he said, stepping back. His words were clipped, the result of frustration over things he couldn’t control but had to deal with.
“I can’t condone what you’re doing.”
“I’m not asking you to condone it,” he said, honestly wishing now he hadn’t said anything. “I’m asking you to gather some information instead of proceeding with a closed mind.”
“Really,” she said stonily. “A closed mind. Which of us has a bit more training in the field of physiology?”
“If we have this no-strings relationship you say we have, then why do you even care?”
“Professional ethics.”
“Ah. A matter of principle.”
“I would have the same concerns regardless of who you were.”
“Who am I, Liv? To you?”
“Don’t make me label this.”
“That’s right. You don’t like labels, even if they’re accurate. I remember that screw buddy was off-limits.”
“Look—” she rounded on him “—I told you what I could give. You said you could accept that.”
“And now I want to know why that’s all you can give. You didn’t make any rules about that.”
“I have to go,” she said.
“I’m sure you do.”
“I’m not a coward, Matt. I’m a realist. I’ve made some decisions about my life and I’m standing by them.”
“No matter who you hurt in the process?”
Her mouth went flat and then she turned and walked out the door. It’d be great to call her back, to tell her he was sorry, but he wasn’t certain he was.
* * *
THAT HAD BEEN uncalled for. She’d been nothing but up-front with Matt and he’d said he agreed and now...
Why on earth was this happening? And why couldn’t she have been like Shae and told Matt she was attracted to him back when she’d wanted so desperately to date him? Then this would all be over and done with and she’d have moved on with her life.
Except the thought of moving on didn’t feel so good.
Red flag of the highest order.
Liv drew in a breath, told herself she was overthinking, overreacting. She was angry at what she saw as Matt breaking the rules, but really, what had he done except ask her to come and watch him? She made a quantum leap into thinking she was being controlled. He’d just asked. Not cajoled, not implored, but simply asked. And he’d had a solid reason—from his point of view. Nothing was going to change her thoughts on what he was doing and why it was wrong.
Bottom line, she’d overreacted, but she still wasn’t going to watch him rope. Not while he was shooting painkillers into himself.
* * *
TIM WAS FINALLY up and around and for once in his life not ignoring the advice of others. He allowed Liv to do what she had time to do around the place, hired Walter across the road to do the remaining chores. He never mentioned asking Matt to come back and wondered just what he might have heard via the grapevine. It didn’t matter because it was her business, not his, and she didn’t need to live her life to please him any more than she needed to live it to please anyone. She could be a respectful, loving daughter and have her own life. If nothing else, Tim modeled that behavior more than anyone she knew. True, it’d gotten him in trouble, but he certainly didn’t bend over backward to please anyone, and everyone knew where they stood with him.
After four days of not seeing or hearing anything from Matt, Liv had to admit she missed him. A lot. But she didn’t seek him out. No. She bumped straight into him in the last place she expected—at a discount store in Butte while she was shopping with Shae for wedding doodads.
Shae was still in the next aisle over and Liv was more than grateful that, for the moment, it was just she and Matt. Alone, except for the grandmotherly lady perusing the paper goods a few feet away. Shae didn’t miss much and the vibe between Liv and Matt was instantly awkward. No. She felt awkward. Matt seemed fine.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, hoping they parted company before Shae found them and started asking questions.
“I’m kind of putting together a care package to send to Craig.” He gestured down at the batteries and USB cables and other assorted electronics in the cart. Liv almost smiled. Matt was more softhearted than she’d given him credit for.
“You miss him.”
“It’s not the same with just me and my ego crammed into the house.” There was no amusement in his eyes as he