“Oh. Hi?” I say, puzzled, and go to move around her, but she steps in my path.
“It’s hard to believe he jumped ship with me and went with you,” she snarls, “but I guess we all can’t be as talented as you when it comes to taming the one and only Liam Morgan.”
“I’m not taming anybody.”
“He’s been seen out with you for the last couple weeks. The man never takes a woman out. If I had known all I had to do was trap him with a child I would have forgotten my birth control too. Good plan.” She clicks her tongue.
“It’s nothing like that.” I defend. “I didn’t plan anything. And how did you know about me and my son?”
“Honey, please,” she scoffs and waves her hand like a pretentious snob. “Nothing is kept secret in our circles. My dad saw you with him and a child. It seems though it will give me more leverage.”
“Leverage for what?”
“When me and my daddy sue him for wrongful termination. I only lost the job because he couldn’t keep it in his pants. You got a real winner on your hands. It won’t be long before he throws you to the curb.”
“Wow. Okay. Well, thank you for letting me know.” I shrug. “I’m sure he had his reasons and as I heard it, you quit. So, I’m guessing he didn’t give you what you wanted.”
Sam told me about Angela. She might have skipped the part where Liam slept with her, but I was told it was a real tantrum she threw because she didn’t get her way.
“Don’t make me look like some crying whore. You can’t tell me you didn’t sleep with the selfish, drug addict prick and say it wasn’t for the cash vault attached to his head. The man is worth millions. Even before he took over the company.”
My face crunches. Drug addict?
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. The refusal of aspirin.
Why he thinks I would think less of him. The baggage. The more to his story.
“Oh, don’t tell me you didn’t know the man was a hard-core user.” She sarcastically laughs. “He might seem cool and collected on the outside, but he has some cold dark demons that run hard on the inside. I’ve heard he’s cleaned up, but I’m sure it won’t be long before he starts using again. Especially someone like him.
“What do you even know about him?”
Besides trying to get into his wallet.
“Enough. My family and his go way back. As I said before, everyone around here talks. The bastard was a crazy drunk and pill head. It’s amazing he’s alive.”
“Listen, I don’t have time for whatever you’re trying to do. If you’re trying to scare me it’s not going to work. I know Liam now and he’s wonderful. I guess I got lucky.”
“Oh, you poor thing. You actually like him.”
“He’s been nothing but kind to me and he’s a wonderful father to my child.”
“I don’t know if you should be proud of that.” She laughs bitterly.
“I am. And a minute ago you wanted the same thing.”
Her face scrunches and she folds her arms across her chest. “Do you know anything about addicts? They always tend to fall off the wagon. From what my daddy tells me he’s one push away from falling off his. Do you really want to be around when it happens?”
This is how people talk about him? No wonder he doesn’t have many close friends. Is this how his family thinks?
“You obviously know nothing because many recover. The thing is he just needs support, instead of people like you saying he's gonna fail. If he falls, I’ll be there to catch him because it’s the right thing to do. Are you done now?"
“Whatever. Just trying to help.”
“I didn’t need it.” I turn to walk away and anger spurs in my chest. I turn back around and find she’s still standing there, staring me down. Good because I’m steaming. “Also I can’t blame him for not wanting a money grubbing ‘crying whore’ like you.
Her jaw drops. “How dare you!”
“I only used your words back at you.” I spin on my heel and march away.
I pull my phone from my purse once I make it back to my car. I have a text waiting from Liam about meeting him, Matty, and his friends for lunch, but I ignore it, letting my emotions do the typing.
I just met your ex.
Liam: I don’t have an ex. What are you talking about? What’s wrong?
My fingers hover over the keyboard and I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. There’s no point in getting into this over text message.
Nothing. I’m on my way. Where you guys at?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIAM
“Look, River, you didn’t turn to stone holding a child. You can do this.” Jaxson laughs and caresses his tattooed hand over his wife’s cheek. River looks like she went to battle after holding Matty on her lap. Because Matty wasn’t having any of it and squirmed the whole time.
“Seriously? He couldn’t wait to get away from me.” She glares at her husband.
He laughs and kisses her cheek making her instantly soften. It's good to see these two happy after all the shit they went through. It's what I want for myself. I didn't think I would ever say that before; wanting to be with only one girl, whipped by their charms, devoted and also trusting them. Trust. The biggest hurdle I face when it comes to Holly and my past.
“That’s only because he’s shy.” I defend. Matty is propped on my lap, now gnawing on a breadstick. “Wait till he gets to know his favorite Aunt and Uncle; he’ll be all over you.”
“So, we’re the
