“Really? She told me about the trash can fire.”
“Simple accident, could've happened to anyone.”
“And the missing deposit.”
“I would've found it on my own eventually.”
“And the underage sting operation.”
Liam paused for a while, staring up like he was thinking hard.
“Jesus, you're right. How did I run that place without her?” he asked. Katya smiled big.
“I told you to hire her, so you're welcome,” she told him. He smiled back.
“It's good to see you happy, angel - … uh, Katya. Thanks for giving me this chance,” he said in a moment of sincerity. Her smile faltered a little and she took a deep breath.
“Don't make me regret it,” she replied. He nodded.
“I'll try my hardest.”
The song ended after that, and when Liam went to lead her back to the tables, they bumped into the bride.
“Hello, hello,” Lauren said, out of breath. “Who are you? I'd remember someone this cute being on my guest list.”
Katya snorted and Liam laughed.
“Lauren, this is … my neighbor, Liam Edenhoff,” she introduced them. “I hope you don't mind, he … I ...”
“Mind! No, no, no. I'm excited to meet any neighbor of Katya's,” Lauren laughed, shaking Liam's hand.
“Thanks,” he laughed back.
“Good to meet you, Liam. Please, eat and drink a lot – I hate to waste money on this kind of crap. I'm so glad you both came. I'm just,” the peppy blonde seemed at a loss for a moment. “I'm so excited you're here. Tonight is going to be so fun!”
Before they could question any of that, Lauren was whisked away by some other eager guests. Katya stared after her for a minute, then felt Liam's hand on the small of her back, guiding her off the dance floor.
“She's … interesting,” he finally commented. Katya laughed, then stumbled against him as a crowd of people surged onto the dance floor. Sir Mix-a-Lot was blasting from the speakers, so she completely understood their enthusiasm.
“Yeah. I mean, she's always energetic, but she's like doubly so today.”
“Sounds like a blast. So, what are you doing after this?”
He said it so off the cuff, Katya almost responded. It was what they did, after all. She'd explain how she had to go home and wash her hair and prep her outfit for the next day and balance her checkbook. He'd tell her she was ridiculous and inform her they'd be drinking margaritas and eating cookie dough. She'd argue. He wouldn't listen. And by one in the morning, they'd be wrist deep in chocolate chips, drinking sour mix and tequila straight from a pitcher.
But she caught herself, because that wasn't what they did – not anymore. Because he had ruined everything. It all came crashing back and Katya sighed, rubbing her hand across her forehead.
“I don't know, Liam, but I can guarantee it won't be anything with you. Baby steps,” she reminded him. He pressed his lips together hard, then nodded.
“That's more than I hoped for,” he finally replied. She managed to smile again.
“But I'm glad you came, I guess. Tori always gets distracted halfway through these things and I wind up fending for myself,” she said, trying to get back to a place of at least fake-normalcy.
“Well, we can't have that. How about a drink? I'm dying in this thing,” he said, pulling at his tie and loosening it up. She nodded.
“That would be great. I'll have -”
“Pinot gris or margarita, I'm on it.”
She smiled and watched as he moved across the dance floor. Liam was in his element the most when he was in a crowd. A true people-person. He didn't know a single person in that reception hall, yet he smiled and laughed and talked with everyone as he moved. Twirled the mother-of-the-bride around and even dipped her. Flirted his way past a gaggle of twenty-something-year-old coeds. She wished she had his ease, his self-confidence. She sighed and folded her arms across her chest.
“It's all an act, you know. He's piss-scared.”
If Liam's voice had surprised her, then this voice froze her on the spot. She didn't turn her head, and the voice's owner didn't move into her line of sight. She could just barely see him out the corner of her eye.
“Is there anyone on the planet who didn't crash this frickin' wedding?” she asked through clenched teeth.
“I wouldn't know. I was invited.”
Wulf didn't bother moving, and she was finally forced to turn so she could glare at him. He was wearing a black suit, with a crisp white shirt and matching pocket square. He could've been attending a funeral, but it worked for him. He looked severe and devastatingly handsome and more than a little dangerous. He had one hand in his pocket, and the other was holding an old fashioned glass.
“You got an invitation? How?” Katya asked.
“Well, I received an envelope in the mail, and inside it was an -”
“Shut up, you know what I mean. Why would Lauren invite you?” she demanded.
“Not sure. I sold her husband the building he runs his practice in.”
“I didn't realize. I guess … that kind of makes sense.”
“Oh, and I called and asked.”
“What!?”
“I called her husband and asked to attend. He was more than happy to oblige,” Wulf clarified.
“Why would you do that? You don't really know them, and you hate stuff like this,” Katya pointed out. He finally looked down at her, cocking up an eyebrow as he did so.
“I do? Strange, I've been to lots of weddings. Never realized I hate them.”
“Shut up.”
“You say that a lot, but then ask me questions. It's counterproductive.”
“I swear to god ...”
“I asked because I knew you'd be here,” he explained. Her jaw dropped for a second, then she regained her composure.
“How did you know that?” she asked.
“You told me.”
“I did?”
“Yes. You told me about the cake you were designing – it looks amazing, by the way. You're very talented. And then in my apartment, when we talked about our cake fight. You explained who Lauren was. I remembered her name, and it wasn't hard to figure out the rest,” he told her.
She was shocked. He was putting so much effort into … whatever it was he was trying to do. If he was trying to win her over, he was being kind of a massive dick about it – she preferred Liam's grovel-and-be-sweet method.
But stalking down the wedding information. Calling Lauren's husband and asking for an invite. Remembering tiny details from a conversation that felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. Oh, and moving his entire life into her apartment building. It was a little insane.
That's it. I've gone crazy. They drove me crazy and I'm hallucinating all this.
“But why? Why would you do that? Just because I'm here? What is going on!?” she demanded.
“You won't see me. This is grossly unfair – I should get my fair say before you cut me off,” he told her.
Whoa. Déjà vu.
She glanced across the room. Liam was walking back from the bar, laughing with one of the groomsmen.
“He's just as culpable as I am,” Wulf said in a careful voice. “Yet apparently more worthy of forgiveness.”