“Oh, Liam.”Tamsin reached up to cup his face.“What happened between you?”
“She can’t trust that I want her.And I can’t keep struggling to change her mind.”He covered her hands with his.“Take Saber’s offer.Go to New Zealand.You’ll be happy there.”
“Will you be happy there?Without us?”
“I’ll manage.”
Tamsin pulled him into a fierce hug.“You’re a good man, Liam.Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
Finding the boys required more strategy.He caught them one by one as they returned from their various activities.
Jago was easiest with his direct manner.“You’re leaving because of Sienna.”
“Yes.”
“She’s an idiot.”
“She’s scared.”
“Same thing, sometimes.”Jago gripped his shoulder.“Take care of yourself.And if she comes to her senses and follows you to New Zealand…”
“She won’t.”
“If she does, don’t make it easy for her.Make her work for it.”
Calan was harder.The quiet brother had always been more sensitive to emotional undercurrents.“You love her.”
“I do.”
“And she loves you too.She’s too stubborn to admit it.”
“Maybe.But I can’t wait forever for her to figure that out.”
Calan nodded sadly.“I understand.But I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
Kitto was the hardest of all.When Liam found him in the art room, sketching, the youngest brother took one look at his face and his shoulders slumped.
“When?”Kitto asked.
“Tonight.”
“Because of Sienna.”
“I can’t stay where I’m not wanted.”
“But we want you here.”
“I know.And that makes this so hard.”Liam settled beside him.“If she doesn’t want me in this family, I can’t force my way in.None of us would benefit from that.”
Kitto looked stricken.“Will we see you again?”
“If you come to New Zealand, yes.I hope you will.What about your art opportunities with London?”
“I’ll still take them.No matter where I am.”Kitto managed a watery smile.“Maybe I can visit you sometime.”
“I’d like that.”
