Page 84 of He Loves Me Knot
Rebecca grabbed her arm, jerking Liddy to a stop. “Are you telling me you’re in love with him?” She raked her fingers through her dark hair. “Oh my gosh, you must be, considering you just went away with him for days.” Then she gave Liddy a softer look and smiled. “Honestly, good for you. And for him, too. Callum is rough around the edges, but I don’t know, once I started dating Mason, I got to know a different side of him. He’s come to a few of the Camdens’ parties.”
Funny how Rebecca had that insider’s perspective on the Camden family now—one that Liddy had thought she shared in. But really, she didn’t. She was one step removed. The sister of the “in-law.”
It must have been a hard line to walk, going along with Liddy and their friends’ complaints about Callum, probably feeling as though she’d be ostracized from their group if she revealed her departure from their viewpoint.
The realization had the double-sided effect of making Liddy want to confidemorein Rebecca—yet.. .it might not be the best timing right now, too.
“I’ll find you on the excursion later. We can sit next to each other or something on the bus. I just need to steal Callum away for a minute.” Liddy blew a kiss at her, then hurried over to Callum’s side.
“Hi.” She slipped her hand into Callum’s and nestled against his arm, doing her best to look like a doting girlfriend. “Can we talk for a minute?” Then she glanced at the person Callum had been speaking to—Quinn’s father, Arthur.
Arthur nodded a hello at her. “Hello, Lydia. So good to see you.”
A pang of guilt went through her gut. She liked Quinn’s father. She liked his mother, for that matter. They were kind and welcoming. Maybe not like her own crazy and loud family—she’d done her best to evade Granny, who was chatting loudly in the center of a group of her uncles—but still wonderful people.
But that doesn’t mean they get to take over my sister’s wedding.
“Good to see you, too.” She stepped back from fawning over Callum, though.
“I was just telling Callum that it was such a lovely surprise to hear that you two are attached. Callum has always been one of our favorites.”
“Well, he’s obviously one of my favorites, too. Is it all right if I steal him away for a few minutes?” She tugged at Callum’s hand.
“Of course.” Arthur smiled broadly, shaking his head as they turned away. “So lovely.”
Callum’s eyebrows drew together, and Liddy practically yanked him toward the path that led to her room. “What’s going on?”
She pulled out her room key. “The wedding has been taken over, that’s what. Quinn’s mom brought in some outside planner who’s trying to move everything over to The Four Seasons for the wedding.”
“Do Quinn and Elle know?”
“Of course they do.” Liddy shot him a look of disbelief. “But have you met them? They’re both so nice and polite that neither of them has spoken up against the takeover. For God’s sake, Callum, theynearly didn’t get togetherbecause they both share that tendency to keep their mouths shut when they shouldn’t.”
“But if they won’t say anything, then isn’t it better if we just all go along with the new plan?”
“No.” Liddy scowled at him.Fuck, no.“Quinn and Elle pickedLa Hacienda.Maybe they didn’t realize it would be as rustic as it is, but also, I know my sister. This is completely up her alley. She just can’t relax enough to enjoy herself, which she should be able to because it’s her wedding. And I’m not going to let the countess of . . . whatever Quinn’s title is, take over the wedding.”
She unlocked the door and pulled him into the room. As she shut the door, she caught the amusement in Callum’s gaze. “What?”
Callum smirked. “Nothing.”
“No, tell me. What is it?”
Callum shrugged, crossing the room and flipping on some lights. “I just like this side of you.”
That’s the second time he’s said something like that today.Callum clearly liked women who weren’t wallflowers.
He dropped onto the bed as though they were still sharing one. “What’s your plan?”
“Well, that’s why I need your help.” Liddy dropped her bookbag. She wanted to shower and change after their car trip, but this was more important. “You know this place. You know the types of things they’d enjoy doing.” She thought about what Hunter had said. “I want to sabotage the takeover. Let’s start with this excursion thing. I don’t think Quinn and Elle were hoping for butterfly sanctuaries, do you?”
Callum discarded his flip-flops and leaned his forearms on his knees, clasping his hands. “Probably not.”
“Great. So I need some ideas for things theywouldenjoy. That and a bus. I’m thinking we could tell whatever tour bus we book to pick everyone up at one, and then you and I go around and tell everyone the time’s been changed. Hopefully Kat will be too busy breaking down this brunch that she won’t find out. By the time we’re supposed to meet at her excursion pickup, we’ll be long gone.”
“And the point would be?”
Ugh, do I have to spell everything out for everyone?