“No.” She gestures toward the seat. “Have a seat.”
I return her smile with a polite one of my own. “Thank you. I’m Anna.”
She nods and lays down the spoon she was just feeding her daughter with before extending her hand to me. “I’ve heard about you. I’m Liv, Brian’s wife.”
I take her hand, curious as to exactly what she’s heard when remnants of her child’s lunch rub off onto my fingertips.
Liv grimaces. “Sorry about that. Here.” She hands me a napkin. “Do you have any?”
I take the napkin and begin to wipe the spaghetti sauce from my fingers. “Children? No. I’m not even married yet.”
Liv laughs and tosses her brown hair over her shoulder. “I wasn’t either, until last month.”
My eyebrows flick up in quick surprise. I know that having babies out of wedlock is a common practice these days, I’ve just never known anyone who’s done it.
“Is she…” Damn. How do I ask this question without sounding completely rude?
Fortunately, I don’t have to because she finishes for me. “Brian’s?”
I nod.
“Yes.” She hugs the little blond-haired child tighter against her and kisses the top of her head. “Acts just like him too. Ornery.”
“Anna meet Kami. Kami can you say hello to Miss Anna?”
Kami stares up at me with the same dark eyes that her mother has, but I can see a lot of Brian in her as well. “Helwo.”
“Good job,” Liv praises her.
The little girl giggles and squirms as her mom tickles her ribs before setting her down so she can play around on the floor with a couple of other small kids.
“She’s adorable,” I say as I watch the children play.
“Thanks. She can be a handful most days, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Liv begins cleaning up the mess in front of her. “So you and X…are you all a couple? Brian wasn’t sure.”
My lips twist for a brief second. Xavier hasn’t come right out and said he’s my boyfriend or anything, but we’ve been attached at the hip for a little while now. I believe that would qualify us as an item. “Yes.”
“That’s good news. I was so excited when I heard he ditched Deena. She wasn’t the one for X, but she wouldn’t give up trying to sink her claws into him.”
I can’t help snickering. “Wow. Not a fan, huh?”
“Definitely not. It’s girls like her that give women in general a bad name. This room is full of them.” She gives me a pointed look, and I glance over at the other tables filled with women dressed a lot like Deena. “No matter how clear X made it that he didn’t want a relationship with Deena, she still tagged along with him, hoping he would give in and she’d find a way to weasel into his pocket.”
My thoughts automatically revert to Alice and what Quinn said about her. “I know another girl like her. She’s a bitch too. It must be a genetic trait with gold-diggers.”
Liv grins. “I like you. It’s about time X had someone like you. Being around a genuine woman will be good for him.”
“Thanks. I hope so.”
“I’m sure things will work out.”
At that second Kami begins to cry and Liv hops out of her seat to scoop the child into her arms. Liv cradles her little girl to her chest and speaks softly into her ear attempting to console her. She’s a good mother. I’ve only known her a few minutes, but there’s no mistaking how much she adores the little girl.
My cell phone buzzes in my back pocket. Quickly I dig it out and check the screen.
Crap.
With everything going on last night I forgot to call Quinn to let her know I made it to the hotel safe. She won’t be pleased with me.
I answer on the third ring, and Quinn immediately starts in on me. “What’s up with not calling, Hookerbot? How am I supposed to know you’re safe if you don’t check in?”
I furrow my brow. “Hooker-what?”
“It’s my new slang word, but don’t go and try to distract me from being pissed at you. Call me every day—ring a bell?”
I sigh. “I’m sorry. Things were busy last night.”
“Uh-huh. I bet they were. You slept with Mr. Sexy, didn’t you?”
A blush creeps over my face, and I can even feel my ears burn from all the blood rushing to my face. I could deny it and keep it private, but I don’t want to. I want her to know. “Yes.”
She shrieks. “Anna Cortez! You little slut.”
“Quinn!” I scold. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh, I know it’s not. You two are way past random fucking now. You’re moving into the ‘when’s the wedding’ phase.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “Trust me, we aren’t anywhere near that.”
“But you screwed his brains out anyway? I’m so proud.” I hear her mock sniff on the other end of the line. “So, how does it feel to be out in the big world all on your own?”
I grin. “It’s so freeing. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
“Do you miss home at all?”
I sigh. “No. There’s nothing in Portland for me anymore.”
“I’m so happy for you, cuz. But I think you need to call Uncle Simon. He’s been hounding Mom to death about you.”
“I texted him this morning.”