Benson flinched. The “I told you so” was there, but it was quiet. Depressing, really.
“So, that’s it?” Benson asked. “We just... what? Pretend we don’t know each other? Fight over her?”
Liam considered it. He looked down the bar, then at Benson. “I’mnot giving her up.”
“Neither am I.”
“So, what do we do? Keep dating her? Separately? Knowingthat guyis also in bed with her? How long does that last, exactly?”
“Knowing you, as soon as someone else comes along to steal your attention.”
Liam should have been offended by that, but he knew where Benson was coming from… let alone why he was compelled to say something like that. “Are you serious about her?”
“As serious as a man who just met his girlfriend at a place like that can be. I’m still getting to know her, and she’s twenty years younger than me…”
“Whew, boy, she sure is.”
“…But that hasn’t been a problem so far. You know me. She’s my perfect type.”
“Usually, you like seriously dating women closer to my age or older.”
Benson shrugged. “Can’t help it. I don’t even think about how young she is anymore.” Was that asmirk?“Kinda hard to, when she’s such awoman,if you know what I mean.”
“I think you know that I know what you mean.”
“Just… what are the odds?”
Liam’s smile fell lopsided as he considered the same notion. “So, I told her on her way out the door that I would drop by her place later to explain. You seemed pretty upset, so I didn’t extend the offer for you to do it.”
“Don’t tell her the whole story.”
“Really, now? You mean, you haven’t told her about…” Liam laughed. “Bro. You were at the meet-up a couple of weeks ago.”
“I know. So were you. Haveyoutold her the whole story?”
“You got me there, champ. Just hasn’t come up.”
“Same for me.”
“Yeah, but you’re much more guarded about that. Kinda ended your marriage, remember?”
Benson sent him the glare of the evening – even harsher than the accusatory one in the private room.All right, all right.“My marriage ended for many incompatibility reasons.”
“Ended your engagement, too.”
“Shut up, dude.”
“I’ve told her thatIwas engaged once. Have you?”
“She knows about Sydney, yes. And my daughter.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Benson turned his whole body toward Liam, his glare as powerful as the muscles in his body.I know exactly how strong that is.Liam had been on the other end of those hands before.
What a storied life I’ve lived.
“I haven’t told her that I’ve been engaged since then, no.”