All or nothing (Love in chaos #1) - Missy Johnson Page 0,27

of her phone, like she’s nervous around me. I'm not sure what's changed since last night, then it hits me that maybe now she's sober, she's reconsidering our initial connection.

“I guess it does,” she agrees.

“I'm glad you’re here, even though I have no idea how or why,” I admit. “How about I buy you that drink?”

“Ben?”

I turn around to find my confused-looking mother staring at me.

Again?

“Mom. What are you doing here?” I hiss.

“Me?” she titters. “I should be the one asking you that. Last time I checked you weren’t over the age of sixty. And why are you speaking to Liv in that ridiculous accent?”

Liv?

I turn back around to see Louise staring at my mother, her face completely white. There’s only one Liv I know, and this is certainly not…

No. there’s no way…

I study her for a second, my blood pulsing through my veins as flashes of familiarity spark through me.

It is her.

It’s been years since I last saw her. No longer is she the skinny little thing that used to follow Jake and our friends around like a lost puppy. Now she's all grown up and absolutely drop-dead gorgeous—but definitely still not old enough for me to have met her in a bar.

Maybe that’s why she pretended to be someone else?

“I have to go.” Liv can’t even look at me. “I’m sorry.”

Before I can stop her, she pushes between me and Mom and darts out of sight. I stare after her, still in shock, until Mom’s voice brings me back to reality.

“Can we get back to why you’re here?” Mom frowns at me. “Is this some kind of sick fetish? First the hotel and now this. I hope you didn’t put Jake up to convincing us to—”

“Jake’s behind you being here?” I growl. Then I laugh, ignoring the perplexed look Mom is giving me. “If course he fucking is.”

“Language, Benjamin,” Mom scolds.

“Or what?” I snap. “You’ll take me over your knee?”

“Don't tempt me,” she warns.

“Look, I didn't plan anything or put anyone up to anything.” I lower my voice because people around us are starting to take notice, and it isn’t fair that I’m taking this out on Mom. “Jake's playing one of his sick games and I don't have time to explain it to you,” I say.

“Then explain it to me later,” Mom says.

I pat her arm. “I will.”

Pushing past her, I go outside. For a brief moment, I’m angry at Liv for not telling me who she was when we met last night, but it quickly passes. I have no right to be annoyed at her when I put on a fake accent to try and get some action, for Christ’s sake.

I spot her almost immediately over by the guard railing. She’s gazing out over the water, deep in thought, the cool breeze blowing through her long, golden hair. I slow down to a stop, and for a minute I just stare at her, because she really is breathtaking. There was a connection there last night, we both felt it.

“Don’t jump, it’s not worth it.” I make a feeble attempt at humor as I approach her.

“With how embarrassed I feel right now?” She looks sideways at me, her blue eyes meeting mine. “Trust me, it’s an option.”

“You're embarrassed?” I laugh. “You're not the one who put on a stupid British accent to impress a girl at a bar.”

She flushes and giggles. “Yeah, that was kind of bad,” she replies, turning her attention back to the water.

“You liked it,” I say, nudging her. “Admit it. You thought it was sexy.”

Her cheeks glow pink in a way that makes my chest tighten. I decide to move the conversation on, because I don’t want to embarrass her any more than she already is.

“So,” I begin, tapping my fingertips together. “What brings you on a cruise like this?”

She shrugs. “I tagged along to make sure Mom was okay. You?”

“Same,” I lie.

She looks at me again, and her eyes narrow. “Bullshit,” she replies. I have to laugh. Never thought I'd hear Jake's little sister swear at me. “Tell me the real reason.”

I weigh up telling her about the bet, but then I figure I’ve got nothing to lose. Maybe she’ll feel sorry for me and help me figure something out.

“Jake and I got really drunk at Mason's birthday party, and apparently one thing led to another, and I made a bet with him for my company, for his car. The time to win ends this weekend, so Jake put me on this