Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(61)

All eyes focused in on Mia and Garrett and then over to Clare. We were obviously all wondering the same thing.

“We think they’re dating,” Garrett said.

“You think?” Leah echoed.

“Well, neither one has outwardly said it. I’m guessing they’re afraid of how we will react,” Mia chimed in.

“And how will you react?” Leah asked, leaning back against her husband’s large frame.

“Honestly, the thought of it bothered us at first, but as long as they’re happy, we really don’t care,” Clare confessed.

“You should tell them,” I suggested.

“Is that your clinical opinion?” Garrett asked, grinning.

“No, you’d have to pay for that. This is my opinion as a friend. All that hiding can’t be easy on them. Give them your blessing.”

“We will, but it has been fun watching them sneak around.” Mia laughed. “Yesterday, I swung by to bring some cookies as a little treat for my dad, and I found Laura there. He told me she was dropping off some dry-cleaning for him.”

“Maybe she was—along with sex,” Leah quipped.

“Gross, Leah! That’s my mom!” Garrett yelled.

“I might never sleep again,” Mia uttered.

“Well, on that note, I think dinner might be ready. Anyone hungry?” Clare said, obviously trying to change the subject.

The room erupted into laughter.

Clare had wanted to serve everyone, but we quickly threw that idea out the window. Instead of the dining room, we all headed toward the kitchen.

“Did you really think we were going to sit around your dining table and allow you to serve us?” Mia asked.

Clare pouted. “Well, yes, I’m the hostess.”

“The pregnant hostess,” Leah added. “Come on, friends, let’s get dinner on the table.”

We all put on oven mitts and began plating food onto large platters and in serving bowls before carrying our feast out to the table.

“It all looks amazing, Clare,” I commented, giving her a squeeze.

“Thanks. Logan did most of the cooking.”

“You didn’t let him touch dessert, did you?” I asked as we made our way back to the dining room to take our seats.

“No.” She laughed. “Dessert is safe.”

Food and dishes were passed around until plates were piled high. Laughter filled the air.

“Oh, Liv! I almost forgot!” Clare said, jumping out of her seat. She rushed out of the room and returned seconds later with a newspaper clipping. She dropped it next to my plate. “You and Jackson made the news. You’re celebrities now!”

“What?” I looked down at the black-and-white print. There, looking up at me, was the photo that had been taken of Jackson and myself at dinner with my parents.

Below the photo, the caption said, Senator Prescott enjoying dinner with wife, Michelle; daughter, Olivia; and boyfriend, Richmond attorney, Jackson Reid.

It had been ages since I saw a picture of my family and me together, and I spent a moment looking down at the grainy photo, memorizing the faces and happy smiles of my parents sitting with me.

I slowly looked up to see my friends staring at me with curiosity. I caught Jackson sneak a glance over at Declan, and the two men seemed to be exchanging something between themselves.

Jackson’s gaze returned to me, and I found myself questioning him for the first time.

“What’s going on?”

Taken aback, he asked, “What do you mean?”

“You and Declan—what’s going on?”

“It’s not important right now,” he said with a wave of his hand.

“I want to know.” My tone was clipped and to the point.

He let out a deep breath of air just as Declan spoke up, “It’s not a big deal, Liv. Jackson’s just worried about you. He told me about the newspaper journalist from the other night and—”

My temper began to rise, and my heart rate accelerated. “You were talking about me?”

The room went dead silent. No one was touching the food anymore, and I felt terrible for disrupting the meal Clare had put so much effort into, but I just couldn’t stop pushing.

“I asked Declan what he thought of the situation because of his background with reporters. That’s all,” Jackson said.

“You think my father is using me, don’t you?”

My eyes darted around the room and saw a sea of blank faces. Did they all think that?

“I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

The tiny room began to spin and my stomach churned with embarrassment. “I don’t feel well all the sudden. Clare, do you mind if I leave early?” I tried to plaster on my best smile.

She gave me a weak smile as she began to rise from her chair.

“Don’t bother, honey. I can show myself out.”

There wasn’t enough air in the room. I felt like everyone was staring at me, judging me.

I had to get out.

Jackson

We drove back home in silence.

The sheer fact that she was even in the same car with me right now was a miracle. I could feel the anger and hurt radiating off her body like an overworked furnace.

I spent every second between Clare’s house and ours thinking, contemplating, and figuring out my plan of attack. With Liv, it was always about strategy.