Page 10 of The Bitter Words

That thought takes me straight to Livianna. I get up and go to the back to check my laptop.

There’s a message from my probation officer, demanding Ischedule a time for a piss test today. I email him back and get it organized. Then find a flight into Burbank instead of LAX.

It’ll save me a lot of time if I can get Hawke or Cooper to pick me up in Burbank and take me to my car. If I can pull this off, I’m about five hours away from getting to Malibu and tracking her down.

Once I get everything squared away, I think about how to approach her. She’s angry enough to cancel a trip to visit me when we haven’t set hands on each other in three months.

Whatever I come up with, better be good. I figure I’ll make a plan as soon as I’m back in California.

Exactly as I timed, I’m strolling along the Malibu Pier, searching for Livianna. Bren said their dad told him she was coming here with her friend Gia. They’re gonna relax in a restaurant and watch for dolphins.

She’s likely wearing a big hat and sunglasses to disguise herself, but I’ll know her sizzling hot body anywhere. I peek inside a restaurant that has seating on an open patio that looks over the water.

She loves the ocean. My guess is if she’s here with a friend, they’ll be sitting outside. I ask the hostess if I can look around to see if they’re here, which she graciously agrees to.

I walk out, scanning the area for a blonde and a brunette girl chatting up a storm. My heart rate spikes when my gaze lands on them.

Why?

Because they’re not alone.

What the fuck are they doing with him?

I march toward them with my fists clenched as I try to remember to calm myself. I’m on probation and a fight is thelast thing I need, but I’m not known for being able to control my temper.

There’s a good chance this is going to end in war.

Chapter Three

LIVIANNA/LILY

Then

Tattooed Promises & The Ribbons That Strangle Us

Some truths don’t cut straight…they coil, waiting for the moment you’re too tangled to breathe.

Ilaugh, but I’m instantly taken out of it and drawn to the chair being forcefully pushed between Gia’s and mine.

“You don’t mind if I join the party, do ya?” Callum rounds his seat and sits.

His eyes are hidden behind his shades, but his tense body tells me all I need to know. He’s doing everything he can to hold himself together. My pulse races and I almost lose my breath.

I scoot over to give him more room. “Callum, what are you doing here?”

Under normal circumstances, I’d get up and stomp off, but I’m shocked and impressed he’s sitting next to me.

A wave of warmth rolls through me. I try to hide my pleased expression that he went out of his way to come find me by rubbing my lips together.

“We have plans this weekend. I came to pick you up.” He tips his chin toward the group I’m with. “Gia, good to see you again.”

“You too, Cash.” She grabs the straw in her glass and swirls it around in her soda. “I didn’t know you were going to be in Malibu today.”

“It wasn’t on my schedule, but I’ll do whatever Lily needs.” He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip. “Marco, Sebastian. I didn’t expect to find you two with Gia and my girlfriend. Wanna tell me how that happened?”

“Livianna invited us out.” Marco slides his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose, stabbing Callum with his dark eyes. “She has some summertime blues I’m helping with. You got a problem with that?”

“You know I don’t have a problem with you, Marco. It’s the…guy sitting next to you I’d like to hear from.” Callum shifts to face Sebastian. “I thought you knew to stay clear of her unless on set.”