Begin Again novel Chapter 7

It was past midday when Liam finally came out of his postcoital coma. He expected to find Eden beside him; it wouldn't be the first time his hookups overstayed their welcome.

But when he turned onto his side and found her spot empty, he was strangely confused.

He sat up and groaned. His pounding head made worse by the glaring light bursting through the floor to ceiling windows as his butler flicked the switch on the wall to draw the blinds.

"Christ, Dave, do you mind?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, you have been summoned to the house. Your father wants to see you immediately."

"Tell him I can't see him today," Liam groaned as he gladly accepted the hangover cure and two Aspirins. He had a feeling he'd need something stronger than an Aspirin if his father has his way.

"He needs you home in an hour," Dave said and turned to leave.

Liam stopped him, "Handle Eden for me."

"She's gone already, Sir."

"What do you mean gone?" Liam asked, stunned by his butler's announcement.

"Exactly that, Sir."

"Did she cause a scene?" They always did. He wouldn't be surprised if Eden had too.

"No, Sir. She seemed eager to leave. She practically ran out of the house. If it were up to her, she would have left in an Uber-"

"That makes no sense," Liam shook his head. He didn't usually bring women home; his life on the track kept him busy enough. But the ones he did, and especially after they find out what he does, he always had to make them leave. Sometimes security had to step in too.

"Are you sure it was Eden? Brown hair, petite, cute, this short?" He asked, describing Eden and demonstrating her height with his hand.

Dave nodded.

Liam was sure there's some miscommunication between him and the butler. He held out his hand for his robe, baffled by this turn of events. He threw it on and slipped out of bed.

He padded downstairs, checking the living room and dining area. When he didn't find Eden, he stepped onto the patio, convinced she's lazing in the heated pool.

But there was no sign of the mousey librarian anywhere, and it blew his mind. He didn't see it coming, Eden sneaking off while he slept. He should have been happy that she'd saved him the trouble of making awkward small talk after a hookup, but he wasn't. Maybe because she didn't strike him as someone who'd up and leave, not with that temper and the bold way she came on to him.