Page 39 of He Loves Me Knot

“You tell those little shits that your back brace is none of their damn business, and you wear whatever the hell you want,”Granny had always told her. She’d meant well. But Granny wasn’t the one who had to deal with the cruelty of the other kids and the crushing insecurity Liddy had always felt about her body. And while Liddy might have inherited Granny’s scoliosis, she hadn’t inherited Granny’s tendency to be a battle-ax.

Granny and Kyle were still waiting for a response, and Liddy finally sighed. Callum had said Sergio would be somewhere tonight, which hopefully meant they didn’t need to leave yet. “I’ll get my suit and meet you outside. But I’m not getting on a surfboard.”

“The hell you aren’t,” Granny grunted as she pulled Kyle back out the door.

“It’s too freaking early for this,” Liddy mumbled to herself as she scanned the room for her suitcase.

Speaking of which, wherewasCallum? He couldn’t have left so early to get work done, could he? But, then again, thank goodness he’d packed away his makeshift bed. That would have made for some awkward questions.

Liddy changed as quickly as she could, opting for a navy-blue one-piece that she’d bought because it fully covered the scar on her back. Granny might give her grief about it later, but she couldn’t very well say much when she wore that wetsuit.

Ugh, I don’t have time for things like this.She needed to find out what her options were for replacing her phone, to begin with. She still needed to talk to Miranda—she’d texted her the day before to ask her not to tell anyone what she’d shared about Callum’s fake relationship idea on the car ride. But Miranda hadn’t answered, and then Liddy’s phone had been stolen.

Maybe I can borrow Rebecca’s phone and call Miranda. Rebecca should be here by now.

And she needed to cancel her credit cards, which would again mean borrowing someone’s phone. Maybe Callum would help.

Then she needed to check in with Elle and help her find a new caterer and settle any other wedding details that still needed tending to.

She’d just finished changing when she heard the door to the bungalow open again. “I’m coming already,” she called through a crack in the bathroom door.

“Would it be terrible of me to say, ‘that’s what she said’ right this second?” Callum answered.

Liddy pushed the door open more widely and mock glared at him. “It would be ironic, given that your last name is Scott and you’re my boss.”

“Oh, too true.” Callum grinned, dripping with sweat. He’d clearly gone for another run, and his shirt was clinging to him in all the right places, showing off the indents of well-formed muscle under the fabric.

Oh, man.

He did have abs. Well-defined ones that rippled under his shirt as he moved.

Liddy moistened her lips, tearing her gaze away. She’d be mortified to be caught staring.

“Have a good night, sleeping beauty? You were out for like eleven hours.”

“Let me guess. You woke up at five—London time?”

“Four, actually. But that’s about all my shoulder could take of the comfortable bedding.” Callum crossed his arms. “I hear you’re going surfing.”

“My granny signed us up for lessons, apparently. But I’m just planning to go watch.”

“And you’re going, too, sonny.” Granny’s voice came loudly from outside.

“Granny, you’re going to wake anyone remotely close to us,” Liddy said with a hiss.

Callum scanned Lydia’s face. “You ever been surfing before?”

She shook her head. “And I have no intention of starting today. The ocean and I are barely friends. I don’t really have any desire to tempt it to drown me.”Truthfully, the idea of surfing would be amazing, but it’s also terrifying.

“Samara’s a good beach for beginners without experience. There aren’t big waves here. You probably won’t get any further than learning to catch waves and bellyboard in if you try. Tell the instructor . . .” He trailed off, hesitantly.

“About my back?” she filled in for him, raising a brow. “Yeah, don’t worry, I’m not an idiot. I tell the people it makes a difference with. But I’m not going to surf.” Then she stepped closer, slinging her beach bag over her shoulder. If Kyle and Granny were still in earshot, she needed to be careful with her wording. “And I’m sorry if I was harsh last night. I think I let everything get to me all at once.”

Granny strode into the bungalow and then looked at Callum expectantly. “You going like that?”

“Gran, I doubt Callum needs surfing lessons. He practically grew up on this beach.”

Granny lifted her chin at him. “You surfed here before?”