Nothing good since yours. I don’t have anything on the schedule after Summer Skies. And that stays between us, please.
Her stomach bottomed out.Of course. I won’t say a word.She washonored he’d be so open with her—especially after she’d hurt his feelings today. Before he could respond she sent another text.Again, I’mreally sorryabout what I said today.
A long moment passed while three little dots danced in the text box. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought it up again.
The phone buzzed with a call. Liam’s name appeared on the screen. She hadn’t expected that. They’d only spoken on the phone once before. Her pulse raced as she answered.
“Enough of that.” The gentleness of his tone softened the words. “You’ve already said sorry and I’ve already forgiven you, so you can stop apologizing.”
“I know. Sorry.”
“I’m frowning at you right now.”
Chloe laughed, then a comfortable silence filled the space between them before he spoke again. “I enjoyed having dinner with your family last week. They seem really great.”
“Even Sean?” she teased.
“I’m sure he’s just looking out for you. If I had a kid sister, I’d do the same thing.”
He definitely would. Her lips curled at the thought. “You mentioned you wished for siblings when you were growing up.”
“Constantly. Especially after my dad left and it was just me and Mom.”
What was that odd note in his voice? She wanted to know but didn’t want to pry. “How old were you when he left?”
“Almost six. I’d just started first grade two days before.”
You didn’t forget details like that. “I’m sorry. I know a little about what that feels like. My father left when I was seven.”
“You mentioned he was out of the picture. You don’t have a relationship with him anymore?”
Chloe snorted. “When he left the picture, he really left. Moved to Connecticut and never looked back.”
“Aw, jeez. What an idiot.”
“Can’t disagree with you there.”
“What was in Connecticut, if you don’t mind my asking?”
She wasn’t quite ready to go there yet. “A job.”
“Wow. That’s really sad. I guess I can be thankful my dad didn’t move away. Though he did leave for another woman, so there’s that.”
Her heart squeezed tight for the little boy who’d lost his intact family. “That’s hard. I feel bad for your mom.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Like I said before, she never quite got over it.”
Since Chloe’s dad had also left for another woman—another family, in fact—she could definitely relate. Not to mention what Evan had done. “It’s the worst kind of betrayal. Do you have a relationship with your dad now?”
“Not much of one. He’s a Realtor in Riverside where my mom still lives, so I see him whenever I go home. But that’s only a few times a year.”
“Does he have a second family?”
Liam huffed. “Not at the moment. He can’t seem to commit long enough to make it down the aisle again.”
“And your mom never wanted to remarry?”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “Oh, she wants to remarry, all right. But the man she wants isn’t interested. She’s a glutton for punishment, I guess.” He said the words lightly, but Chloe knew the situation must sit on him like a heavy weight.
