I look down, noticing my stained nail beds. “Paint.”
“Paint?” Eden echoes, her hand dropping away from her mouth.
Mr. Warne grins. “Karley is a painter,” he tells Eden.
“She is,” Oliver adds, looking proud.
My chest flutters at the way he says it. Not as an afterthought, but like it’s something special about me.
“Why haven’t I seen your work?” Oliver leans down and whispers in my ear, his scruff skimming my jaw and his breath tickling my ear sending goosebumps to rise on my skin.
“You will,” I breathe through the lie.
I could’ve come clean and said,You have my paintings hanging in both of your offices,but the realization of that makes me dizzy.
“Professionally?” Eden asks, tilting her head.
“I’m going to school at the moment.”
“Where?” Mr. Warne asks, his face lighting up.
I hesitate for a split second, wondering if this is some kind of test. Would the wrong answer hurt Oliver’s chances? I’m not sure how much they already know about me, or us, and whether my response needs to match some story Oliver had already told them.
“My mom’s school,” Oliver interrupts.
“Of course, learning from the best. You should try,” Mr. Warne says to his wife with hopeful eyes, grabbing her waist and pulling her in to kiss her cheek.
She shakes her head and pats his chest. “I won’t have the time or energy with the treatment starting soon.”
The air surrounding us suddenly turns cold. At first, I thought it was from the conversation, but then I hear a familiar voice call out, “There you are,” and it makes me turn to stone. Liam.
Chapter 19
Karley
He’sdressedinblackpants and a green polo, his brown hair swept back and his cold brown eyes staring right at me.
He walks up with his girlfriend. Her hair is blonde too, but hers is more platinum than mine, and longer. It compliments her blue eyes. She’s in a fancy green golf dress that matches Liam’s polo.
Oliver's hand tightens in mine. “Liam,” he says through a tight jaw.
“Hello, hello, couldn’t let you have all the fun,” Liam says with the biggest fucking smirk that you want to slap off.
“I didn’t realize you were joining us today,” Oliver says, stepping away from Liam. “The tee time was scheduled for four people.”
“Dan invited us,” Liam replies smoothly. “And of course, I couldn’t resist.”
Something about the calculated way he’s looking between Oliver and me makes me uncomfortable.
“I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Paige,” Liam says. “It’s getting serious.”
His words sound performative, like he’s putting on a show rather than sharing good news. I wonder if this is part of whatever strange dynamic exists between him and Oliver.
“Hi, Paige.” I smile. “I’m Karley.”
“My wife,” Oliver says in a dark tone, his hands wrapping my middle as he pulls me close.
Paige’s face glows. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
