Liam thumps his chest. “Something in my throat. Sorry.”
“What are you having?” The blond continues.
“Beer. IPA if you’ve got it.”
“That I do.” He sets the bottle on the island and slides it toward my left hand.
The palm of a tatted hand reaches out to grab it, and the crack of air escaping comes just before the clink of a bottle cap hitting the island. Cian pops the top on my drink and hands it over.
“We’re having tacos. I hope that’s okay. Liam didn’t mention any allergies. Should he have?”
I shake my head. “Sulfa drugs and poison ivy. The rest is all good.”
“Happy to say, neither of those are on the menu tonight.”
My stomach rumbles and I hold it as if that will muffle the sound that’s all too loud in the huge space. I fight the heat that wants to warm my face. I forgot to eat. I didn’t even have one of the cookies. I was so annoyed with the texts and embarrassed about the towel incident, as I’m now referring to it, that I plumb forgot.
And now my belly is telling the world. “I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry about?” Sariah’s voice drifts closer from behind me.
I swivel in my seat to see Liam kiss the cheek of another infant. Boom go the ovaries. Twice in two days. This can’t be good for my hormones.
“How’s he doing?” he asks quietly, his gaze never leaving the baby.
“He’s great.” Her whole face lights up talking about him. “This is Wills.” She says to me, lifting her arms a fraction.
Wills. William. Liam. Dots are connecting. I tilt my head. “Family name?”
Cian’s gentle voice is strong behind me. “His name is in honor of my brother.”
There’s so much to unpack. There’s a story there. More than one if Sariah’s early comment about the two of them saving her is anything to go on. I file that away for later.
“Renée is out with friends. She’ll be back soon. She’s our oldest,” Cian relays.
Liam had already given me the basics, so I knew her name.
“That works actually, since I’m hoping we can discuss some things without her.”
“What things?” Sariah asks.
His answer, though, is for me. “Were you serious about the marriage thing?” His eyes burn into mine, searing straight to my soul.
My only response is a nod.
“No, Lorien. I want the words. This is too serious to just go along with. I need to know that you’re in this, until we both decide the arrangement no longer suits us.”
I want to say,Wow. That’s every girl’s dream proposal. Instead, I offer, “I know the stakes and I agree.” Next time, though… Next time I get to do it for love. For hearts and flowers. And do it for life.
He smacks a paper down on the island near my right hand. It’s a certificate of marriage with a date in mid-May.
“Cian? Sariah? Will you stand as our witnesses?”
The reality of my life is right there in black and white. William Jonathon Murphy, along with his address, social security number, and parents’ names sit near his marital status—single, never married—and his birthday. He’s seven years older than me. I pegged that correctly.
Below that is my full name, address prior to my current one, my social security number, birthdate, and my parents’ names.
My voice shakes a bit and my first real doubt creeps like smoke in the corners of my mind. “How— How did you know all this about me?” My question is barely audible.
