Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“No.” Pierce’s answer was sharp, without a bit of hesitation. I lifted my head to find that he’d also shifted on his bench to fully face me. His expression was grim in the dim lighting. Like Declan, Pierce also didn’t believe in fucking around when the topic was important. “Don’t try to find him. Don’t talk to him.”
“But we’re adults now and living in the same city.”
“Yeah, and he could have been living here even longer than you, but you never encountered each other. Speaking as not only your friend but also the person you’re most likely to call to come bail you out of jail—”
“Ha. Ha. So funny.”
“I’m serious. Your very smart brain has a way of shutting off at the worst times, and you run off to do idiotic things. Talking to Liam falls into the stupid category.”
“I won’t do anything stupid.”
Seconds ticked by, and Pierce said nothing. He stared at me as if I were a moron. And he wasn’t wrong. I probably would do something stupid despite my best efforts.
“Rome,” he asked in a low, even voice. “Please, let it go. Stay away from him. Don’t go looking for him. Forget he even exists. I can’t imagine there is anything you can say to each other after all these years that will improve your life or his. If anything, you’re more likely to cause each other more pain. You’ve both lived this long apart. Keep it that way.”
I straightened from my slouch and shifted on the bench to lounge against the wall, resting my foot up on the wooden slats where I currently sat. Maybe it was the heat loosening up all my muscles after our grueling racquetball game, but I didn’t have the energy to pursue the Liam issue any longer. Maybe Pierce was right, and it was better to let it go. Whatever we’d had as friends years ago was dead and buried. Why try to resurrect it now?
Besides, if he had been living in Cincinnati for a while and this was the first time I’d seen him, it was unlikely that I’d ever run into him again. I didn’t go to the Cincinnati Museum Center that often. Maybe once or twice a year. He likely worked in the back offices or something. I’d never see him.
“You’re right. I gotta let this go.” I sighed. “The whole thing caught me off guard. I never expected to see him again. Dredged up all these bad memories and emotions.”
“It’s over now. You won’t see him. You can return to dating Allie or Kevin or whoever catches your eye.”
I huffed a laugh. “There has never been a Kevin.”
“I have faith in you.”
“Asshole,” I muttered, letting my eyes fall shut. Yeah, I was a serial dater, and I went through them fast. But it rarely took long to figure out that the person was just there for my money or what I could do for them. For a few, it was the sex. Which was fine. I could do that sometimes too, but that was a lot harder when I had Sebastian and Declan flaunting their new forever boyfriends in everyone’s faces.
But now that we’d discussed that night at the museum concert, another thought came to mind, and psychopath that I was, I couldn’t stop myself from poking at that sore spot. Only because I thought it would help Pierce in the long run, and it had nothing to do with the fact that I was a nosy, meddling prick.
“I was wondering…”
“Oh Lord, kill me now.” Pierce stretched out on the bench, using it as a bed while draping an arm across his eyes.
“Do you have an actual beef with Simon, or is there some old bad blood between you and Sawyer that you’re now taking out on his brother?”
Pierce groaned, the sound seeming to be called up from his bowels. “I’m not discussing it with you.”
“Yeah, but you aren’t discussing it with anyone, and that’s wrong. You’ve clearly got a problem—”
“I don’t have a problem.”
“And it’s making you extra grumpy anytime someone mentions Simon’s name.”
“So, don’t talk about him.”
“Then if he shows up at some function, you make Declan look like a motormouth.”
“Whatever.”
I clenched my teeth and held my hands out in front of me, my fingers curled. That man needed a good shaking.
“The point is, something is fucking wrong, and you should talk to your friends. None of us can understand why you have a problem with Sawyer’s little brother.”
“You know what?” Pierce snapped suddenly. He shoved upright and swung his legs around to set his feet on the ground with a soft thud. “I wish everyone would stop calling him Sawyer’s little brother. Simon isn’t little anymore. He’s not some kid. He’s a grown-ass man, with a college degree and a job. He doesn’t need anyone coddling him or holding his hand through life. I’m sorry he lost his brother, but everyone needs to stop thinking of Simon as some poor fucking kid who’d be lost without everyone jumping to save him.”