Page 22 of He Loves Me Knot
“Yeah, it was just my mother.”
Oh.
She tried to conceal her surprise.He hung up on his mother like that?“Okay.”
He released a slow breath, his shoulders bunched with tension. “It’s a long personal story. My mother and I don’t get along.”
Obviously.She bit her lip. “I’m sorry to hear that. It’s none of my business, don’t worry.”And you don’t do personal stuff.
“It’s not that—” He ran his fingertips through his short, dark hair, his jaw clenching and unclenching.
For several moments, he appeared to be struggling, his level of agitation clear that Liddy couldn’t help wondering why a simple phone call would get him so angry. But she didn’t want to ask either. Callum had made it clear that he didn’t fraternize.
She twisted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. She needed a break to stretch her legs, but the end of this car ride couldn’t come fast enough. “I get it. Family is complicated.”
He rolled the window down. “My mum—she owns the place where Elle and Quinn are having their wedding. Co-owns it. With my ex-fiancée, who Mum would still like to see me get back together with.”
He has an ex-fiancée?
Wow, she hadn’t expected that.
Liddy stared at him, half stunned that he’d shared so much with her in a momentary burst. No wonder he seemed to know his way around Costa Rica. If his mother owned property here, he’d probably been here often.
And no wonder Elle said something about Callum suggesting to Quinn to have the wedding there—not that it entirely makes sense.She frowned, then asked, “Why does your mom co-own it with your ex?”
He sighed. “My ex . . . her mum was my mum’s best friend. They bought the place together in Samara after my parents got divorced. It was their dream to run it. But then my mum’s best friend died, and the ownership went to her daughter.”
She cringed. He’d probably broken more than just his ex-fiancée’s heart when things had ended. Callum’s mom had probably dreamed of him marrying her best friend’s daughter.
“Making your mom business partners with your ex.”
“Yeah. Basically. And my mum adores her, so there’s that.” His voice was terse as he turned off the main road.
Before she could say anything else, he said, “It doesn’t matter. That’s the short story. And that’s why I was curt. That’s all.” He reached over and flipped on the radio, a burst of Spanish music cutting the conversation off abruptly. Apparently, he was done sharing.
She turned back to her own phone to find a message waiting from Elle.
Elle:You on your way to the hotel yet? When can we expect you?
Liddy had avoided texting Elle after the whole thing with Sergio. She’d fired off a message when she’d landed, but then fear had stayed any further communication. No doubt her sister was worried.
Liddy:Yeah, I caught a ride with Callum. Let me ask him.
The phone rang in her hand—Elle must have tapped the dial button immediately.
Liddy answered, and Elle started speaking before Liddy could. “You’re driving with Callum?” she asked, surprise in her voice.
“Yeah.” Liddy tried not to look at him, then turned the music volume down. Between the wind rushing in through the open window and the noise in the car, she could barely hear Elle. “It’s a long story.”
“Put him on speaker, I want to talk to him. We both do.”
“We?” Liddy asked and rolled the window up. The noise eased, but the heat seemed to smack her instantly.
“My favorite sister,” Quinn said as though he and Elle were on speaker. “How was the flight?”
The flight.Sergio.Liddy made a face, and that horrible feeling came back. Iwon't be Quinn’s favorite sister for long.“It was . . . interesting.”
“Are you on speaker yet?” Elle pressed again.