Can't Let You Go

Chapter 22

***LIAM***

Early morning on the Monday before the second Saturday of December, I land at Alaris International Airport without having told anyone in my former hometown that I'd be coming. Tally doesn't even know I'm from here and I don't know what to tell her about following her because I'm not exactly sure why I did it. Seeing my family is probably unavoidable, but I want to put it off as long as possible. To be sure, I'm facing potential ire from both sets of people.

The hotel I booked isn't affiliated with anyone I know, not that I think the registries are monitored, still better safe than sorry. Not being a good traveler, I spend a couple of days getting used to the time zone shift and trying to figure out what Tally is up to. There's nothing new on her Snap'd account and though Zayan is a prolific poster, he doesn't give any hint that she might be with him, but I'm positive she's in the city somewhere.

On Wednesday, I finally reach out to my cousin.

"Hello?" He answers his phone tentatively.

"Hey Cuz. It's me." I haven't literally spoken to him since I left Alaris. We've only emailed and I kept a strict policy on not telling him where I was. I didn't want to burden him with keeping my location secret.

"Well, fuck. What country are you in? I don't recognize the calling codes."

"I'm in Alaris."

"No, you're shitting me. Why didn't I know you're back in town?"

"Actually, you're the only person who knows I am, so I'd appreciate it if you kept it that way."

"Sure thing, but when Dragon Lady finds out you have to promise not to tell her that I knew before she did." He's referring to my mother.

"I won't tell her."

"So, what are you doing home?"

"I need to establish a couple of contacts face to face. You know how business can be. Speaking of which, I need a favor."

"Shoot."

"Did you get an invite to the Savis Holiday Gala?"

"Yeah, why?"

The timing of Tally's departure indicates she'll be at this party. "Does it have a plus one and are you bringing a date?"

"It does and I'm not bringing anyone. I've been forbidden to bring a date."

"Why is that?"

"I've been in the gossip pages a few too many times recently, so I can't bring a date, or um... acquire one, at any event where the press will be."

"Classic." My cousin's penchant for sneaking off with a girl during important events was first discovered when he was sixteen. It seems like that hasn't changed. "Whose rule was that?"

"Grandfather's of course. He's the one who holds my purse strings. Really, it's a hot snack of an accountant from Fairfield who holds them, but same difference. Actually, I take that back. Ari is stricter on my budget than Grandfather ever was. She seems immune to my charms, but I'll grow on her eventually."

"Well, good luck with that, but can I be your plus one?" Since Tally's phone hasn't been turned on since she left Korea, my best chance for finding her is to hope she will in fact make an appearance at her family's charity event.

"I guess so, but both of our parents are going to be there."

"I'll try to avoid them, but I'll deal with it if I have to." We talk for a while longer and catch up. Since the stalemate I had with my mother over sleeping around in years past, and despite the sour temper I once had, purposeful confrontations are not my thing, I'm more of a go along to get along kind of guy.