Page 5 of My Best Friend Is Broken

“Nice suit.” His gaze tracks over me. “You got big, Nicky.”

It is Liam. Liam is standing in front of me after five long years. My best friend is here.

I step towards him, my arms open. He shrinks, but I wrap my arms around him anyway. I’m far too excited not to.

He is motionless in my embrace. Bearing it. I can feel him trembling.

I step back. “My car is over there.”

He blinks and gives me a blank look.

Please don’t tell me he is going to argue about this? Is he going to be all stubborn and stay in whatever shitty hostel has been set up for him? Though, looking at him and his pathetic bag, I have a sinking feeling he has been released with nothing. I’ve heard of people being let out with just a tenner and expected to fend for themselves.

I draw myself up to my full height. “You are coming with me.”

Liam drops his gaze. His long hair hides his face. He nods meekly.

Okay. That turned out to be easy. Which is a good thing. There is no need for this creeping, cold unease that is slowly settling in my stomach.

I plaster a smile on my face and lead the way to my car. Liam trails closely behind me.

He pauses when I open the door.

“You have a MX5?”

I grin as delight and pride tingle through me. “Yeah.”

Liam lets out a low whistle. “Just like we always planned.”

Shit. Maybe I should have hired a shitty car or caught an Uber. I definitely didn’t need to wear Armani or a Rolex.

I am being a dick. Shoving my success down Liam’s throat while he is standing here in a cheap prison-issued tracksuit with only a plastic bag to his name.

“Wait to you see the apartment,” I say instead. Going with continuing the boasting.

He might be put out now, but he’ll soon see that I consider my success to be ours. I’m going to share everything I have with him, until he finds his feet and surpasses me.

Liam doesn’t reply. He doesn’t move or say anything. It starts to get awkward.

“Get in,” I say without quite managing the joking tone I was aiming for.

Liam jerks and climbs into the car with robotic motions. I shut his door, and get in the driver’s side and fire the engine up. Liam casts a quick, appreciative glance at the interior before staring at his feet.

I put the car into gear, and we pull away. Liam is silent during our drive. I can’t think of anything to say either.

Eventually we make it to the apartment, and my excitement returns. I hurry Liam out of the car and into the building. The elevator quickly takes us to the top floor. It is not the best building, but a penthouse is still a penthouse.

I unlock the front door and usher Liam inside. His gaze slowly tracks around the large loft-style space, and I wait with bated breath.

His gaze drops back down to his feet. He seems dazed rather than impressed. It’s not the reaction I was hoping for.

“You joined Uncle Vinnie,” Liam says quietly. A statement, not a question. A simple deduction of facts. It is the most obvious reason I could have become this wealthy in five years.

I smile. “You always did have the best ideas.”

His head snaps up. Frantic blue eyes bore into me. “Shit, Nicky. Don’t get into a life of crime because I was a stupid kid with a big mouth.” His horror twists around us and chills my blood.

“Too late now.” I shrug.