Player's Guide To Catfishing (PLAYBOOK #1)

CHAPTER 70: The beginning of an end

LIAM

When I wake up, I am in a bed and one deep inhale lets me know it's Vecker's. I smile and sink into the soft sheets as the light from the ceiling windows creeps in.

"I miss her old room." I cover my face with a pillow, only for it to be pulled away.

"The sun is setting and you're sober enough to be awake which means you're sober enough to leave." Vecker pulls the covers and puts a steaming cup of coffee in my hand. "Hair of the dog."

"Jesus Odie," I spit back into the cup when I taste bourbon in the plain black coffee.

"Trust me, that's the only way to make sure it doesn't stick." She pulls her covers and says, "now get out."

Get out?

"Fine." I put the mug down and force my foot into a shoe. "Aren't you at least going to answer me?"

"I did," she reconnects the mug to my hand and pushes me out the room. "Too bad you were busy laying face first on my hardwood floor to hear."

"Too bad," I'm sipping my spiked coffee as I go down the stairs.

I'm washing my mug in my sink when Odessa trickles down the stairs in a deep v neck satin black dress, her silky curls pinned up as she hooks gold earrings to her ears.

"Why are you still here?"

She walks to a book shelf in the corner that's full of clothes and shoes and picks out black heels with mesh bows in the back.

Me?

"Where are you going?" I focus on the nude color of her glossy lips. "And what the hell is that?"

I wipe my hands on the dish rag to face her.

"What?" She sits down to wear the heels and I notice some ink on her ankle but it's too dainty to see from afar.

"That," I gesture at the lack of material on the back of her dress. "Vecker..." if she thinks I'm letting her out of this house for a date then she has another thing coming.

It might have been 6months later but, NOTHING HAS CHANGED especially now since I have been initiated into the family secret.

"Liam..." her focus is on the clasp of her shoes and it hurts because her attention never seems to be fully on me.

"Why don't you want me?" My voice cracks because I feel like knowing will set me free after I leave, "I get not loving me but—"

"Stop it," Vecker stands. "I'm doing Jessica a favor." She picks up her violin case and opens it to check the instrument, "she has a new beau and...what?"

She looks up to find me staring at her. Funny thing is, I am pretty sure it's the same way I looked at her the first time we met at that damn diner or was it frat party.

The meetcute is still fuzzy but it doesn't change the fact that,

"I love you" I finally say.

When her parents asked me in Portland, I admittedly choked because my mind immediately went back to LA where she ripped out my heart but after her mother explained everything and her brother told me what he is willing to do, I looked her father in the eye and told him my intentions.

Which explains why I am still here.

Romanoff laughed and said it didn't matter what happens because it was Odessa's choice. They just wanted to make sure she was making the right one and because of the size of my balls—they were certain.

And I am too.

"Fine," Vecker looks at her white gold wrist watch. "I'll be home at 8, if you're still here by then, we will talk," she pauses and looks at me. "Honestly this time."