Liam walks me to the door. He steps outside first, scanning the street in that protective way of his before gesturing me forward. Then he pulls me in for a kiss that nearly melts my bones.
I pull back with a breathless laugh. “I really do have to go.”
“I know.”
“If you know, then you also know that kissing me like that won’t make me want to leave.”
His eyes spark. “Would you rather I insult you instead?”
I roll my eyes and smack his arm. “Smart-ass.”
“I’m happy we...” he trails off as the car pulls up.
Sighing, he says, “There’s your ride.”
I reach up on tiptoes and press a quick kiss to his lips. “We should talk soon, Liam. Really talk. I have something significant to tell you. And I don’t know how you’ll feel about it, but I do know howIfeel.”
His brow furrows slightly. “Yeah? And how’s that?”
Before I can answer, the driver honks impatiently. Liam lifts a hand, signaling him to wait.
I squeeze Liam’s hand. “I’m glad the universe brought you back into my life. After all this time, I don’t know what comes next, but… it feels like we found our way back for a reason.”
He doesn’t say a word—just stares at me like he’s trying to read my mind. His gorgeous green eyes are full of questions he’s not ready to ask.
I give him one last smile, force myself to turn, and slide into the car. As we pull away, I look back.
He’s still standing on the porch, hands in his pockets, brooding as only Liam can.
I can feel his eyes on me, and the weight of everything unspoken hanging in the air between us.
I pickLaddie up a little after ten, and the second he sees me, his face lights up like the sun.
He barrels into me with his backpack bouncing and bedhead in full bloom, arms flung around my waist like he hasn’t seen me in a week instead of just overnight.
“Hi, Mama!” he shouts, breathless. “I missed you.”
I hug him back just as tight. “I missed you, too, bud. A lot.”
He pulls back and grins. “Well, I didn’t miss youtoomuch, ‘cause we had so much fun!”
Tristan’s mom, Rachel, smiles from the doorway.“He was an angel, by the way. And he’s got great manners. You’ve done a great job, Emma.”
“Thank you, Rachel. I guess I’ll keep him.”
“Sure thing,” She laughs. “He’s welcome anytime.”
Laddie grabs my hand as we turn to go. I give him a little squeeze and remind him, “What do we say?”
“Thanks, Miss Rachel! You make the best chocolate chip cookies!”
She laughs again, waving us off. “Come back soon, Laddie!”
We make it out to the curb, climb into the Uber, and before my seatbelt’s even clicked, he launches straight into a rapid-fire recap, not stopping for air.
“We stayed up soooo late! Like, almost ten! But don’t worry, I brushed my teeth. Tristan’s mom made nachos with cheese and sausages—soooo yummy. And guess what? They have this talking speaker thingy. I asked it to play fart sounds, and it did, and wediedlaughing. Well, not died, butalmost.”
I smile, listening to him recount every hilarious detail, doing my best to ignore the guilt twisting in my chest.
