The Ending I Want(25)

“Yeah, first day at Eton. I met Eddie and that tosser.” Liam nods at Cam, who’s just appeared from behind the bar.

“Wow, you guys all went to Eton? Isn’t that a really elite school?” It comes out sounding like surprise, which I totally didn’t mean. I just didn’t figure Liam was a private school boy.

Liam laughs loudly, and so do Eddie and Cam.

“Yes. We are from rich families, and we went to the posh boys’ school,” Eddie says in a preppy voice, laughing.

“But you own a bar?” I say to Cam. I slap my hand over my mouth, realizing how bad that sounded. “God, I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought that people who went to Eton became, like, royalty or something.”

Cam chuckles. “No offense taken.” He waves me off. “I was supposed to become royalty, but it didn’t quite work out that way. The call of the bar life was just too strong for me to ignore. Much to my parents’ chagrin.”

“I, on the other hand, did not disappoint my parents,” Eddie says smugly.

Cam gives him the middle finger.

“Eddie’s a doctor,” Liam tells me.

“Cardiovascular surgeon, f*ck you very much.” He leans in, telling me, “And I’m the best heart surgeon in England. Probably the world.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. It must have taken you years to become a doctor.”

“It took a while, but it was worth it. Still, after all those years, I don’t make near a scratch of what Hunter makes in a year. What is your net worth nowadays, Hunter? You hit the billion pound mark yet?”

Liam smirks but doesn’t say anything.

“Liam doesn’t like to talk about how much money he has,” Eddie tells me. “Because he has so much of it.”

“I think he probably doesn’t like to talk about his money—not because he of how much he has, but because it’s not what’s important to him. I think Liam’s business achievements are what he cares about most,” I say, staring into Liam’s eyes.

His gaze softens on me.

“Oh God, she’s your soul mate. Marry her, Liam. Immediately.” Eddie laughs.

Liam looks at Eddie, chuckling, as he shakes his head.

“I bet your parents are really proud of what you’ve achieved,” I say to Liam.

I instantly know I’ve said the wrong thing when the tenderness in his eyes disappears, and a dark shadow falls there instead.

“I wouldn’t know.” His voice is sharp, surprising me. “I need to go talk to Lee.”

I watch him go as he walks off, his whole body rigid and tense.

I feel like crap because I know I hit a raw nerve.

“Don’t worry about it.” Eddie’s voice comes in my ear. “Liam’s touchy about his family. I won’t go into his personal business because it’s his shit. He’ll tell you if he wants you to know. All I will say is that Liam’s dad is a walking waste of good oxygen.”

“Oh. He never said anything.” But I never asked because I didn’t want to talk about my family.

I glance back at Liam, who is now talking to Lee.

Eddie follows my stare. “Liam was raised by his grandpa, Bernie. Top bloke. You’ll love him.”

He was raised by his grandpa. What about his mom and dad?

I want to ask Eddie more, but I know he won’t tell me. So, I’ll just have to wait until Liam is ready to tell me—if that ever comes.

But would I ever tell him about my family?

I already know the answer to that one, and it’s a solid no.

Cam puts a plate of burger and fries in front of me, bringing my attention to it. I didn’t even realize he’d gone to get them.

“Is that one Liam’s?” Eddie points to the plate with a burger and overflowing fries next to mine.

“Yeah,” I answer.

“He won’t miss some chips.” Eddie leans over and grabs a handful of fries from Liam’s plate, taking nearly half of them.

I chuckle.

Eddie then quickly eats them, and he’s just finishing them off when Liam comes back and sits on his stool next to me.

“All right?” I carefully ask him.

“Yeah, I’m good.” He smiles and gives my thigh a squeeze.

I immediately feel better.

He looks down at his plate and frowns. “Hey, Cam, are you skimping on the chips to save money, you tight bastard?”

I glance at Eddie, and we both start laughing.





We’ve finished eating. I’m on my third beer, and the bar has filled up with people.

“Okay, Boston, it’s time. You’re up.” Liam nudges me.

“What? Sing now?”

“Um-hum.”

I start to feel sick, and it’s not from the food or beer. “I don’t know, Hunter.”

“Come on.” He gets to his feet. Taking me by the hands, he pulls me off my stool.

“Go on, Taylor,” Eddie encourages.

Liam told Eddie and Cam all about the list of things I wanted to do—except for the sex stuff. Thankfully, he didn’t tell them that. And he didn’t go into the details of why I have the list either, which was another thing I was thankful for.

“You’ve got this, Boston.”