Chapter Thirty-Five
Evie
When I opened my eyes, the morning light was streaming softly through the curtains. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I woke up feeling rested—like the weight I’d been carrying had shifted just enough for me to breathe a little easier.
Before I went to bed last night, I sent my attorney a note about what happened last night with Kyle. I didn’t know if it would make a difference, but I thought he should know.
I stretched under the covers, savoring the quiet of the early morning. Hayden wasn’t up yet, and the house felt calm in a way I didn’t even realize I’d missed.
Then it hit me: Liam.
He’d spent the night on the couch. The memory of him insisting he’d stay—his tone firm but warm—flashed through my mind. I’d been too exhausted to argue; honestly, I hadn’t wanted to object. Knowing he was just down the hall had made it easier to let go of the fear and fall asleep.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and the cold floor jolted me fully awake.
As I grabbed my robe and tied it snugly, I wondered if Liam was still asleep. A faint grin tugged at my lips. I’d told him the couch was too short, but he’d waved me off with one of those charming, lopsided smiles that made arguing impossible.
Padding down the hallway, I tried not to make a sound. As I reached the family room, I peeked around the corner. Sure enough, he was stretched out on the couch, one arm thrown over his face and the other dangling off the side.
How could he look so sexy, even in the morning?
That should be a crime.
I hid a laugh. His long legs stuck awkwardly off the edge of the couch, and the blanket I’d left for him had slipped to the floor. Despite the awkward position, he looked peaceful, his breathing slow and steady. His shirt tugged up just enough to see…
Ugh.
Get a grip.
Coffee.
I needed coffee before I tried to process how a man who made me feel so much could look so perfect, even in this state.
I headed into the kitchen and started the coffee pot, the familiar hiss and gurgle filling the quiet house. While it brewed, I couldn’t help but think about how much Liam had helped, how much he’d stepped in when I’d needed someone most. He wasn’t pushy or overbearing; he just… showed up.
The sound of soft footsteps behind me made me turn around. There he was, rubbing the back of his neck and looking adorably rumpled.
“Morning,” he said, his voice gravelly from sleep.
“Morning,” I replied, holding back a smile. “Sleep well?”
He glanced toward the couch, then back at me. “Well enough, considering that thing was made for people half my size.”
I chuckled, handing him a mug of coffee. “I told you. You should’ve taken the guest bed.”
“And miss the excitement of Hayden sneaking around at midnight for a glass of water and nearly tripping over me? No way,” he joked, taking a sip.
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re too much.”
Liam studied me for a moment, his gaze soft.
“You look like you actually got some sleep.”
“I did,” I admitted. “And I’m not even going to pretend it’s not because you stayed. Thank you for that.”
His eyes lit with something reassuring and protective.
“You don’t have to thank me, Evie. I told you, I’m here for whatever you need.”
The sincerity in his voice sent a flutter through my chest, and I quickly turned back to the coffee pot to refill my mug.
“You hungry?” I asked, trying to shift the focus away from how his words made me feel.
“Starving,” he said, setting his mug down. “But only if you let me help.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Help? I’m not sure I can afford a trip to the urgent care if I whip out a blender or mixer and you get in the way.”
“Hey, that was one time,” he protested, grinning. “Besides, I’m excellent at waffles.”
“Waffles, huh?” I teased, crossing my arms. “Alright, Mr. Waffle Expert. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
We worked side by side, laughing as Liam poured the waffle batter into the maker, and it echoed a faint beep.
“Okay, between the shrimp linguine and this, you’re starting to redeem yourself in the kitchen.” I grinned at him, and he laughed.
As we set the table, Hayden came bounding into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in all directions, but he was dressed for school.
“Morning,” Liam said, ruffling his hair.
“You’re still here.” He grinned and glanced at me. “I tripped over you last night. Your arm was dangling from the couch.”
“Yes, I was a bit of a roadblock on the path to water. My apologies,” Liam teased.
Hayden laughed and stared at the plate of waffles.
“Liam made these,” I said, sliding a plate in front of him.
Hayden looked up at Liam, his eyes wide with mock seriousness. “You made waffles?”
“I know. It’s a shock,” Liam said, playing along. “But I promise they’re edible.”
“With or without a finger?” he teased.
Liam held up all ten fingers as Hayden took a bite, and I poured him a glass of milk.
Hayden giggled, taking a big bite. “So good.”
I dipped a bite of waffle in syrup and nodded with a smile. “Delicious.”
Liam pretended to wipe sweat off his brow, and we chuckled.
“Okay, we have about three minutes until the bus arrives,” I announced, rounding up his backpack, hat, jacket, and shoes. “Get that last swallow down and finish off your milk.”
“Fine. Do I have to go to school today?” he groaned, and my heart tugged a little. There were days I wondered the same thing.
I stood behind him, patted down his hair, and kissed the top of his head. “Yup. That’s how it’s done at the age of seven.
Liam helped Hayden get his backpack on while I ensured he had his lunch and homework. The sight of them together—the easy camaraderie and the way Hayden looked at Liam like a superhero—sent me in all directions.
This was the kind of connection I’d always wanted for Hayden, but I couldn’t ignore the fear that came with it.
What if it all fell apart?
We walked to the door, and I kissed him one more time.
As the school bus pulled up, I hugged Hayden tight, holding on just a little longer than usual.
“Mom, you’re squishing me,” he said, laughing.
“Sorry,” I said, letting him go. “Have a great day, okay?”
He nodded and waved as he walked down the driveway and climbed onto the bus. I stood there until it drove away, the knot in my stomach tightening.
When I turned back toward the house, Liam was waiting in the doorway, his arms crossed and a soft smile on his face.
“Need a distraction?” he asked, holding up two steaming mugs of coffee.
“Desperately,” I said, walking up the steps.
He handed me a mug, and we stood there for a moment, sipping in comfortable silence.
“You’re a natural with him, you know,” I said, breaking the quiet.
And I froze, realizing I never should have said that.
Never should have put that pressure on Liam.
Liam shrugged, but his smile widened. “He makes it easy. Besides, he’s a lot like you. And I think I handle you pretty well.”
I chuckled. “Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Smart, stubborn, impossible not to like,” he said, his tone teasing but his eyes warm.
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Good thing I’m not trying to get anywhere,” he shot back, grinning. “Let’s get back inside.”
My phone rang, and I nearly jumped through the door.
“It’s my attorney.”
I quickly answered it and heard Mr. Harrington’s cheery greeting.
“Quite the interesting developments,” he said with a low chuckle. “But first, I want to ask how you’re handling everything.”
“I had a friend stay the night. To be honest, it really scared me.”
I put him on speakerphone and glanced at Liam
“In addition to what you sent, we did some more digging.”
“You did?”
“Kyle has accumulated significant financial debts. There’s a history of missed payments and legal actions against him for defaulting on loans. It’s possible he’s pursuing custody as a way to create leverage. Anyway, he hasn’t paid his current attorney either.”
I blinked, trying to make sense of it. “What does this mean, exactly?”
Mr. Harrington sighed. “I can’t promise the world, but I can tell you that his attorney wants to recuse himself from the case.”
“He can do that?”
“Oh, yes.” He cleared his throat. “But what’s more important is that after he spoke to his client, your ex-husband backed down. They’re withdrawing the petition once Kyle comes up with the remaining balance owed to his legal team.”
Excitement brewed deep in my belly.
So did resentment.
“Was this a game?” I asked, biting back my anger.
It wasn’t my attorney’s fault.
“I don’t like to use that term, but I think it’s appropriate. I think he thought he could scare you into something, but his misstep last night resulted in a domino effect.” The laughter from my attorney surprised me. “Sometimes, we get these happy surprises in law.”
“But could he do this again?”
Mr. Harrington sighed as Liam squeezed my shoulder.
“Yeah. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees. But if I were to guess based on his life’s habits, I’d say it’s unlikely.”
The weight of the world came crashing down. I was in this middle ground of disbelief and adulation.
“We’ll handle this, Evie,” Mr. Harrington assured me. “Whether Kyle knew it or not, him trying to scare you or threaten you last night backfired. You’re doing everything right.”
“For once,” I whispered, my heart pounding.
“I’ll keep you posted, but I think this phase will be behind us for now.”
“Thanks, Mr. Harrington.”
As I hung up, my fury mixed with a raw determination to protect my son. Liam’s steady hand remained on my shoulder, and his calm presence kept me anchored.
“So for the next eleven years, I have to be on the lookout for when Kyle pulls this prank again?” I looked into Liam’s eyes.
His gaze hardened, and he shook his head. “And I’ll be here every step of the way, Evie.”
“But why?” I shook my head. “Why would you want to bother with that…with me…?”
He bit his lip and let out a slow, deep breath as he shook his head. “Evie, you need to start seeing the truth.”
“The truth?”
“That you are incredible. That you are worth moving mountains for. The question isn’t why would I bother with you. It’s why would you bother with me?”
His words hit hard, and for the first time in my life, my body fell into a man’s arms, and I felt like I’d finally found home.