Confusion twisted his features as adrenaline jolted him wide awake. His expression didn’t clear when his fingers scrunched grass instead of mattress. He swung his head as if to clear it then froze as understanding trickled in.
“We fell asleep in the yard,” he groaned, rubbing the heels of his palms into his eyes. “Goldie?”
“Sloane took her inside before I woke you.” I patted his back. “The only thing she saw were dollar signs for the next time we camp out, when she plans to loan us the necessary equipment. For a price.”
A commotion on the other side of the fence drew my attention seconds before the front door banged open and footsteps slapped in our direction. Liam burst into the yard wearing a scowl. For once, it was aimed at Rían instead of me. I took advantage and stood before he got near enough to loom over me. Except—crap—he came straight for me.
“Just so you don’t punch me,” Liam said, hands held in front of him. “I’m going to hug you now.”
Hug?Me?This must be a trick. A move to get in close and take me down before I put up a fight.
“Um.” I took a healthy step back. “That’s okay. I’m good. Thanks for offering.”
“This will be good for you.” Sloane emerged with Goldie holding her hand. “Y’all kiss and make up.”
“No kissing,” Rían grumbled, rising with a swallowed growl.
“Sloane,” Goldie reprimanded her in a firm and adult tone. “Don’t ruin this.”
Ah.
I got it now.
This was the result of leaving Goldie alone with her thoughts overnight. She instigated this. She wanted Liam and me to make up so I had no reason to run away. And Liam, well, that he hadn’t balked at being ordered to kiss me proved his remorse extended beyond what Goldie was projecting onto him.
“I am willing to hug it out.” I ignored the robotic cadence in my voice. “For Rían, and for Goldie.”
Slowly, like two stags about to lock horns, Liam and I circled one another until a loaded sigh from the peanut gallery stopped us in our tracks. We walked forward, arms going around each other’s shoulders, and embraced to loud whoops and a few whistles.
“I really am sorry,” he whispered, though I was sure Rían would hear him from so close. “I saw Rían, and I panicked. I shouldn’t have used that tone with you or made you think for a second it was your fault. It’s a weak excuse, but I almost lost him once, and it was like the past and present colliding with you there. That didn’t give me the right to blame you for what happened then, or for what’s happening now.”
“He told me—” I held on when his muscles pulled taut, “—about the bargain.”
“Tell me you’re in this with him,” he said, his breath tickling my ear, “and I will never make you doubt me again.” His chin dipped lower. “Even if you can’t do that, I’ll do better. I promise. I won’t make this harder on you than it’s already been. Just…don’t leave him. Please.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I brought him close for a real hug. “I’m all in.”
“That’s the kind of thing you should tell Rían,” Sloane shouted, “and not his loser cousin.”
Next to her, Goldie dragged a hand down her face the same way Rían did when frustration got to him.
I had no time to decide how or what to say before Rían pried me from his cousin’s arms and cupped my face, forcing my head to tiltwayback. Enough I was certain that, to avoid chiropractic bills in the future, I ought to invest in platform boots to lift me closer to my goal.
“You mean it?” Rían searched my face. “Even after…everything?”
“You were the first and last gift my mother gave me. I don’t care if the wrapper got crinkled before it reached me. It’s what’s inside that counts.” I gripped his wrists. “I’m not giving you up, and I’m not giving up on you. But—so help me God—I will bite you if you give me another easy out.”
“Maybe not the best threat,” he murmured, eyes glowing as his mouth lowered to mine.
The kiss was over before it started. His lips were soft and tasted like a promise. But there were too many eyes on us for it to lead anywhere, even if I was calculating how long it would take me to fetch the metal stool he kept in the kitchen for Goldie and hustle back here to this moment.
“I’ll come up with better ones.”
“You’re not making this easy on me.” He buried his nose in my neck, right beneath my ear. “You’re going to have to step back. I can’t seem to get my legs to work.”
Fingers sliding into his hair, I confessed, “I seem to be having the same issue.”
“Sloane.” Liam waved to her. “I’m going to need a hand with these two.”
