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We follow her to the living room, and I glance at Liam. “I feel bad that you’re not drinking. Gavin is my responsibility, not yours.”
“I don’t need a drink to have a good time, and besides, I told you, I wanted to take care of you and Gavin. It’s not just that I want to, Harper, I enjoy it.”
My stupid heart does a little flip, but I don’t have time to examine it when Jason tries to jump from his chair, and nearly topples backward. I mouth the words, “Smooth, Jason,” when his gaze bobbles back and forth between Liam and me. I mean, he knew Liam was coming, but I guess seeing him up close and personal is a whole other ballgame, or should I say, hockey game.
“Liam,” he finally says, the room full of couples falling silent as everyone gawks at Liam, and I don’t blame them. He is kind of impressive. Why he’s no one’s favorite is beyond me.
“Nice to meet you, Jason,” he says casually, and extends his arm. Jason hurries to him and they shake, and a few minutes later, after the introductions to Jason’s brothers and their wives, and getting the hockey talk out of the way, Liam and I take a seat, and conversation turns to other
things. I snuggle in next to him as both Violet and Emma stare at me, trying to get my attention so I’ll slip into the other room and give the deets on our bedroom antics. But I tease them, pretend I don’t notice them, but I did notice the hottie Emma is with. He really seems into her.
After torturing them long enough, I glance at Liam and say, “You’ll be okay? I’m going to get a refill.” He gives me a nod and smile and I head to the kitchen, and chuckle as Violet and Emma excuse themselves and come rushing in after me.
Violet skids to a halt. “Girlfriend, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
“Who me?” I ask, all wide-eyed and innocent. “What on earth would I have to explain?”
“Just that you’re tapping that, and didn’t even think to tell us. Spill,” Emma says, and pours more wine into her glass.
A bubble of excitement wells up inside me. “Yeah, I am tapping that.” The girls hoot, and then quickly clamp their hands over their mouths when I hush them. “Good God, quiet down before Liam hears you.”
“Everything.” Emma holds her hand out, palm up and wiggles her fingers. “Now.”
“It just sort of happened, over and over again,” I say with a chuckle I can’t contain, my heart light and full of giddiness.
“It’s nice to see you happy, Harper.” Violet gives me a big smile.
“You really like him, huh?” Emma says, and I don’t miss the hint of worry wrapped around her words.
“He’s really a nice guy, and yes, I like him. I wouldn’t be sleeping with him if I didn’t like him.”
She angles her head, her lips thinning, and I get it. She thinks I’ve fallen for him and I haven’t. I don’t think. I hold my hands up. “Stop right now. This is just a hook-up. We decided to have a little fun together before he left for training.”
“I think he really likes you too, Harper,” Violet says.
“You do?” I ask far too quickly, because once again Emma is looking at me with concern all over her face. “Listen, you were the one who told me to turn my ‘beaver-can’t do’, into a ‘beaver-can do’, Emma. Trust I know what I’m doing, okay?”
“Okay,” she says, dropping it. She leans into me. “Are the rumors true?”
“What rumors?”
“You know…” She glances over her shoulder to ensure we’re alone. “That he has a big, you know…stick.”
Wine nearly comes out my nose as I laugh. “That, my friend, is not your business.”
She sits back in her chair all smug like. “You don’t need to answer. It’s all over your face.”
“Speaking about all over your face,” Violet teases.
“Oh my God, stop,” I shriek.
“What’s all over whose face?” Jason asks, coming into the kitchen to grab some more beers. He takes one look at his wife’s face and says, “Oh, never mind.” We laugh as he grabs the beers and before he heads into the other room, he looks at me. “Liam is really nice, Harper. He’s much different than I expected.”
I nod, understanding exactly what he’s saying. “Come on, let’s get back in there.”
We all head back to our seats and for the next couple of hours, we eat, drink and play charades, which Liam is surprisingly good at, even though he groaned and complained about having to play. He said he was good at it because he had loud sisters and had to find ways to be heard over them. I’m not sure if it’s true or not, all I know is I really like this guy and haven’t had this much fun in a long time, and I’d like to meet these sisters of his and hear about his childhood from their point of view, because I suspect they’d tell a completely different story. Not that I expect that to happen. We’re hooking up only. No need to meet his family. But I continue to think about it until the time nears midnight. I dart into the kitchen to cut a couple slices of cake for Gavin and Holden, and afterward, Liam and I say our goodbyes at the door.
The night air falls over me, giving me a little chill as we hop back in the truck and head to my place. I have a stupid smile on my face I can’t seem to shake.
