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“Take care. Get some rest,” I said, holding the door for her as we exited the lab building.
“Thanks. Talk soon.” She pressed her full lips together in a tight line before digging in her oversized bag, popping her sunglasses on her face.
I headed to my car, dreading the next ten days. They were quite possibly going to be the longest days of my life.
29
MACY
The more I tried to forget about Liam—the harder I worked to shove away the memories of him, of us—the worse it got.
Even though I’d lived here a really long time and I’d only known him for a hot minute, everywhere I looked there were reminders of him.
Stupid, unavoidable things too. Like a commercial on television we’d laughed about or the air right after it rained that smelled like his freshly washed sheets. A song on the radio he said he liked, the grilled cheese-and-tomato sandwich at the diner.
How was I supposed to live here—live anywhere—and not think about him? His bright blue eyes, that infectious smile, his hearty chuckle whenever I said anything even remotely funny. His scent, woodsy and manly, his touch on my skin, how we fit together just right.
My heart ached, knowing full well I’d never find anyone as perfect as him again in my life, even if I lived to be a hundred.
FML.
It was all I could do to drag myself to work. But at least I had something to do. I even picked up extra shifts at the Rowdy. I needed the money, and it was better than sitting at home, moping and thinking about what could’ve been.
I wasn’t even supposed to be working tonight, which is why when I glanced up and locked eyes with a familiar set of deep blue ones, I froze, my heart skipping in my chest.
Damn Steph and her made-up emergencies.I knew I should’ve said no. But here I was, face-to-face with Liam.
“Hey.” His low, husky voice sent an unwanted hot thrill of electricity shooting straight through me, my entire lower body tingly.
Shitballs.
“You know, there are other bars in town,” I said, forcing the words out of my mouth with a hard edge despite the gooeyness of my insides.
He cocked his head, his dark hair freshly cut. “No, there aren’t.”
Damn, he looked better than ever.
I put one hand on my hip, aggravation warring with hot desire. Honestly, desire was winning. I hoped he couldn’t tell I wanted to lean across the bar and kiss him, tell him how much I’d missed him.
Instead, I worked hard on giving off my bestfuck youvibe. “Fine, you might have to go a town over. But it’s not that far of a drive.”
He let that comment slide. “Did you get the flowers I sent?”
“Yes. All of them. The hospital, school, nursing home, diner, church, and bakery patrons thank you.”
He sighed. “Well, at least people are enjoying them. Listen, Mace,” he sat down on a bar stool, clearly not leaving anytime soon. “Can we please talk?”
His eyes met mine, his gaze so intensely sad, so remorseful, that a tiny, traitorous space in my heart opened up. Just a tad, but I wasn’t thrilled about the chink in my armor.
Still, I somehow managed to hold my resolve. All those years of being disappointed were finally coming in handy.
“I don’t think we have anything to talk about, Liam. You’re going to have a baby with Aria out in Malibu. I live here, in Peachtree Grove. Under no circumstance can we be together.”
“I took a paternity test. I should be getting the results any day now,” he said, his voice so quiet I could barely hear him over all the noise in the bar.
My pulse picked up at the news, my heartbeat racing in my chest.Damn this man. Why couldn’t he just leave me well enough alone?Now I’d be stressing out the next few days, our future hanging in the balance.
No, you won’t. Because you can’t go back, no matter what.
