“Liam…” Tria reached my side and took hold of my arm before she turned to Michael. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, dear,” he responded with a crooked half smile, “though it is the first time I’ve ever been on the receiving end of one of those. You are pretty impressive with the fists, Liam. I have to admit, I didn’t completely understand that by just watching you hit other people.”
Tria gripped my hand and looked at me pointedly.
I rolled my eyes at them both.
“T
ria, this is my uncle, Michael. He’s the one who thinks one night in a hotel at his expense warrants a plane trip, apparently. Michael, this is Tria…my, um…”
I stopped and glanced down at her for a second.
“My girlfriend,” I finally added.
Michael’s eyes went wide as he reached out and shook Tria’s hand briefly.
“A pleasure,” he said. “Unexpected, to be sure, but definitely a pleasure.”
“Fuck off. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see what was wrong,” he replied. “I figured you were in some kind of trouble, not on a date.”
“It’s not a fucking date.”
“Well, whatever it is,” he said, “I’m starving. Have you had breakfast? I understand the crepes are excellent here, and I’m sure the chef would do you a veggie version.”
I was never one to give into Michael’s schemes, but I was hungry.
Chapter 20—Reach the Destination
Room service arrived with a variety of breakfast dishes, which they set out on the table with linen napkins, mimosas, and polished flair. Tria sat next to me with Michael on the other side. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her, which was pissing me off. I was inclined to hit him again, but I didn’t.
“I must say”—he turned to Tria—“you are most surprising.”
“How so?” she asked.
“Just your being here with my nephew,” he answered. “Apparently, any sort of insult toward you warrants quite a nasty right hook. I didn’t realize Liam had someone else in his life. This is fairly recent, I take it?”
“Cut the shit,” I said. “Do you want something, or did you just come all the way out here to annoy me?”
Michael stopped talking and smiling. He glanced down at the table for a second before pushing his chair back and standing up.
“I thought you might be in trouble,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”
“I’m fine.” Once again, I found myself snapping at him.
“Liam!” Tria clenched her teeth as she said my name. She grabbed onto my arm again, like that was going to change what I was doing or saying.
“I’ll just go then.” Michael grabbed his jacket, tossed it over his arm, and headed toward the door.
Tria stood up as well, but when she tried to haul me up with her, I shook my arm free of her grasp. She glared at me as she followed Michael to the door. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why…”
Michael chuckled, but there was no happiness in the sound.
“It’s not the first time,” he told her. “This has certainly been an enlightening little encounter though. Full of other firsts.”
Michael reached up and rubbed his chin.