Page 49 of Liam (Preston Brothers #4)

“Yeah. It’s easier that way,” he explains.

“I go to New York a lot, and people recognize me there, but they don’t give a shit.

It’s New York. In town, we’re just two parts of ‘those damn Preston Punks,’ but anywhere else, we have to be more careful.

We’re less likely to be recognized when we’re alone, but both of us together? No chance. ”

I’ve gone deep down the rabbit hole with the Preston Twins now.

Not the boys themselves, but their brand.

I’ve seen edits people make of them, brief clips of people recording Linc in stores, sometimes without his knowledge.

I’ve seen the fandom. Heard the squeals.

Read people’s shitty opinions of them. I’ve done it all, and still—in my mind, they’re just two small-town boys trying to get through this thing called life .

Liam returns and immediately removes the hat and sunglasses. “Done,” he murmurs.

“What’s next on the list?” Linc asks, starting the engine.

“I don’t have a phone, remember?”

Linc grabs his phone from the center console. “I keep forgetting about that.”

“What happened to your phone?” I ask, clicking on my seat belt.

I don’t miss the shared look between the twins. “It died,” Liam finally answers.

“ I would literally die without my phone,” Linc mumbles.

“I actually like it.” Liam shrugs. “I think I’m going to do it forever. Email only.”

“Right,” Lincoln scoffs. “So if Addie’s like, ‘Hey, Roman’s not home, come over’… she has to tell you that via email? And you’ll get to it when you check?”

Heat bursts along my neckline, up to my cheeks, and I try to bury myself right into the seat cushion. Liam glances at me quickly before facing forward. “Yo, go get me a phone.”

Lincoln laughs. Then flattens his features. “Oh, you’re not kidding.” He sighs, taking the hat and sunglasses from Liam. “I’ll be back.”

Meanwhile, I’m in the back seat burning alive from embarrassment.

Liam and I share a total of zero words in the few minutes it takes for Lincoln to return. “What the hell is dance studio and why is it on the list?” Linc asks, practically throwing his new purchase at Liam.

“Oh, yeah. I wanted to check out this kids’ dance class for Benny.”

Lincoln whips his eyes to Liam, his face pinched. “Are you fucking insane ?”

“What?”

“You want to go somewhere children might be half dressed—predominately little girls, I assume—and then what? Just watch them? As a grown-ass man? By yourself ?!”

“I—” Liam drops his head, then says, just above a whisper, “I was going to wear a disguise.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s way less creepy,” Linc deadpans. “Show me the disguise, wise guy.”

Liam chuckles, reaching into his backpack again. I remove my seat belt so I can slide across the seat and watch as he puts on a different hat, aviator sunglasses, and… a fake mustache.

I stifle my laugh.

Lincoln busts out his. “You look exactly like someone who would do what you’re planning!” He slams his fist on the dash. “Damn, we should’ve brought the minivan. Painted Free Puppies on the outside.”

I can’t hold in my laughter anymore.

“Shut up!” Liam says, but he’s laughing, too, still wearing the ridiculous disguise.

A car pulls up next to us, and I instantly recognize the man who gets out. “Hey, it’s the umpire from Benny’s game.”

“Fucking asshole,” Liam mutters.

“Ooh, I love hating people.” Linc rubs his hands together, then stops. “Why do we hate him?”

“He wouldn’t let Addie on the field the other day. I had to pay him.”

“Fucking asshole,” Lincoln mutters.

“And he talked shit about Benny’s grandparents,” I chime in.

Lincoln’s eyes snap to mine. “He talked shit about Papa Preston?”

Liam’s the one who answers. “And Papa Kovacs.”

“Fucking asshole ,” Lincoln repeats, louder this time.

“Right?” I roll my eyes. “One of you should piss on his door handle.”

Swear, I’ve never seen the twins look so identical as they both turn to me, their eyes huge, right before they grin wide. Lincoln’s the one who speaks. “Adelaide Baker, you evil little witch!”

“Fuck it!” Liam mumbles, adjusting his mustache. He gets out of the car, and Lincoln and I watch in shock as he does exactly what I suggested.

As soon as he’s back in, he reaches into his backpack, pulls out hand sanitizer, and pours it in his palm. Linc puts the truck in reverse, then eyes me through the rearview. “Put your seat belt on, Baby Baker.”

“Baby Baker?” I mumble, doing as he asks.

“Aww, Baby Baker,” Liam teases, twisting around to face me completely.

I shake my head. “Don’t get used to that.”

He pouts— adorable. “But I like it.”

“I don’t.”

He smirks, reaching out to grasp my ankle. “Okay, Baby Baker.”

Lincoln’s phone rings through the speakers, and he’s quick to answer it. Before he can get a word in, a feminine voice says, “Come over and fuck me.”

My eyes widen, jaw unhinged.

“Uh,” Lincoln says. “You’re on speaker, and I’m not alone.”

“Oh.” I assume it’s Julie. “Hi, Liam.”

“Hey,” Liam responds.

“What are you boys doing?”

“One second,” Lincoln says, putting the call on mute. He turns to Liam. “She’s going to ask to hang out with us, so I’ll just tell her we’re filming.”

“You don’t want to see her?” I ask, like the nosy little back seat passenger I am.

Lincoln faces me. “No, it’s just you said you don’t want to show your face in public, so…”

My chest warms when realization dawns. “I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but I don’t want you lying to her for me.”

“Yeah, but—” Linc starts.

Liam cuts him off. “Here’s the plan,” he says, eyes shifting between Linc and me.

“We pick up Jules and finish our errands. She loves doing that shit for us anyway, so it saves us having to get out of the car. Then we grab some food, take it back to the house, and hang out by the lake for the rest of the day. Fuck work.” He switches his focus to me. “Jules is chill, Addie.”

“Incredibly so,” Linc adds.

“I wouldn’t even suggest it if I thought she’d make you the slightest bit uncomfortable,” Liam says.

“Plus, you’d be doing me a favor,” Linc chimes in. “I can finally give her that double date she’s always riding my dick about.”

Liam faces his brother. “You have such a way with words.”

Linc smiles from ear to ear. “Thanks.”

“So?” Liam asks me.

I’m still stuck on the double-date thing. “Sounds like a plan to me.”