“Really?”
“Yes. Whenever there was a problem, he just fixed it. Said problems are there to be fixed, not talk about. I think he would have rather kept being fired from us too, but it wasn’t possible, obviously.”
“So, is that why you talked to the therapist? You mentioned that once.”
“Yeah. I knew there was no way he’d want to. He didn’t even acknowledge the depression. So we helped the only way we could: by doing things instead of talking about them.”
I laughed. “Wow. That’s so different to how we do things in my family. Did I tell you how I came up with the no-secrets policy?”
“No.”
“After Dad left, everyone was having a hard time, and I insisted we had to talk about it. We couldn’t afford a therapist, but I knew we had to communicate.” I narrowed my eyes. “I can’t believe David says you’re robotic. You seem so open about everything.”
He lifted his head, laying a quick peck on my chin. “That’s because you leave me no other choice, Tess. I can’t help but share too.”
I was thrilled that I was seeing a side of him that he usually didn’t show people. It made me feel special. I ran a hand through his thick hair, loving the familiarity of the touch.
“Were you never afraid of letting people in after your parents’ marriage ended so badly?” he asked.
I pondered that, looking deep into myself, perhaps deeper than I ever did.
“I am afraid...but I just do it anyway. It’s like I can’t help myself.” Even as I was saying it though, I wondered if I’d ever been so open with anyone I dated. I didn’t think I’d been, and it wasn’t just because they never bothered to ask. I hadn’t cared to share my dreams and hopes, or my fears.
“After selling the app, it became so much more difficult to date. I was thrilled in the beginning by how much my popularity with the ladies skyrocketed.”
“Hmmm...somehow I think you’ve always been popular.”
“Yes, but after the sale, it was different. I couldn’t be sure they were after me or after the fame and secure financial situation. I won’t lie, I enjoyed the extra attention, but that was about it.”
We both cleaned up the kitchen, and once we were done, Liam headed to the shower. I stayed behind, enjoying another cup of coffee.
***
Liam
Tess was still at the kitchen island after I came out of the shower. She was hunched over a notebook, pen in hand, talking on the phone. I only caught a few words, but it was enough to learn that it was about her brother’s wedding.
“Look, Laney wants a shabby chic theme, and I want to make that happen for her. If you don’t like it, we can just find another wedding planner. Yes, I’m authorized to let you go.”
I loved this side of her too, ruthless and unforgiving.
“No, listen, I want both of them to have the best day of their lives.”
What I liked most was her determination to make others happy...including me.
I snuck around her, looking over her shoulder. Her notebook was not what I expected at all. I’d thought it was a to-do list, but instead it looked like a five-year-old had gotten hold of it. It was an explosion of colors and stickers. I barely held back my laughter. Tess was still speaking, after all. She glanced at me over her shoulder, bumping her ass against me when she noticed my smile.
“Well, Honor, you have one week to get me the options Laney asked for. Otherwise, we’ll part ways.”
She hung up afterward, turning to face me.
“You’re going to make fun of my notebook.”
“Yes,” I said earnestly. “I’m sorry, just having a hard time piecing together the businesswoman and that.”
She stepped to one side, pointing to a page. “I have a system. Different colors for different types of tasks.”
“And the stickers?”