“So how did you end up with this outfit?” Liam asked.

“I started at the magazine answering phones, and ended up taking some pictures that impressed the owner. He sent me out with Tyler, and my pictures got some local attention. So, here I am, shooting a series.”

“Worked your way up. I like that,” Liam said, drinking his soda as if it were a pint. He even tipped his plastic cup to greet other firefighters as they walked by.

“I hadn’t been at the magazine long when I was sent on my first assignment.”

“Even more impressive,” Liam said.

“Not really.” I shook my head and looked down.

“What did you do before?”

“Nothing. I went to college, barely graduated, and then traveled for a while. My parents have a house in Estes Park, so that’s how I ended up there.”

“Oh. What do you Americans call it? You’re a trust fund baby.”

“I guess I was.”

“But not anymore?”

“No, I was disowned, actually.”

“The longer I talk to you, the more interesting you are. It’s usually the opposite.”

I looked over at Liam, studying his features. He was such a stereotypical Australian man, with the strong chin, broad shoulders, and massive frame. His jaw was covered in light brown stubble, and his emerald irises were beautiful, albeit barely noticeable because of his narrow eyes. My first instinct was to invite him up to my room and forget about my fight with Tyler for an hour or two, but if the past five months had taught me anything, it was that I couldn’t screw, drink, or smoke away my problems. They would still be there in the morning, even worse than before.

Liam took another gulp of his soda, finishing it off. I’d barely touched mine.

“Starting over can be a bit depressing,” he said. “No one tells you that. You think you’re supposed to instantly feel better, and not knowing why you don’t can be bloody rough.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a trust fund baby,” I said, dubious.

“No. Working clears my head, but even that wasn’t helping anymore. I needed some distance.”

He looked around, over each shoulder, like whatever he had left behind might have followed him.

“But you feel better eventually, right?” I asked.

“I’ll let you know when it happens,” Liam said, standing.

Tyler rounded the corner but stopped when he recognized Liam and me sitting at the bar together.

“Best be off to the meeting,” Liam said.

“Good talk,” I said, raising my cup.

Liam clinked his empty glass to mine, and then left for the conference room.

Tyler paused for just a few seconds before making his way over to me. “What are you drinking?”

“Sprite. Get your own.”

He shook his head, scanning the lobby. “I’m a Cherry Coke guy.”

“Where’s Taylor?” I asked.