The Ending I Want

A lump appears in my throat while tears burn my eyes. I nod in response, unable to speak. Averting my eyes, I tighten the robe around my waist.

When I look back up, he’s still watching me. Our eyes hold in silent understanding.

Then, a small smile appears on his lips.

“Well, hurry up and get your hot arse in the shower. And don’t take all day because we have plans.”

“We do?”

“I’m taking you out to start on your list, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember,” I say before heading into the bathroom, thankful for Liam’s ability to switch moods as easily as I can.





“A hair salon?” I look up at the sign on the shop where Liam’s driver, Paul, has just pulled up in front. “This is where you’re taking me?”

“Dye your hair pink. Or purple. Or some other cool color.”

He remembered it from my list. The list he read once, a day ago on the plane.

I feel oddly touched that he remembered.

“How did you remember that?” I ask, turning to him.

“I remember everything off that list. Especially the, Have lots of sex, and have sex outdoors.” He flashes me a salacious grin.

With my face flaming red, my eyes move to Paul sitting in the driver’s seat. “Jesus, Liam,” I hiss. “Paul is sitting right there. He can hear you.”

“Paul’s not embarrassed, are you?” Liam says, with that damn grin still on his face.

“No, sir.”

“Paul might not be, but I am!” I smack Liam on the arm.

He laughs at me, and then, he opens the car door and takes my hand, pulling me out with him.

“Wait here,” he tells Paul, leaning back in the car.

He shuts the door and leads me toward the hair salon.

“You know, I need an appointment to have my hair colored,” I tell him as he pushes the door to the salon open.

“You’ve got one. I made it for this morning.”

“You made the appointment?” I raise a brow. “Or your assistant did?”

He gives me an offended look. “I made the appointment. A friend of mine owns the salon.”

“Liam!”

I turn to see a stunning woman moving across the salon, quickly heading for us—well, Liam.

She has black hair with these cool purple streaks in them. She’s tall—a lot taller than me, but that isn’t hard. She’s wearing these skinny jeans that look like they were made especially for her and a really pretty fitted shirt.

She’s stunning, and I instantly hate her.

Okay, well, I don’t hate her. I’m just jealous of her natural gorgeousness.

I know I’m not ugly, but I am nowhere in her league.

She throws her arms around Liam, kissing his cheek and hugging him.

It’s clear they’re close.

Maybe as close as Liam and I are.

Liam lets go of my hand, so he can hug her back.

The twinge I feel in my stomach is most definitely not jealousy.

Okay, maybe it’s a little bit of jealousy. Stupid, I know.

I watch them and the way she hugs him. She hugs him in an intimate way. Like they’ve been close before. Like she knows his body the way I know his body.

Jesus, they’ve had sex.

He’s had sex with her.

I can’t believe he brought me to the salon of a woman he used to fuck.

Or maybe still fucks.

The twinge in my stomach tightens into knots.

“It’s been too long since I last saw you,” she tells him. Aside from being gorgeous, she has an awesome English accent.

Her hand is still pressed to his chest, and I have an irrational urge to rip her hand off him.

Down, Taylor.

Jesus, what is going on with me?

I cross my arms over my chest to make sure I don’t do something stupid, like break her fingers.

“When did we last see each other?” she asks him.

“Cam’s birthday.”

“God, yeah, that was six months ago. That was a good night.” She smiles at him. It’s a dreamy kind of smile.

A we-had-sex kind of smile.

Ugh.

“Yeah, it was a good night,” Liam says low. “Megan, this is Taylor,” he finally deems to introduce me.

I hold my silly anger in and smile at her. “Hi,” I say. “You have a really nice place here.”’

I might be suffering from Jealousy 101 and want to punch Liam in the face for bringing to the salon of the woman whose vagina he has intimate knowledge of, but I can’t deny that the salon is nice.

“Thanks.” She smiles at me. It’s a friendly smile. “So, when he called me earlier to book you in, Liam said that you want to dye your hair. What color are you looking to go?”

I finger my dull dark blonde hair, looking at her beautiful shiny black hair. She’s gorgeous, and then I suddenly can’t figure out why Liam is interested in having sex with me.

He’s had sex with someone like her. She’s tall and beautiful and stunning.

And I’m five foot three on a good day. I have a definite ass, but I’m just…mousy.

“Pink,” I say, going with the first color on my list.

“Cool.” She smiles. “Pink, it is. Are we talking bright pink or light pink? Pastel, like candy-floss pink? That’s all the rage at the moment. That, and gray.”

“Candy floss?”

“Cotton candy,” Liam explains.