Liam nods, eyes glassy. “We’ll take care of her.”
“See that you do.” Seamus’s gaze lingers on Linus. “Maybe grab a pregnancy test from the drugstore.”
Shocked, I can’t help but clear my throat. “Uh, yeah. Okay.”
On his way out the door to rejoin the family, Seamus fetches a bottle of electrolyte water and instructs us to make sure she drinks it before we go back to the hotel.
In the background, LTZ’s set thunders, a reminder the world outside our small circle keeps spinning. The three of us are left alone in the dressing room with a bomb of an instruction.
The silence closes in around us. Jarring. Expectant.
Avonna sits up, one hand splayed over her stomach. “My period’s a few weeks late. I’ve been blaming stress. Told myself once things slowed down, it would come.” Her laugh is thin and painful. “Of course, we never take a break.”
I wince and Liam stiffens.
“Could be nothin’,” he tries to reassure her.
Her gaze sharpens. “Or it could beeverything.”
“Let’s not panic. We’ll get a test. Figure it out.” He exhales.
She shakes her head. “Sure. Why not? We all know, regardless of the result, you’ll bury it like you always do. Likebothof you do.”
The truth cuts through the room and stabs me in the heart.
“Bury it? No. I’m tryin’ to protect us,” Liam protests, though his words fall flat.
“Who exactly are you protecting?” Avonna’s voice cracks and tears pool. “I told you how I felt months ago and you don’t seem to care. I’ve held my tongue because I personally know how rough it is to work though harsh shit. Today, I’ve come to the end of my rope. I’ll not mince words. You’re protectingyourself. I sure as hell know you’re not protecting me.”
His hands fall open. “Padraig—”
“Padraig isn’t the problem.” She holds her hand up. “He’s the excuse. I’m calling bullshit.”
Liam recoils as if she slapped him.
My head hurts. “She’s right. We’re both guilty. My parents still think Avonna and I are a normal couple and have no idea about you. How can you feel comfortable goin’ all in if I haven’t?”
Liam’s glare flashes.
“Look, I’m sick of talking about this. I’ve given you far too much time to work through your issues.” Avonna wipes her eyes. “The hourglass has run out. It hit me tonight when Liam ignored me in front of his family and Linus barely touched me.” Her beautiful angelic face scrunches with pain. “I’m truly back where I started. I grew up being told love was shame. My body was sin. Silence was virtuous. I trudged through years of therapy to unlearn the lies my parents told me. Yet, here I am, hiding for people who profess to love me. Maybe I’m pregnant. Maybe I’m not. Either way, I didn’t work relentlessly on myself for nothing. I refuse to stay in the shadows, let alone force my child to live there.”
Liam’s face cracks open. “I neverwantto hide you, Avonna.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.” She gets up and grabs another bottle of Gatorade. “This has been coming to a head for months. Focusing on band stuff has allowed us to bury it for a while. Now we can’t. Not anymore.”
The air thickens between the three of us.
I try to smooth things over. “I want to take care of you. Our baby. It doesn’t matter which one of us is the father—”
“I don’t need caretakers,” Avonna roars. “I need partners who aren’tashamedof me.”
“Goddammit. I’m not fuckin’ ashamed.” Liam grips his neck, eyes wet. “When the three of us are together, it’s the only time I feel complete.”
“Same.” I shake my head glumly. “I love both of you so much. You’re the most important people in my life, and if my folks can’t handle it, then so be it.”
Liam is utterly gutted. “I don’t know what to do—”
“Stop being a fucking victim.” Avonna wrings her hands. “Everyone knows Padraig gave up Stevie. He made his choice years ago and he seems to be happy with Mara. As far as your family is concerned, your dad apologized and you haven’t tried to let him know you at all. Your mother and brothers are lovely and do not seem like the type of people who give a shit who you fuck. The truth is, you’re a child hiding behind old wounds because it’s easier than to be a man and face them.”
