“So, Killian brought you here?”
“Yeah. He did.”
“He must really like you, Liri.”
“Maybe. I can’t think about him right now,” I lie. He is all I can think about no matter how hard I try not to.
It’s busier today than it was when I came the other night. It seems like that was so long ago now. It’s strange how quickly things can change. I pick a different table from the one I sat at with Killian. I smile to myself remembering us play fighting with the ice cream. We were in a good place. I wish I could go back to the moment and freeze time. I would live there forever.
“What can I get you?” The server this time is some guy in his early to mid-twenties. He’s like an older version of Killian.
“I’ll take buffalo wings with ranch dip,” Hayley orders.
“I want.” I scan down the menu. “A Hendrix burger. No pickle. Fries as the side.”
“Coming right up.”
After he walks off Hayley smirks at me.
“What?”
“That was Dillan, Killian’s older brother. He’s engaged and has two kids.”
“Oh. I didn’t know Killian had a brother.”
“They don’t talk. I guess when things went down Dillan forgave Susie because of her daughter. He’s going to marry her daughter, Noelle.”
“That’s heavy.”
“Yeah. Liam says Killian never talks about his family. He’s not close with his Mom either. Liam is basically all he has.”
“Gee make me feel even more like dirt!” I blow my straw paper at her.
We are halfway through our meal when Susie approaches our table. “Can I join you girls for a few minutes. I promise not to take up much of your time.”
“It’s cool. I need to powder my nose,” Hayley excuses herself and Susie takes her seat.
“I don’t know how much you know or what Killian has told you about me and his father but…”
I cut her off. “Killian hasn’t told me anything.”
“Well that makes things easier.” She gives me a weak smile. I want to tell her I know she is a husband thieving homewrecker, but I bite my tongue and remind myself I am here for Killian. “The reason I asked you here is Conrad is turning fifty next month and there’s going to be a party here. Nothing fancy, but I know it would mean a lot to him to have Killian stop by. He won’t come if we invite him, but maybe if you did it, he would say yes. When he brought you here that was the first time we have laid eyes on him in six months.”
“Um I don’t think…I’m not the right person to be mediating.”
“Well I had to try but promise me that you’ll think about it.”
“I will.”
She leaves the table and I feel sick to my stomach.
Killian’s father refused money for our meal and he told me that he hopes I won’t be a stranger. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I’m not really with Killian. I’m not sure I ever was. No wonder Killian doesn’t date. He was surrounded by betrayal and shitty circumstances. He has no idea what a healthy relationship should be. Not that what we started was anything but toxic. I know we bring out the worst in each other. We’re bad at love but we fit.
My chest aches for him. I turn my phone over in my hands tempted to dial his number.
“Ugh!” Hayley comes into the guest room at her mom’s looking miffed.