“You good?” He mouths the words, and my heart warms.
I nod and down my shot.
He raises a disbelieving brow, but I shrug it off.
The young women continue. “Come on. It was all over the papers. Was he good in bed? I bet he was.”
They giggle to themselves, and I have to swallow down the instinct to flip them off.
I wouldn’t know. Nick made it very clear he wasn’t interested in fucking a ‘fat chick’ no matter how famous. His words, not mine. Personally, I couldn’t give two shits about what some limp dick, second-rate, C-lister thinks of me. His loss—I’m a fucking bombshell in the bedroom.
“That’s really none of your business.” I don’t mind if a fan wants to talk to me in public, but I won’t have my boundaries being disrespected, and I’m fairly certain these girls aren’tactuallyfans of mine.
As if she can hear my internal thoughts, the tall brunette of the group rolls her eyes. “What a bitch. America’s sweetheart, my ass.”
“It’s actually Country Music Darling,” I mutter sarcastically.
I’m about to let them have it when Liam intervenes on my behalf. “Get the fuck out of my bar. I won’t have you insulting our customers.”
Head bitch rolls her eyes and curls her lip into a sneer. “She’s probably fuckingthisguy. Nick would never.”
Liam bounds around the bar, stepping between us. “I won't tell you again. Leave.”
“Fine. This place is a shithole anyway.”
Liam stands between me and mybiggest fansas theyswagger out of the bar. Once they’re out of sight, he turns to face me, his expression unreadable.
I sigh, dramatically clutching my chest. “My hero.”
His lip curves up slightly as he returns to his spot behind the bar. “Did your dipshit ex pass on some of his acting skills? I wouldn’t recommend breaking into the movie industry. You’re a terrible actor.”
“Holy shit. Did Liam Murphy just tell a joke? Somebody alert the press.” Hiding a mischievous smile behind my glass, I bring it to my lips, taking a sip of the tart cocktail and pulling the cherry garnish between my teeth. I take the stem into my mouth and tie it in a knot—one of my only party tricks.
When I pull it out, neatly tied, Liam’s throat bobs. I swear there’s something heated in his gaze, but it’s so fleeting, I wonder if I imagined it.
I finish the drink and request another. Liam shakes his head but doesn’t argue as he heads down the bar. When he comes back with a replacement, he sets it on a fresh coaster and slides a small bowl of cherries toward me. My heart melts a little at the gesture.
I prop my face in my hand and tilt my head. “Will you marry me?”
“Are you already drunk?”
Yep.
“Nope.”
He leans his forearms across the surface so we’re at eye level. “How long are you back for?”
I shrug and take another sip. “As long as it takes to get my shit together, I guess.”
“So, it’s true? You left the label?”
“Yep.” I pop the P for emphasis, finishing my drink in one gulp. “Got tired of being pushed around. Not having control over my life.”
What’s that saying about loose lips? Apparently, thealcohol has loosened me up enough to spill my guts to my ex-boyfriend’s brother.
No. That’s not right. We’re more than that. Liam and I are friends; he was there for me when Connor wasn’t.
“Guess the perfect country music princess finally grew a pair,” I say with a snort of laughter. “Get me another drink, Grumpy. I’m gonna need it.”
