Page 83 of He Loves Me Knot

A wave of guilt washed over her. Elle had mentioned that welcome dinner.And I completely forgot about it.

I never should have stayed at La Fortuna.

I never should have gone on a wild goose chase for Sergio.

If she had just stayed here and been patient, Callum’s mom would have found her phone—which had turned on, though Liddy hadn’t been able to inspect it—and she would have found out the truth about Sergio. The entire trip had been pointless.

Except that I got closer to Callum.Who had barely talked to her all morning.

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

“This is all my fault,” Liddy breathed, frustration bubbling. “Elle told me how much fuss her mother-in-law was making about everything. If I’d been here, I could have just put my foot down and told her to relax and enjoy her son’s wedding—but you know Elle, she’ll never stand up to her.”

Taryn shared a sympathetic look. “Liddy, I don’t know that you could have done much. But if it makes you feel better, Kat seems well-intentioned. She has a whole excursion planned today for all the guests to some butterfly and orchid sanctuary while she makes some adjustments to the accommodations, and then tomorrow, she’s shifting us all over to The Four Seasons for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. The only reason we’re not going sooner is because we’re still waiting on Jasper to fly in tomorrow, and Kat didn’t want to risk that the officiant would wind up at the wrong place.”

“The Four Seasons?” Liddy’s jaw dropped.And an excursion?She still needed to go get the dress from the airport.

“Isn’t that Quinn and Elle’s favorite hotel chain? They met at one, didn’t they?” Taryn asked.

“No, that was the Ritz Carlton,” Hunter interjected. “And technically, they met in a closet at Georgetown.”

“But that’s not the point. The Four Seasons isn’t what Elle wanted. I’m sure it’s beautiful and luxurious. I read amazing things about it in my guidebook. But she knew it was an option and didn’t pick it.” Liddy frowned, then looked toward her sister, who stood in front of a tropical photography backdrop with Quinn while a photographer took their picture.

Ugh, cheesy.

She winced. “Elle wanted something like this place. She’s not the best at always speaking up for herself, and she asked me for my help, but then I left and—” Liddy rubbed her eyes. It's funny how, between the two of them, Liddy was the “assertive one.” Maybe she was—with things that weren’t intensely personal toher.“And now I come back to a Four Seasons wedding and omelet stations andall this.”

Hunter slowly lowered his fork from his mouth, then wrinkled his nose at the crepe. “So you’re telling me I’m enjoying traitor crepe?”

“It’s fine, just eat it.” Taryn rolled her eyes at him. “It’s already been paid for and made.”

“I can’t eat it. It violates my principles.” Hunter set the plate down on a nearby cocktail table.

“Well, what are we going to do?” Taryn asked, drawing closer to Liddy. “Elle didn’t tell me any of this. Do you think maybe she’s relieved on some level?”

“I doubt it. I’ll talk to her. If I can get her away from that damn wedding planner.” She glanced back toward Callum.And I need to talk to Callum and find out what to do about getting the dress.

“Okay, well, you know you can count on us for anything,” Taryn said with an emphatic nod.

“Operation Sabotage the Momzilla has begun.” Hunter placed his hand out toward them both, palm down. “All for one . . .”

Liddy and Taryn just stared at him with raised brows.

“You know, you two aren’t any fun,” Hunter said with a shake of his head.

Liddy left them and started toward Callum, her neck tight with tension.

This just keeps getting worse and worse.

She’d almost reached Callum when Rebecca intercepted her. “Oh no, you don’t. Liddy Winnick, what on earth am I hearing? Mason says you’ve been dating Callum for months and you didn’t tell me?”

Her words were almost a relief.At least that means Miranda hasn’t told her anything.

But it was also only a matter of time until Miranda and Rebecca compared notes, and then Rebeccawouldfind out. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.” Liddy squeezed her hand. “But I’ll tell you everything when I have a chance.”

“I thought you hated Callum,” Rebecca hissed, sidling up to her.

“Well, there’s a thin line between love and hate.”