Chapter Thirty-Four
Evie
I stepped back inside the house, shutting the door behind me with a soft click, but the sound felt as deafening as a thunderclap in the tense silence.
My hands felt numb and trembled despite the warmth of the house. I rubbed them together, futilely trying to settle the shake in my fingers.
Liam stood next to me. I could feel his eyes on me, and the weight of his concern made my stomach roil.
“I should put on some tea,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I moved toward the kitchen, my feet almost stumbling as I tried to focus on something—anything—that wasn’t the knot in my stomach.
“Evie.” Liam’s voice was soft but firm, stopping me mid-step.
I glanced over my shoulder, attempting a smile. “I’m fine, Liam. Really. It’s just… a lot.” I waved my hand vaguely, hoping he’d let it go.
He didn’t.
“You’re not fine.” His steps were slow and measured as he crossed the room toward me. “And you don’t have to be.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. My vision blurred slightly as tears welled up, and I blinked them back furiously. I couldn’t fall apart. Not now.
Liam stepped closer, his peaceful presence supporting me. “Evie,” he said softly, reaching for my hand. “You’re shaking.”
“I’m not—” I started, but the lie dissolved under the weight of his gaze. “I hate that he came here. He doesn’t get to do this. He doesn’t get to show up and make me feel...”
“Like this,” Liam finished for me, his voice tinged with quiet anger.
I nodded, my throat tightening. “I thought I was past it. Past him. But seeing him... hearing him...” I trailed off, unable to articulate the storm raging inside me.
Liam’s hand slid to my shoulder, then down my arm, his touch both gentle and reassuring. “Come here,” he said quietly, pulling me into his chest.
I resisted for a moment, the part of me that always insisted on being strong screaming at me to push him away. But the exhaustion, the fear, the sheer weight of the moment won out. I sank against him, my head resting against his solid chest as his arms wrapped around me.
His scent—a mix of cedarwood and something faintly spicy—filled my senses, grounding me in the present. His hand moved in slow, soothing circles on my back, and for the first time since Kyle’s sudden appearance, I felt like I could breathe.
“It’s okay to be upset,” Liam murmured. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
I let out a shaky laugh, though it sounded more like a sob. “I’m not good at this.”
“At what?”
“Letting someone... be there for me.” I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. “It’s always just been me and Hayden. And I’ve gotten so used to handling everything alone that I don’t even know how to...”
“You don’t have to figure it all out right now,” he interrupted gently. “But you’re not alone, Evie. Not anymore.”
The sincerity in his voice broke something loose inside me, and I felt the tears slip free. I pressed my face into his chest, embarrassed but too exhausted to care. His arms tightened around me, as if he could shield me from all of it—Kyle, the fear, the uncertainty.
“Thank you,” I whispered after a long moment, my voice muffled against his shirt.
“For what?”
“For being here. For not... running away from all this chaos.”
Liam chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Evie, I’m not going anywhere. Chaos and all, I’m here.”
I pulled back slightly to look up at him, my tears drying as a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “You say that now, but you haven’t seen the full extent of it.”
“Is that a challenge?” His grin was teasing, but his eyes were serious.
“Maybe,” I said, my smile growing a little wider.
Liam reached up, brushing a stray tear from my cheek with his thumb. “Evie, I don’t scare easy. And I meant what I said—I’m all in. For you and Hayden.”
The warmth in his gaze sent a fresh wave of emotion through me. I wanted to believe him, to let myself trust in the possibility of something good. But the fear lingered, a quiet voice in the back of my mind reminding me of how quickly things could fall apart.
“I’m scared,” I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “Of what this means. Of how it might affect Hayden. Of... everything.”
“I get it,” Liam said softly. “But you don’t have to do this alone. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.”
His words settled over me like a warm blanket, easing some of the tension in my chest. For the first time in what felt like hours, I felt a flicker of hope.
I stepped back, taking a deep breath. “Okay,” I said finally, my voice steadier now. “One step at a time.”
Liam smiled, his hand brushing mine as if to remind me he was still there. “One step at a time,” he echoed.
I nodded, my gaze lingering on him for a moment longer before I turned toward the kitchen. “I should probably make some tea after all.”
“I’ll take a cup,” he said, his voice light. “But only if it comes with one of those cookies I saw on the counter.”
I laughed, the sound breaking through the heaviness that had settled over me. “Deal.”
As I busied myself in the kitchen, I couldn’t help but glance over at Liam, who leaned casually against the counter, his presence reassuring as ever. For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t facing the storm alone.
“And one more thing, Evie.”
I turned around as his eyes locked on mine. “What’s that?”
“I’m staying the night.”
Relief spread through me, and I closed my eyes. “Thank you.”
Hayden burst into the kitchen with all the energy of a seven-year-old who had just discovered he was still awake long past bedtime. His hair was a mess, his favorite dinosaur pajamas rumpled, and his smile lit up the room.
“Mom! Can I have some ice cream?” he asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet like he had been keeping this idea a secret all day.
I froze mid-pour, the tea kettle tipping precariously over the mugs I was filling. Hayden’s sudden enthusiasm was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the heavy storm clouds I’d been carrying. But it also tugged at my heartstrings because I knew he was perceptive enough to pick up on the tension in the room.
“Didn’t you already have dessert?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light and casual.
Hayden shrugged, his smile dimming slightly as his gaze flicked between me and Liam, who was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “Yeah, but… ice cream’s, like, a second dessert, right?”
Liam chuckled, stepping forward. “He’s got a point. There’s always room for ice cream.”
I gave Liam a side-eye, silently questioning if he really wanted to sugar up a seven-year-old this late at night. He winked at me in response, a clear signal he had things under control.
“Okay, fine,” I relented, leaning against the counter as if my body could carry no more weight. “But just a little.”
“Yay!” Hayden cheered before pausing. He tilted his head, studying me with a look that was far too observant for his age. “Mom, are you okay? You look… tired.”
The question hit me like a ton of bricks. My brave face faltered for a second, and I exchanged a glance with Liam. His brows furrowed slightly, and I could see the concern in his eyes.
“Your mom’s fine,” Liam said, stepping in smoothly. “She’s been busy, you know, doing all the superhero mom stuff she does every day.”
Hayden blinked up at him, his expression softening into a grin. “She’s the best mom ever.”
My heart clenched. The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, reminded me of how much he depended on me, how much I had to be strong for him—even when it felt impossible.
“Well,” Liam continued, his voice playful, “the best moms deserve the best ice cream. How about you and I grab it together? I could use your expert opinion on which flavor’s the best.”
“Okay!” Hayden said eagerly, running toward the freezer.
I mouthed a silent “thank you” to Liam, and he nodded, giving me a warm smile before following Hayden. As they rummaged through the freezer, their laughter filling the room, I took a deep breath and tried to collect myself.
Liam knew to step in when I needed him. He didn’t push or press me for answers I wasn’t ready to give. He simply stood by me like a boulder in the hurricane.
“Mom, do we have sprinkles?” Hayden called, his voice muffled by the freezer door.
“Top shelf,” I replied automatically, trying to focus on their lighthearted exchange instead of the knot in my stomach.
Liam leaned back, looking over at me. “You’ve got quite the stockpile of toppings in here, Evie. I’m impressed.”
I managed a small laugh. “I have a kid. It’s practically a requirement.”
“Found them!” Hayden announced triumphantly, holding up the sprinkle jar like it was a trophy. “Liam, do you like chocolate sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles?”
“Rainbow, obviously,” Liam said with a mock-serious tone. “They’re way cooler.”
Hayden nodded in agreement, pouring an avalanche of rainbow sprinkles over his ice cream before carefully adding a spoon. He held it up for Liam’s approval, grinning when Liam gave him an exaggerated thumbs-up.
As they sat down at the table, Hayden chattered about his day, regaling Liam with tales of school recess and his ongoing plans to build the “biggest snowman ever” in our front yard. Liam listened intently, asking questions and laughing at all the right moments, and for a little while, I let myself believe that everything was normal.
But even as I watched them, a bittersweet ache settled in my chest. Liam was so good with Hayden, so natural in a way that made it easy to imagine him in our lives. Too easy. And that terrified me because I knew how quickly things could change.
“Mom,” Hayden said suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Are you gonna have some ice cream too?”
I shook my head, smiling. “Not tonight. You enjoy it for me.”
“Can I have another bite, Liam?” Hayden asked, leaning toward Liam’s bowl with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Another bite?” Liam repeated, pretending to be scandalized. “You’ve already got your own mountain of sprinkles!”
Hayden laughed, but Liam relented, holding out his bowl. “Okay, fine. Just one bite. But don’t tell your mom. She’ll think I’m a terrible influence.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help smiling. “Oh, I already know you’re a terrible influence.”
Liam grinned, his eyes meeting mine across the table. “Guilty as charged.”
The air between us shifted, the playful moment giving way to something quieter, heavier. His gaze held mine, and I felt my pulse quicken despite myself.
Hayden broke the spell, hopping down from his chair. “I’m gonna go find my book!” he announced, already running off to the living room.
As his footsteps faded, Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. “He’s a great kid.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “He is.”
Liam’s eyes searched mine, and I knew he could see the worry I was trying so hard to hide. “You’re a great Mom, Evie.”
“Thanks,” I said, barely above a whisper.
He stood then, walking over to my side of the table. He rested a hand lightly on my shoulder.
“I’m here for you…always.”
I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. But as I looked up at him, I knew this was love.