Page 35 (1/2)
"Live, laugh, love?"
He looks at me, confused
"It's a poster people put on their kitchen wall My sister has one I call it a 'mom quote'"
"Is she a mother?"
"Not yet," I say "She and her wife are looking for a donor They want to know the guy It's complicated"
"Just hope she doesn't ask Liam"
"She'd hate him"
He smiles "A mom quote I suppose it is It's cliché, but it's true It's easy to lose yourself in pursuit of money"
"You did all right"
"My father's company," he says "I never loved the work, but I wanted to ed his own path I'm proud of him"
"Are you going to tell me money won't make me happy?"
"I suspect you know that already"
I nod
"But no one wants to hear a richa beautiful woman say looks don't matter"
He h it's not true I'm cute, sure, but I'm not beautiful
My hips are too wide My chest is too s
I don't reen in le of my chin Hell, I even appreciate the way my ample ass fills out a pair of jeans
I don't care I'm not a New York Ten
But I'm aware of it
"Not a fan of compliments?" he asks
"Liah for both of us"
He smiles "You two are perfect for each other You both hide behind your wit, but you have this sincerity to your eyes"
"My eyeliner isn't obscuring it?"
"The eyeliner gives you away"
"It does?"
He nods "You want the world to know you don't want to belong"
"Is it the hair?"
"Isn't that part of it?"
"Not exactly"
"Liam hides his rebellion," he says
"What do you mean?"
"The tattoos" He chuckles "Does he think I don't know?"
"Probably"
"It's good for boys to have secrets Especially from their fathers I know I'm not his father, but…"
"He looks up to you," I say "Your approval means a lot to him, even if he wouldn't admit it"
"You too"
The door on the next floor opens Footsteps move down the stairs "Briar, baby, I'ive him a lap dance"
"Pass No offense, Harrison," I say
"Have you heard what he's offering?" Liam asks
"You'd approve?" I ask
"Maybe I'"
"Since when?"
"Or reen with envy and I need to show him you're mine" He rushes to me Takes my hands Pulls me into his arms
His lips find mine