“He’s the baby? Wait, does he have other siblings?”
“Of course, he’s the baby. Have you seen the way he covets and gets all grabby?”
Eden barely heard that. “Doyouhave any siblings I don’t know about yet?”
“What? No. I’m an only kid.”
“Me too. Glad we could clear this up.”
With his eyebrows arched in the most quizzical expression, Liam replied to the group chat that soon popped up on Eden’s screen.“Really sorry to hear that! Keep us updated. Hope she’s okay. Also, Eden doesn’t know you have a sister.”
“Liam!”
“What?”
“Not appropriate.”
“He’ll understand what I mean.”
Three dots appeared in their group chat while the zookeeper wowed a group of children with the boa constrictor.
“Yes. Her name is Maryann. I’m on my way to my parents’ house in Hartford. Will let you know when I have more information, but it sounds like she’ll be okay. It’s just a matter of how bad the damage is.”
“Crazy,” Liam said. “Guess we’re not having that chat tonight.”
Both he and Benson had mentioned that they wanted to talk to Eden about something when they had dinner at Benson’s that night, but that was no longer happening.Especially since Liam was supposed to help cook.Both men had agreed to cook something for Eden, which blew her mind. Not that she was volunteering to cook anytime soon…
“Can’t you just tell me?”
Liam glanced at her before putting his phone away and finishing his water. “Don’t think it’s a good idea. Benson really wanted to be there for the talk.”
“Well, now you’ve got me thinking it’s something concerning.”
“Nope. Just how we see things going forward from here.”
“You two making plans without me?”
“Nope.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on. The camels call my name.”
They hugged each other while passing through the camel and elephant exhibits, before heading toward the Arctic penguins and sea lions. On the way out of the zoo were two red pandas that had gathered a sizable crowd as they came out of hiding. Eden and Liam stood in the back, where she remained leaning against him with his jacket wrapped around them both, Liam slowly swaying them back and forth, and she tried not to think about the fact that she had no idea Benson even had a sister before today – or that he and Liam wanted a serious discussion about something. Even when Liam kissed her cheek and whisperedhow much he loved her in her ear – something that made her smile, despite it being about the third time he had said those words – Eden was barely focused on anything but the thoughts in her head.
“Oh, my God! Liam?”
Both he and Eden jerked their heads to the side. There, standing with two other young women her age, was Drew… someone Eden only recognized because of the look on her disgusted face.
“Uh, hi, Drew…”
Benson’s daughter looked between Liam and Eden, still cuddling and making kissy faces at each other here in front of God and the state zoo.
“Yup,” Liam whispered in Eden’s ear. “Let me handle this.”
He uncurled from Eden, taking his warmth with him, and approached Drew, who couldn’t look more disturbed than if she caught her “uncle” Liam with a disemboweled pig in his hand.
Chapter 12
Liam
