He watches me, as if trying to see through me, searching for those damn secrets that he knows exist.
“Does Liam know the deal you made with your dad?”
“For God’s sake, who was that girl with a foul mouth?” Mom demands, arms folded. “And where did you go?”
“I had something important to do,” I murmur, shooting Liam a look. “How come you don’t know her?”
“Am I supposed to?” She frowns.
“Yes!” Liam exclaims. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all this time while J was chasing ass.”
“I don’t want to hear any of that or who you boys drop your pants for, Liam.” Mom waves her hands in the air. “Who is she?”
“Oh, mommy dearest, that’s our new step-sister, cousin or whatever,” Liam announces, evil mirth in his eyes.
“What?” Mom shrieks, her purse dropping to the floor.
I face palm myself and shoot Liam a look. Nice going, asshat.
“What do you mean by she’s your new step-sister?”
Her eyes are wide with panic. Liam looks at me, now realizing what’s going on.
“Wait, he didn’t tell you?” Liam starts, a smile on his face. “Dad didn’t tell you that he’s getting married?”
“No, that son of a—” she cuts herself off, then she starts to pace. “That man didn’t tell me that that you were in here, let alone that he’s getting married to some whore with a grown child!”
“Calm down, Mom. I’m sure John had his reasons,” Liam says, rolling his eyes.
“Reasons?” Mom seethes, going full-blown angry right in front of us. “What reasons could he possibly have that trump his own blood? His family?”
“Well, off the top of my head, his soon-to-be-wife and her sick sister that he cares about so much are good enough reasons in his book,” Liam starts, his words sarcastic. “In fact, he had the entire first floor renovated, the guest-bedrooms were magically transformed into a state-of-the-fucking-art clinic for them.”
“He’s doing what?”
Yup. I’ve got a migraine now.
“He seriously didn’t tell you?” Liam questions, laying his head back on the pillows. He looks tired now.
“Well, after I signed those damn papers, we haven’t talked about anything.” She waves her manicured hands around.
“Yeah, not even your own son’s funeral,” I mutter, wanting to get the hell out of here, find Mia and make her take my anger. What was she doing in here with Liam anyway?
“God, I hate that man,” she groans.
“So, wait, how did you find out?” I stare at her, frowning. “About Liam?”
“Really? That’s what your concerned with? The grape vine?” she deadpans. “You two make headlines all the time, you think I wouldn’t hear about something as serious as this?”
Yeah, and I’m a fucking celibate saint who doesn’t want to screw Mia Montague seven ways to Sunday mass. There’s no way she found this out from the ‘grape vine.’
“Mom, who told you?” I question, dropping into the chair beside the window.
“Why, your girlfriend of course.”
I don’t know why my mind races to Mia’s face when she says that dreaded word. Liam starts laughing and I snap out of it.
“You have a girlfriend now, J?” Liam mocks, then starts laughing but it’s pathetic now. The dumbass is in pain.
“I don’t have a fucking girlfriend,” I grit out. “Who told you that?”
“Well, that stupid girl that used to always sniff around you. You know, the one with crooked teeth and flaky hair?”
“Liam.” I warn and he makes a show of sealing his lips shut.
“She’s nothing to me.”
“Sure,” Mom says, watching me. “I have no idea where she got my number from, but she called to tell me about all this. And a word of advice, son, that girl will sink you in a heartbeat.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“I’m not talking about that airhead, Casey,” she says just as the doctor comes in and she rushes to him, demanding to know Liam’s medical issues.
I look at my brother for a moment, noticing how his eyes are fluttering closed to sleep. Nah man.
“Liam.” I bark and his eyes fly open.
“The fuck, man?” he groans tiredly.
“What were you doing with her?”
I don’t need to explain who I’m talking about, by the smirk on his face, he already knows.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Liam starts. “Mom was right. Mia’s my latest conquest.”
“What?”
“She’s my new girlfriend.”
22
MIA
Days have passed since Julian made me come for the first time in my life, in a freaking supply. Each time I think of how I came all over