Page 45

Chapter Forty-Five

T hank God Liam had a gigantic family because if we had run out of aunts, uncles, and second cousins for me to meet, then I would’ve had to confront whatever had happened between us in his bedroom, and that was absolutely not something I was ready to do yet.

Yes, I’d been sleeping in his bed. And yes, sometimes we’d hold hands. But that was all strictly comfort. Platonic.

Kissing? There was no way I could fool myself into thinking that was just another way friends comforted each other, the way I regarded everything else we’d been doing.

Because it didn’t make sense for him to like me.

It made more sense that I’d made it up in my head, just imagining any tension I’d felt growing between us.

But if I thought busying my mind through conversations with his family would free me from the anxiety, I was terribly wrong.

“How did you two meet?” one of his aunts asked.

I knew right away what she thought. That we were a couple. Because that was a question you asked couples . But also, on the surface, it was just a normal question. If I refused not to answer or automatically tried to inform her that we weren’t together, that would be way more bizarre. Defensive, even. It would be the type of response that might show Liam every little pathetic feeling I’d been trying to hide.

So I settled on a safe, honest answer.

“I’m friends with Maggie,” I offered, hoping that was enough.

“Oh, how perfect.” Her eyes lit up. “Well, you two must be awfully certain of each other if you’re already living together.”

“Oh, no,” I said, about to interject and tell it to her straight.

“But when you know, you know. Isn’t that what they say?”

“Well, I’ve got to go introduce to everyone else,” Liam interjected,

But he didn’t correct her.

Why didn’t he correct her?

Was it to save me from the embarrassment of having to tell people the real story of why I was staying with him?

Or maybe he wasn’t as bothered by the assumption as I thought he was.

Liam

I felt mechanical in my interactions with my family. Stiff, awkward, like at any moment, one of the screws holding me together would spit out, and I’d crumble.

I could barely focus because the only thing running through my brain was that moment upstairs. I’d been about to kiss her. I would’ve if Maggie hadn’t interrupted.

Hell, I wanted to try again right now.

And I could’ve sworn that she was going to let me.

But here, surrounded by my entire family, was not the place to unpack that conversation with her.

But my family was apparently hellbent on adding more chaos to the uncertainty of my relationship with .

“We saw the pictures from the gala,” Aunt Kim said. “You two make a gorgeous couple.”

“Oh, we—” started, but my uncle was already cutting her off.

“Can’t believe you made an honest man out of him yet.” He gave me a wink. “Guess you finally found someone worth leaving bachelorhood behind, huh?”

“Oh, no—” tried again.

“And look at your beautiful hair,” my aunt gushed, “You two will have the most beautiful children.”

At that, I actually choked on my own saliva, watching as turned strawberry red in front of my eyes. I had to drag my gaze away before I did something idiotic—like imagine it.

Oh, wait. Too fucking late.

“Sorry, we know we’re embarrassing you,” my aunt finally said, noticing the awkwardness that had enveloped the pair of us like a straitjacket. “We’re just thrilled Liam is finally settling down.”

I should correct him. I should laugh it off.

Now was the time to explain once and for all what the situation was.

But I didn’t.

Because if she let me, I’d settle down for the rest of my fucking life with this woman.

“Time to eat,” Mom called from the other room, sending us the reprieve we so desperately needed.

visibly breathed out in relief as we walked away from the crowd of relatives drilling us as if they were with the fucking media.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to . “They’re not usually like this.”

But what Maggie had said earlier was true. I’d never brought a girl home before, and because of that, was the biggest deal in my life since I got signed with the Harbor Wolves.

“They’re all really nice,” said.

“Nice, but nosey. Just like Maggie.”

“You’re not like that,” said, almost as a question.

“I’m not nice?” I laughed.

“No!” blushed. “I mean, yes, you are! I meant the nosey part.”

I grinned down at her, squirming.

“You just don’t seem curious about, well, anything,” she said, hands in the air.

Well, that might be true for most things, but her? I had a feeling I’d never reach a limit on the things I wanted to know about her.

From every detail of her day, to her favorite things to what she thought we’d be doing ten years in the future.

Shut the fuck up. I told my head, knowing I was getting way too ahead of myself.

It’s like I was driving a car, and I’d pulled into the passenger seat and superglued my foot to the gas pedal.

In other words, I needed to chill the fuck out.

“That’s because I already know everything.” I aimed for light-hearted banter, desperate to mask the route my thoughts had taken.

“I don’t doubt that you do.” She grinned and then paused in front of the long dining room table.

I pulled out a chair for her, letting her settle into it before sitting in the one beside her.

Maggie slid down into the one on the other side of her, grinning at as if she were the long-lost sister she’d always wished for when we were kids.

“This is so fun that you’re here,” Maggie chirped as if she were having a sleepover. “You’re going to need to be at every Brynn holiday from now on, just so you know.”

On that, we were in total agreement.

“I don’t know about that.” laughed. “You don’t think it’s weird that I’m here with all your family?”

“I’d rather have you here than him.” Maggie pointed to me with the fork she’d picked up.

“Thanks, Mags.” I huffed out a laugh.

But what I really took note of was the way fit in between us so naturally. My sister’s friend and my… what? I had to know. We couldn’t exist in this weird limbo anymore.

Especially not after today, when I saw that look in her eyes. The one that gave me hope there might be a chance for us after all.

“Before we all start eating,” my mother’s voice pulled me from my thoughts and toward the end of the table where she sat, “I just wanted to get everyone’s attention to thank you all for coming again. I know everyone has their own busy lives going on, so it really means a lot to have the family together like this for a meal. Especially my busy children who are living their lives in the city, far away from their mother, who misses them dearly.” She dabbed at her eye, apparently already emotional.

“Mom, you literally were living with me for the last three months.” Maggie rolled her eyes over the table, sending the relatives into a chorus of laughter.

“Well, I’ll miss you all the more now that I’m here by myself,” Mom defended. “Okay, okay. Everyone eat. And if you don’t like it, pretend that you do to spare my feelings.”

The table sounded with the clinking of silverware against plates, and arms were moving haphazardly as everyone reached for food across the table.

While everyone was caught up in conversation, I let myself look at her. Really look at her without any preconceptions.

I watched the way the glow from the chandelier caught in her hair, turning the ends of those curls golden. The way her blue eyes, which I loved so much, went soft when she was listening, sharp when she was amused. I noticed how every emotion she felt could play across her face in such a distinctly way.

And then she turned, looking up at me with a smile that made me know for certain.

Whatever it took, whatever I had to do, I would do it to make sure that sitting next to me like this wasn’t something temporary.