“I was. She died of cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Listening to Liv makes me furious with Harrison. He couldn’t offer her a dignified breakup. I see now why Tug is nervous about delivering the news.
Harrison sits on the curb in front of the gas station, waiting for us. We get out of the car, and Liv throws her arms around his neck. “Oh, baby, are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine, not even a scratch. The car, not so much.” He smiles with his large dimples, and bats his lashes. I know this guy well, with his looks used on countless women, he thinks he’s special.
“Thank God. Where is it?” Liv asks.
“I had it towed to a body shop. They’ll call when it’s ready, but they said it would be a few days.”
Oh, he’s slick. The lie fell out of his mouth way too easily, and the devious side of me is nudging me to call him out.
“Oh, Harrison, do you know Maria?”
“Yes, uh, kinda. Hello, Maria.”
I nod and get inside Tug’s car. Liv starts to get in the back seat, but Harrison tells her not to. “Sit in front with Maria. I can squeeze in the back.”
Liv thanks him. Spineless coward. He wants to sit in the back because he knows I’m on to what a total loser he is. Liv deserves so much better than Harrison. I drive, and as I take the left turn toward my apartment complex, I feel Harrison shifting in the seat. His car is definitely still at Del’s.
“Where are we going?” Liv asks.
“Oh, I just need to stop at my place and grab a change of clothes for Javier, in case he wants to swim.”
“Cool,” Liv says.
“I’m sure Drew has something he can wear,” Harrison offers.
“We’re here now. It will only take a second,” I saying, rolling slowly past Del’s building to get to mine. My hope is that if I drive slowly enough, Liv will see his car, because I don’t exactly want to have to tell her Harrison is a lying cheater any more than Tug does. When she leans forward, I hold my breath.
“Harrison, that’s your car,” she shouts into the window.
“No, it probably just looks like it.”
I slam on the brakes and turn my head to glare at him. “Really? You’re going to keep this going?”
“Stay out if it!”
Liv pulls the handle, but the door doesn’t open. “Unlock the door. Let me out.”
I hit the button and release the lock. Liv jumps out, and Harrison crawls out after her. I get out and walk slowly to her. Her hands are on her slim hips just above her hot-pink sarong. She keeps her eyes on the car for what feels like hours. Her long hair blows over her face and she doesn’t remove it.
“Liv,” Harrison says calmly.
“Don’t fucking talk to me!”
She spins and marches toward me, fury in her eyes. “How could you?”
“I’m sorry, but I thought you needed to know.”
“I spilled my guts to you on the ride over, and the entire time you planned to expose the fact you were fucking my boyfriend. I told Tug you were a whore!”
“What? No, Liv. I’m not fucking him.” Liv’s features soften slightly. I say, “If you have any balls at all, it’s confession time, Harrison.”