by M. A. Foster
Cole leans back against the booth, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes flick to me briefly, then back to Liam. “I’m not mad at you for being protective, but you gotta let it go. We’ve all moved past it.”
Liam exhales through his nose. He does that when he’s getting agitated. “She’s a liar.”
Cole huffs out a humorless laugh. “We all are. Even you, Liam.” His eyes slide over to me. “If Vanessa can forgive you for being a dick, I can forgive Harper for lying. She had her reasons.”
“Her lies hurt people.”
“The only person who got hurt was me,” Cole defends.
“Not true,” Liam volleys. “Other people got caught up in her lies.” Cole frowns, and Liam shakes his head. “I’m sorry if I’ve been rude to Harper. I know you love her. I’ll do better.”
“Thanks,” Cole mumbles and slides from the booth.
“What did I miss?” I ask, my gaze following Cole as he walks away.
“I’ll fill you in later.” He leans over and kisses my temple. “I’ll go get you another beer.”
NOVEMBER
VANESSA
“I’m gonna get mobbed in here,” Liam says as he reaches for the handle of the darkly tinted door of Tex-Mex and gestures for me to go first.
I tilt my head to look up at him. “I didn’t even think about that.”
Smirking, he shakes his head. “I’m just messing with you.”
Resting his hand on my lower back, he guides me through the door and steps in behind me.
“Are you sure?” I ask scanning the crowded restaurant. “We can go somewhere else.”
“Hi,” the hostess greets with a friendly smile. Her eyes flick from me to Liam and widen in recognition, but her smile never wavers.
“Hi,” I say, bringing her attention back to me. “We’re actually meeting my friend.” I gesture in the general direction of the dining area and find Gabbi waving from the same table we sat at the last time we were here. “I see her.”
“Sure.” Her eyes continue to flick between Liam and me. “If you need anything, just let me know,” she adds, and I don’t miss the suggestive undertone. This bitch.
I shoot her a glare and reach for Liam’s hand. “Thanks.”
As we weave through the tables, my attention is drawn to the girl onstage slaying Lizzo’s “Like a Girl.”
Releasing my hand, Liam hooks an arm around me from behind, tugging me to his chest. He dips his head close to my ear. “I love seeing you get all jealous.”
I snort. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t like being disrespected, that’s all.”
“How’s it going, Gabbi?” Liam says as we reach the round high-top table. He pulls out a stool for me, then slides onto the empty one beside mine, across from Gabbi, leaving the seat across from me empty and giving me a clear view of the stage.
“Hey, Liam,” she says before turning her attention to me. “Who disrespected you?”
“No one.” I wave her off.
The last thing I want or need is to give Gabbi a reason to start shit.
Liam chuckles. “Babe, if any woman thinks I’d be interested in them when I have you, they’re delusional.”
Swoon.
“Maybe she thought I was just one of your flings.” I purse my lips and reach for a menu in the middle of the table.
Liam shoots me a look, silently telling me to cut the shit.
“This place is pretty cool,” he says over the noisy patrons as he takes in the room, tilting his head back to study the colorful art on the ceiling. His attention moves to the stage and then back to Gabbi and me. “You know”—he reaches for a menu—“when I stopped by Jay’s earlier, I mentioned we were coming here for dinner. She made a face.”
I frown. “Why?”
He shrugs. “Zach said this place has great food, but Jay hates eating here. She only eats it if he gets it to go.”
“Maybe it’s all the beavage,” Gabbi murmurs while fighting back a grin.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t start.”
“What was that?” Liam asks, leaning forward so he can hear her.
“Nothing.” Gabbi shakes her head. “Speaking of, where’s our server?” She cranes her neck just as the server arrives at our table.
“Welcome to Tex-Mex. I’m Mandy.” She slides a tray of chips and salsa onto the table and three coasters. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Margarita on the rocks,” Gabbi orders, and Liam looks over at me.
“Do you know what you want?” I ask.
“A margarita sounds good. I haven’t had one in years.”
Gabbi leans forward, resting her forearms on the edge of the table. “Make that three margaritas on the rocks, salted, please.”
“Three margaritas on the rocks, salted rim,” Mandy repeats our order as she scribbles on her little notepad. “Anything else?”
“That’s all, thanks.” Liam flashes his charming smile.
Mandy smirks and nods once more before she saunters over to the next table.
I drop my gaze to the menu. “Babe, do you know what you want to eat?”
I look over at Liam to see him staring after our server, brows pinched.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Her ass is out.” He looks around the place. “There are little kids here.”
Gabbi laughs. “You should see the front.”
“Gabbi,” I chastise. “Behave.”
Liam turns to me. “Do I want to know?”
I shake my head. “Ignore her. Apparently she’s twelve tonight.”
“Oh, stop being a prude, Vanessa.” Gabbi laughs, smacking me on the arm. “It’s funny.”
“It’s gross.” I curl my lip in disgust before turning to Liam. “The last time we were here, our waitress was wearing a pair of shorts more fit for Willow, and Gabbi had a mini meltdown.”
Liam smirks and shifts his gaze to Gabbi. I turn my head in time to catch her mouthing, “Camel toe.”
Reaching under the table, I smack her on the thigh. “Shut it.” I turn back to Liam. “What do you want to eat?”
“What’s good here?”
“Pretty much everything,” Gabbi tells him. “I say we just order a bunch of appetizers.”
He leans over and pecks my cheek. “I’ll eat whatever you order. I’m just happy to be here with you.”
I turn my face and push out my lips expectantly, and he presses a chaste kiss on them. “Thank you.”
“Hey, you two. Single girl over here. Save that shit for the bedroom.”
Mandy returns with our margaritas. I quickly place our food order, and she jots it down before moving to the next table.
Liam looks over at me with wide eyes before he throws his head back and laughs out loud, drawing the attention of the patrons at the table beside us.
“I told you,” Gabbi says, chuckling.
I shake my head. “You two are trouble.”
“How’s the book coming along?” Liam asks Gabbi as he picks up a chip and dips it into the salsa before taking a bite.
My eyes are transfixed on his mouth as he chews and the way his throat bobs when he swallows. He’s so freaking sexy.
Wait. What?
Snapping out of my lust-filled daze, I turn to Gabbi. “When did you tell him about your book?”
She winces. “At the wedding. I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s true,” Liam confirms. “She was in the middle of ripping me a new one and just blurted it out.” He looks back at her. “I didn’t know you were Levi’s sister.”
“Gabbi made Levi take her as his plus one so she could fangirl over Jay. And he didn’t even introduce her,” I add with a laugh.
Gabbi gives a careless shrug. “Just being able to attend her wedding was a dream come true, and he did get me tickets to see her in concert.”
He jerks his head to me. “Vanessa can introduce you.”
“Speaking of concerts,” Gabbi starts, looking at me expectantly, “
you singing tonight?”
I shake my head. “I need lots of alcohol before I get up there, and I have to work tomorrow, so that’s a no. Why don’t you get up there?”
Gabbi snorts. “Vanessa, you’ve heard me sing. If I get up there, I will clear out this place in a matter of seconds.”
Liam laughs. “I doubt it’s that bad.”
I look over at him, brow quirked. “You know that high-pitched screeching sound cats make when they’re about to throw down?” He chuckles and nods. “It’s worse.”
“True story,” Gabbi agrees.
We both look at him, and he holds up his hands in surrender. “Not a fucking chance. I don’t sing in public. Could you even imagine?”
“He is so getting laid tonight,” I say, grinning up at the stage where Liam is currently belting out the lyrics to “Sex on Fire.” My new favorite song.
Gabbi and I talked him into singing, but only if I sang, too. I agreed and Gabbi picked our songs.
“Damn, girl. Did you know he could sing like that?”
I shake my head. “Not really. I’ve heard him sing in the car and under his breath, but never like this.”
She looks around. “Now the whole world is gonna know.”
I look over my shoulder to see everyone with their phones out, aimed at Liam. Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention back to the stage. “Oh well.” I shrug. “He’s out having a good time just like everyone else.”
“This kind of reminds me of Zach and Jay’s wedding, except Zach got up on stage in front of at least two hundred people, with a live band, and sang to Jay. It was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.” She bumps her shoulder against mine and jerks her chin toward Liam. “This might be the second.”
“Clearly you didn’t see the video of her appearance at the football game a couple weeks ago. YouTube it and let me know where that ranks on your romantic gesture scale.”
Gabbi purses her lips. “I’ll do that.”
The song ends and the crowd goes nuts. Liam jumps off the stage, clicking his heels together midair, and I burst out laughing. He stops at nearly every table on his way to me, dishing out high fives.
“You win karaoke tonight,” I tell him as he rounds the table and moves over to me.
“I can’t fucking believe I let you two talk me into that,” he says through a breathless laugh.
“But it was fun, right?” I turn in my seat and open my arms.
“You’re fun.” Stepping between my legs, he wraps his arms around my middle and buries his face in the crook of my neck. “I fucking love you, Vanessa. I never thought the day would come that I’d finally have you back in my arms. I’m never letting you go.”
My heart sings in my chest. Pulling back, I cup his sweaty cheeks between my hands. “I love you, too.”
He presses his forehead to mine. “You and me.”
I nod. “Always.”
“There’s like a dozen phones aimed at us right now.” He smirks. “I’m gonna kiss you.”
I smile. “Do it.”
He does.
The crowd roars around us, and I know it has everything to do with Liam kissing me.
“Hey, lovebirds,” Gabbi shouts over the noise. “Vanessa, you’re up.”
Liam releases me, and I roll my eyes. “That was the deal.” He smacks me on the ass as I slide off the stool. “Kill it, babe.”
Cheers, catcalls, and whistles erupt from the crowd as I make my way up to the stage. The MC hands me the microphone and points to the screen to reveal Taylor Swift’s “Lover.”
I blow out a breath. I can work with that.
Here we go.
I wake to the sound of the shower running and reach for my phone. I still have thirty minutes before my alarm is set to go off. Placing my phone back on the nightstand, I roll over and snuggle into the covers, willing myself to go back to sleep.
A few minutes later, the mattress dips under Liam’s weight as he plops down with a groan.
I roll over to find him in only a towel with his arm thrown over his eyes.
“How are you feeling?” I ask in a sleepy voice.
“No bueno.”
I turn my face into the pillow and laugh.
He lifts his arm and faces me. “Now I remember why I haven’t had tequila in years. I love you, but we can’t go back there for a while… or ever,” he adds.
“You only had two,” I say, amused by the sobered expression on his face.
“Two too many,” he states. “Those things are the kiss of death in a fancy glass. How do you feel?”
“I feel fine,” I reply. And of course, my stomach chooses this exact moment to make a questionable gurgling sound.
Liam’s lips pull to the side, and he quirks a brow. “You sure about that?” he says through a laugh. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
“Shut it.” I groan as I toss the covers back.
“Where ya going?” He reaches for me as I scramble from the bed.
“I have to get ready for work,” I call over my shoulder as I hurry to the bathroom, slamming the door shut and locking it for good measure.
Liam’s laughter echoes from the other side of the door.
LIAM
“Did you have a good time last night?” Cam singsongs into the phone.
“I drank too much, but yeah.”
“I can tell.” He chuckles, which turns into a full-out guffaw. “Dude, you’re all over the internet. I had no idea you could sing like that. Don’t be surprised if Jay offers you a deal with King Records.”
Groaning, I push my head back into the pillows and close my eyes. “How bad is it?”
“It’s not bad at all. I promise. You know I would tell you if I thought you were fucked. It looks like you were just out having a good time with your girlfriend.”
I flinch. I hate that she’s back to being my girlfriend. I know it’s only been a month, but I want more. I’m leaving in two months, and I need us to be solid before I go back to California. This is my last season before my contract with the Heat is up and I become a free agent. I haven’t thought much about what happens next, but now with Vanessa back in my life, I want to do what works for both of us. For now, I’ll just have to be patient and keep reminding her of the guy she fell in love with, and not the guy who breaks promises.
“Do I look drunk?”
“No.” Cam pauses. “Maybe a little.”
“I can’t remember the last time I got drunk, but, bro, drunk sex with my woman is worth the hangover.”
“I know—”
“Uh-uh,” I cut him off. “You’re not allowed to talk about your sex life. You lost that privilege when you started sleeping with my sister.”
“Whatever, man. Sleeping with your sister is a privilege.”
I make a sour face. “I don’t want to be friends with you anymore.”
He chuckles. “You’re stuck with me,” he says, tossing back the same words I’ve used on him in the past.
The bathroom door opens, and Vanessa steps out in nothing but a towel wrapped around her hair. Steam billows around her naked body, and I’m instantly hard.
“I’ll call you back.” I toss the phone on the nightstand and lift the towel to show Vanessa what she does to me. “Give me five minutes.”
She quirks a brow. “Five? Not sure that’s something you should be bragging about, Baller.”
I love when she calls me that.
I raise my brows, mimicking her. “If I can get you off in five minutes or less, I’d say that earns me some braggin’ rights.” Wrapping my hand around my cock, I give it a squeeze. “Get up here.”
Propping her hands on her hips, she schools her expression and tries her hardest not to stare at my dick. “Liam, I don’t have time for sex and another shower. I’ll be late for work.”
“Want me to call your boss?” I give her a playful smirk. “He’s got a soft spot for me.”
Vanessa snorts, tugging the towel from her hair and tossing it toward the bathroom. She grabs
something from the dresser, and when she lifts her wet hair, I realize it’s a hair tie.
“Oh shit.” I gulp. My woman is ready to get down to business.
Propping a knee on the bed, she hovers over my cock and runs her tongue from root to tip in one long swipe.
“Fuuuuck,” I groan.
My eyes roll to the back of my head, hands curling into the sheets as she rolls her tongue around the tip before sucking me into her hot mouth. Lifting my head, I watch through hooded eyes, awed at the sight of her beautiful lips, red and swollen, wrapped around my cock. With each dip of her head, she sucks me farther into her mouth. Keeping her eyes on mine, she takes me all the way to the back of her throat.
“Vanessa,” I grunt. “It feels too good.”
Moaning as the tip of my dick hits the back of her throat, she cups my balls at the same time, and that does it. Tingles race up my spine, and the force of my orgasm hits me like a freight train.
“I’m gonna come so hard, babe.” I move my hands to the knot on top of her head, tugging as I thrust my hips, riding out my release with a loud groan.
My eyes glaze over as my body sinks into the mattress and my hands fall to my sides. My limbs feel like jelly.
Vanessa releases me from her mouth with a pop, then stands from the bed and begins to get ready for work as if she didn’t just blow my fucking mind.
Chest heaving and with a very satisfied grin on my face, I say, “You get all the braggin’ rights this morning, but when you get off work, it’s my turn.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replies with a wink before she steps into the bathroom. A few minutes later, she steps out, fresh-faced, hair braided, and dressed for work.
She moves over to the edge of the bed. “I have to go or I’m going to be late. Do you need me to leave the key so you can lock up, or are you just gonna hang here today?”
“I’ll be right here when you get back. I might just stay naked so we can pick up where we left off.” I grin mischievously. “Give me a kiss.”
Bending down, she presses her luscious lips against mine. “I love you,” she whispers against my lips.