“Oh?”
“Yeah, we had a good talk.” I feel like I’m fumbling, nervous all of a sudden.
“And?”
I inhale slowly.
“You’re right.”
I look at him. The silence between us is thick.
“About what exactly?” he asks, eyeing me carefully.
“Aaron.”
Another pause and a subtle nod from him.
“What do you think happened here?”
“He wanted me to doubt you,” I say quietly. “And I let him. For a minute.”
“Alie—”
If he doesn’t let me get this out, I might cry.
“But I see it,” I continue. “I see what he was doing all along.”
He inhales a deep breath.
“You do?” The relief in his voice is obvious.
“Yes. And Liam, I’m so sorry.”
He exhales slowly.
“Don’t apologize. Let’s just try to move forward.”
He says the words, and I believe him, but I also feel like we need to finish this conversation.
“I do need to apologize,” I insist. “Because for a second, I almost let his voice drown yours out. I let him play on my insecurities, and the truth is, he has always been there, and he was a safer bet for me because I didn’t care about him in that way. He couldn’t hurt me the way you could if this doesn’t work out.”
I see him swallow.
“Alie, I’m not perfect,” he says quietly. “But I would never lie to you about this or anything. That’s not who I am.”
“I know.”
“Do you though? I don’t ever want you to doubt me again.”
A sound from the hallway makes me turn my head. Sera toddles into the room with her baby doll stroller, her Stallion upside down inside. She’s wearing pajamas, and her hair is still damp from her bath.
“She said she missed you today.”
He goes still, and I know he must be feeling the same way I did.
“I miss her too. And you. I’m not going anywhere, Alie,” he says again, softer this time.
“I know.”
