Page 79 of Outside Looking In

“You had time to have an attorney look this over,” Callum said calmly. James and Oliver behind him were not as calm.

The alarm bells wouldn’t stop ringing for Liam.

“Musket…”

“Development Group, yes. Grates sets up shell companies for each project,” Callum said.

Liam had gotten good at detecting Callum’s bullshit from over two decades of brotherhood. He got a sick taste in his throat.

“Musket, as in musketeer. You used to play Three Musketeers around the house. I always wanted to play with you, but you told me I couldn’t because there were only three of them.” Liam started coldly at Callum, who didn’t scare him any longer. His brothers were the scared ones now. “You’re tricking me into selling you my land, and you’re going to sell it to Grates for an even bigger sum.”

“Pig—Liam. That’s not what we’re—”

“You were going to screw over your two other brothers. Why? Just because you didn’t have the childhood you wanted? I didn’t choose to be the youngest born.” Liam ripped up the contract, crumpled the pieces into a ball, and dunked it into the trash. “And we’re supposed to be family.”

Liam shook his head at his brothers, who all turned varying shades of white.

“It’s a real shame you can’t choose your family.” He walked off.

Nathan

It was a beautiful bathroom. Marble countertops. Ivory white tiled floors. And spacious stalls with full-sized walls, making it easy for Nathan to hide.

What am I going to do? What is Pastor Fry going to do?

Nathan sat on the toilet, head in his hands. He couldn’t watch the show from here. He couldn’t miss Franny’s debut. But he also couldn’t face Pastor Fry and his glare of disgust, a glare that exposed Nathan for all he was.

The bathroom door swung open, jolting him from his thoughts.

“Nathan?” Liam’s voice echoed against the walls. “Are you in here?”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His words were hiding like he was.

He heard Liam enter the bathroom, his shoes squeaking on the tile. He squeaked right up to the stall door.

“Nathan?”

Nathan pressed his hand against the stall door, hoping Liam felt some of what was vibrating inside him.

“My brothers are pieces of shit. Family is a really strange thing. I feel closer to you than I ever did to them.”

Nathan stared at the stall door, as if he had X-Ray vision, as if he could be with Liam in his arms.

“I think I’m falling in love with you, Nathan. Oi, I’m already there.”

A tear slipped down Nathan’s cheek. He could list the people he’d ever said I love you to on one hand. Zero. He wasn’t worthy of love. He was so scared. He couldn’t make a single sound.

Shoes squeaked away and seconds later, the door swung closed. Nathan hung his head.

Minutes later, the loudspeaker crackled to life. “Attention. The show will be starting in five minutes. Please take your seats.”

It was now or never. Nathan couldn’t miss Franny’s show. She needed him. Liam needed him. Pastor Fry would have to drag him away. Damn it, he was a Foster.

He gave himself a confident nod in the bathroom mirror.

“There you are,” Liam said to him when he returned to the lobby. He peered into Nathan’s eyes. “What is going on?”

“Liam, I…I have to tell you something.”