Page 31 of A Simple Reminder
He leans over the table, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m sticking to bullshit.”
“I’m not surprised,” I say, loud enough for him to hear but too soft to be directed at him. Still, his brow furrows slightly at my comment, but he seems to ignore it as he flips the card, revealing my bluff. “I knew it.”
“Guess I’m not as good a bluffer as you are, ” I mumble, scooping the cards toward me. My words hang in the air, and for a brief moment, there’s something else in Liam’s eyes–regret, maybe, or hurt. It’s gone as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual confidence as he ignores my second petty comment.
Adeline glances between us. “Alright, what’s the next card?” she asks, trying to steer the conversation back to the game.
Liam smirks, his eyes not leaving mine. “Three kings,” he says, placing the cards down with slow, deliberate care, challenging me to call him out.
Well, I can see right through him. This is more than just a playful card game. He’s provoking me. I raise an eyebrow, the accusation slipping out before I can stop it. “Bullshit.”
He raises his hands in mock surrender, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. “See for yourself.”
I flip the cards quickly, my heart pounding, ready to call him out.
Three kings.
He wasn’t bluffing.
“Look at that. Youdoknow how to speak the truth.”
He straightens, his dark gaze sharpening. “What do you mean by that? When have I lied to you?” The muscles in his jaw flex, tension rippling beneath his tight-lipped expression, his teeth clenching visibly as if holding back words he’s dying to say.
The room falls silent, the air thick with unspoken words. My whole body feels hot, the heat rising in my cheeks as my heart races.
Liam’s eyes narrow when I don’t answer, a mixture of frustration and something softer swirling in their depths. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Should I? Should I tell him how his move made me feel—how it left me questioning everything, drowning in this overwhelming sense of failure? The thought is tempting, but I hesitate. No, that would make me seem too vulnerable. Which means… Passive-aggressiveness it is. I’ve worked in corporate environments long enough to know how to play this game.
“I have nothing to say,” I reply curtly.
“Seems like you do,” he counters, crossing his arms over his broad chest, his eyes daring me to continue.
“I don’t.”
We stare at each other in silence. Each inhale and exhale seem to echo in the charged air.
“Okay, how about we stop playing this game of bluff and quit bluffing in real life, too?” Adeline’s voice slices through the tension like a knife. Her tone is firm, an obvious attempt to defuse the brewing storm.
We both turn to look at her, but neither of us speak.
A heavy sigh escapes her, patience clearly wearing thin. “You’re going to let me do everything? Cool.” With a pointed hand toward Liam, she continues, “Liam, Sophie is upset because you hired a new interior designer without mentioning it to her—let alone hiring her ex-boyfriend.”
My head whips toward her, shock flashing across my face. Liam didn’t need to know that.
“He’s not an ex-boyfriend,” I mumble, my voice barely steady. “Just… an ex-fling or something.” The words feel flimsy, a feeble attempt to downplay the mess she just aired.
Adeline throws me a sharp look, and I close my mouth, sneaking a glance at Liam.
His posture stiffens almost imperceptibly at the revelation, and his jaw tightens even further, as if he’s trying to piece together what he just heard, but he doesn’t let it show further.
“Why did you hire Jared?” she asks him.
“For Sophie to have some help,” Liam replies matter-of-factly, though there’s an edge to it now.
My stomach knots at his words. Did it look like I needed help? The implication stings, deepening the ache of my frustration and self-doubt.
He reads the look on my face. “Sophie, it’s a whole-ass hotel. Everybody would need an extra hand.”
