-if I say I’ll be there, I will.”

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