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Seeing Jules for the first time in years had been such a shock to the system. But I hadn’t been able to think straight since I saw Liam.

I’d missed him for years.

Whole entire years.

But the feelings of longing that had moved through me all that time didn’t seem to compare to what I felt now.

It was like seeing him yesterday had opened up something inside me, making me understand just how much I missed him.

More than that, it made me realize that the love I’d had for him all these years hadn’t faded.

Not even a little.

I held my mom’s gaze, hesitating to respond. But with her expectant look, I had to give her something. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I do know that I miss him.”

She removed her hand from mine, held it up to the side of my face, and stroked her thumb lightly over the apple of my cheek. “I know you do.”

Understanding and a sense of solidarity passed between us. After giving her one final look, I rested my head on the mattress beside my mom’s hip. Then I relished the feel of her fingertips as her nails scratched my scalp.

It was the kind of comfort only a mother could give.

14

LIAM

I heardthe footsteps approaching from behind me before I felt the gentle touch on my shoulder. Before I even saw her face or heard her voice, I knew it was my sister.

But I didn’t move or speak.

My eyes remained on the lake in front of me.

Jules squeezed my shoulder, shifted her body around the chair beside me, and lowered herself onto the seat.

I kept my attention on the water and the way the setting sun hit the surface at just the right spot.

“You’ve been quiet today,” Jules noted.

I closed my eyes, seeing Layla’s face as I did. When I opened them, I replied, “I think I’m quiet every day.”

A lengthy silence ensued before she replied. “This is different, Liam. You know it. And I hate to think it’s my fault, that I’ve done this to you.”

She was right about this being different.

Because while I was typically the quietestof the bunch, I still celebrated with my family. I still did my best to enjoy my time with them. And though they’d grown accustomed to my reserved demeanor and quiet nature, never giving me a hard time about it, I always did what I could to be as fully present with them whenever we were together.

But I wasn’t feeling that way today.

I hadn’t felt much like celebrating.

It was the Fourth of July, and we were spending the holiday together at my grandparents’ lake house. I’d been particularly irritable today. The last thing I wanted to do was make my family worry any more than they already were, but I couldn’t bring myself to fake being happy, either.

Even if I felt as miserable as I did, I wouldn’t allow Jules to put this on herself.

For the first time since she’d approached, I tore my attention away from the lake and looked at my sister. Her expression was marred by regret. “It’s not your fault.”

She shook her head in disappointment. “I have a hard time believing that’s true, Liam. Don’t forget I know how you were prior to me sharing what I did a few days ago. I can’t help feeling like I forced you right back to those horrible days and weeks and months following your proposal.”

I couldn’t lie to her.