Page 99 of Twisted Beauty

“I’d say I’m thinking clearly for the first time in years.” Instead of taking the drink, Liv twisted her hair into a bun and realized her hands were shaking. It pissed her off that Grant still had this effect on her. She eyed the shot glass. “Okay, maybe just one.”

“Yay!” Katie handed it to her. “Now, what can I say to change your mind?”

Liv shook her head. “Nothing. Like I said, this is my chance to say goodbye on neutral ground. And then I’ll never have to see him again. I want this over with, so I can move on with my life. It all feels so unfinished. And I hate, hate, hate that I still have his stupid ring. I should have given it back before I left.”

Katie sighed. “Fine. But whatever he says or promises, don’t even think about taking him back. Swear?”

“Are you kidding me? Not a chance.”

“Don’t be nice either. You’re way too nice. Throw the ring in his face. Like literally, hit him in the face with it. And make sure to yell something about his tiny dick, loud enough for everyone to hear.” Katie raised her glass in a toast. “To public humiliation.”

Liv laughed, which relieved some of the tightness in her gut. Why did she suddenly feel like she might pass out? She always knew she’d have to talk to him eventually. She just hadn’t expected this day to come quite so soon.

She lifted her glass, threw back the entire shot, and winced. Even the good stuff had a bite. But the warmth spread down her throat and relaxed her almost instantly. Probably how it got the name liquid courage.

Katie downed hers too. “You want me to go with you? For moral support? I promise not to interfere.”

Liv almost smiled, right in the midst of her meltdown. She couldn’t think of a single time Katie had ever kept her mouth shut in a bad situation. “When have you ever not interfered?”

“Whatever.” She took Liv’s glass and refilled it. “Okay, I have a better idea. Bring Matt with you. I bet Matt could take him down with one punch.”

God, what a disaster that would be. Matt and Grant, sitting across the table from each other with Liv in the middle. In what universe would that end well? They’d get in a testosterone-laden fight and all three of them would wind up in some remote Mexican jail using a rusty paint can for a toilet. Assuming that’s what happened in a Mexican jail. Maybe she was putting too much credence in Hollywood.

Liv drained her second shot and giggled at the image of Grant peeing in a bucket with every blond hair on his head still plastered in place. Crap. No more tequila. It was already going to her head.

“Nobody’s taking anyone down,” Liv said. “And the chances of me making a scene in public are about zero.” Katie poured her a third shot, but Liv put a hand up to refuse it. “Now you’re just trying to get me drunk. Save it, okay? I’m pretty sure I’ll need it when I get back.”

She sighed. “Fine. But don’t come crying to me if he’s an ass. I mean, of course come crying to me. But I reserve the right to say I told you so. And to hunt him down and cut off his naughty bits.”

“Um, thanks?” Liv gave her a weak smile and headed to the guest room to change out of her beach clothes. Thank god she’d had a shower before leaving Yelapa.

Ugh. She was so not looking forward to this. But she wasn’t going there to fight with him. There wasn’t even anything to fight about. He cheated, she left, end of story. She’d just give him back the ring, tell him to stay the hell away from her, and be done with it.

Back in her room, she sent off a quick reply to Grant’s text to confirm she’d be there.

She shuffled through her closet, because she wasn’t kidding about wearing a sexy dress. Not that she wanted to be vindictive or anything, but it never hurt to look your best when you were flipping the finger at your cheating, lying, douchebag of an ex.

So yeah. Maybe a little vindictive.

A pale green tank dress paired with strappy sandals. That would work. And a dangly pair of earrings for a little extra punch. She was so caught up in putting together her outfit, she almost walked out without the ring. If she didn’t give it back today, she’d end up having to face Grant a second time. And that was definitely not okay.

Liv slid her carry-on out from under the bed and dug a small velvet pouch from the inside zipper pocket. She took out the ring one last time and held it up to the light. It sparkled and glinted in the sun, all two carats of it. What a gorgeous piece of jewelry.

Her eyes stung at the sight of it, and she wasn’t even sure why. Because all it represented now was a lie. She blinked away the tears and dropped it back into its bag. She was done crying over him.

Liv tucked the ring safely into her purse and left the bedroom, determined to make this the last time she spoke to Grant. “I’m off,” she said as she walked into the living room.

“Well, you cleaned up fast.”

Her head snapped up at the sound of Matt’s voice, and she stopped cold.

Shit. He was here. Standing smack in the middle of the living room like he owned the place. Blocking her path to the door. She shot a quick look of panic at Katie, who was at the kitchen counter with Zach mixing drinks.

Shit, shit, shit.

What was he doing here? God, he was sexy in those board shorts and a plain gray t-shirt. She could see his tattoo peeking out below one sleeve.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Liv said. Pretty much the understatement of the year. Should she tell him where she was going? How would he react? She’d either have to talk him down like she did with Katie, or he wouldn’t care at all. Either way would kind of suck.