Page 127 of Best Kind of Trouble
I head down to my office, and flinch at the sight inside. Liam’s waiting for me on the couch.Ourcouch. He’s wearing a black, long-sleeved T-shirt that makes his hair look especially coppery today, and it’s been a few days since he trimmed his beard. He looks almost wild—and God, I want to touch him. I want to climb into his lap and forget the last week happened.
Does he want the same thing?
I shut the door, feeling so full of hope and anxiety that I can barely function. I walk over and stand in front of him, waiting for him to speak. Because I can’t find any words yet.
“Is dinner at the same time tonight?” he finally asks.
I wince. “What are you talking about?”
“Dinner,” he repeats. “At your parents’ place. Every Friday, you said. Is it at the same time? It would work better if we go together. They might not let me in otherwise.”
“You’re not coming with me,” I insist. My father already wants to destroy him. I doubt he’ll be feeling more friendly tonight.
Liam lifts his eyebrows, his expression suggesting he doesn’t have a single care in the world. “I think you’ll find that I am.”
I glance at the closed door. “You can’t seriously expect me to take you. My father’s got it in for you, and…” My throat catches. “You’ve barely said a word to me for days.”
“I’m not intimidated by him.” He hesitates, his jaw working. “And you made it clear you wanted to keep things professional.This is me, doing that to the best of my ability. That means trying to stay away from you while we’re at the brewery.”
I search his gaze as he stands up, and see nothing but the truth. I want to reach for him, but I’m frozen. I want to know if he’s been ignoring Hannah because of me, and to tell him to stop. I want to know if he still cares about me, and if he’s still willing to put it all on the line…
Because I’m starting to think that I might be. Especially if I was right about Hannah, and she was implying she’d be okay with us seeing each other after all.
I want to touch him, something I’ve been missing all week. I want to tell him that I’m still scared, so scared, but I want to stop being afraid and keep taking chances. I’ve felt more alive in the past few weeks than I ever have, and I’m hungry for more of it.
But the only words that come out are, “We can’t go together.”
My breath freezes in my lungs as he reaches a hand toward my face, but he only tucks my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering for half a second before dropping.
“I’ll pick you up at seven fifteen on my bicycle. Probably wouldn’t do for us to be late. We won’t want to miss anything. Wear that jacket you had on last time.”
“They’ll think we’re a couple,” I say. “My dad already probably does.”
“Good.” He smiles at me, and the memory of his lips on me nearly breaks me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
LIAM
A man who brews beer learns how to be patient. It takes time for things to become more than just the components you’ve put in.
Briar could have easily turned her back on me. Her father gave her an easy out, but she didn’t take it.
I might have fought my feelings for her in the beginning, but I’m not fighting anymore. Instead, I’m going to fightforher—just like she fought for me after that article was published.
So, yeah, Iwillbe going to dinner with her tonight, and every single night her parents demand her presence. Even if she decides not to give me another chance, and I’m reduced to following her around like a lovesick idiot, I’m going to show up at their place every week. I will not let her feel alone in that house ever again.
After I carry a keg into the tasting room, Otis waves me over. He’s tending bar with one of the Tinder girls while Ann carries on a conversation with a customer. Knowing her, she’s only hearing half of it.
“Did you tell Briar you were going to dinner?” Otis whispers conspiratorially as I set the keg down.
“Yup, and she was thrilled,” I tell him with a wink.
“She doesn’t know about our plans, does she?”
I lift a finger to my lips, warning him not to let it slip now.
The kid and I have become…friends, I guess you’d call it. I took him to the boxing gym with me earlier in the week, and even though he got the newcomer treatment, i.e. plenty of teasing, he liked it. So we’re going back next week.
