14. Lucy
Chapter fourteen
Lucy
"You didn’t tell me it was this beautiful," I say softly, stepping through the festival gates as the late-afternoon sun glimmers across the fairgrounds.
Everywhere I look, Ocean Bay is alive. Lanterns strung between the trees sway gently in the breeze. Booths line the boardwalk selling everything from fresh taffy to homemade quilts. Children dart past me with painted faces and sticky fingers. Laughter ripples through the air.
I clutch Pip and Nibbs’s small carrier to my chest, my fingers gripping tighter than necessary. The ferrets squirm lazily, completely unbothered.
I wish I could say the same.
"Wanted you to see for yourself," Liam says from beside me, his tone light but his eyes sharp, watching me too closely.
I glance at him, and he flashes that crooked smile of his. The one that makes it just a little harder to breathe.
I give a nervous laugh. "I sure can now, it's everything and more just as everyone has been describing it."
He tips his head, grinning. "You haven't even started enjoying the best parts of it."
We keep walking, weaving through the crowd, and I let myself look. Really look.
It’s everything I’ve never had. Families, friends, neighbors, greeting each other like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like they belong to each other.
Something twists in my chest.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wondered what it would feel like to grow up like this. To belong to a place. To a people.
It’s more beautiful than I imagined. And harder.
Because I can’t keep it.
I glance at Liam again. He’s taller than most in the crowd, his hands shoved in his pockets, easy in his own skin. Everyone calls his name as we pass, nods, waves. This town is his life.
And I, I’m just passing through.
I force a smile when I feel his gaze on me again.
He stops at a booth selling fresh lemonade and buys two, hands me one.
The quiet between us isn’t uncomfortable, exactly. But it’s thick. Heavy.
We wander to the edge of the fairgrounds, where the crowd thins out, and find a quiet little patch of grass under a tree.
Liam lowers himself to the ground with the kind of lazy confidence I’ll never understand. He gestures for me to sit.
I set the carrier down and do the same. Pip pokes his head out immediately, sniffing the air. Nibbs soon follows. They tumble onto the grass and begin exploring like the world belongs to them.
I watch them for a moment, grateful for the distraction. Then I feel Liam’s eyes on me again.
"You’re quiet," he says softly.
I shrug, keeping my eyes on the ferrets. "Just… taking it all in."
He nods like he understands, though I doubt he really does.
After a while, he speaks again. "I told you Ocean Bay was special."
"You did," I say, smiling faintly.
"It’s… old. Older than gold, some say. Most of the families here have been here for generations. Nobody really wants to leave. Why would they?"
His voice is so full of pride it makes my chest ache.
I glance sideways at him, teasing, because I need to break the heaviness building between us. "That explains why you and your billionaire friends are still here. Even though you could live anywhere you wanted."
He smirks faintly. "We could. But this? This is home. Always will be. The town… it’s our whole life."
I nod slowly. "It’s beautiful."
My voice cracks just a little.
"I wish…" I stop.
But it’s too late. He’s already looking at me closely, his head tilting slightly.
"You wish what?"
I force a laugh and shake my head. "Nothing. Just… I wish I could stay here forever. If I was permitted."
The way he’s looking at me now makes it hard to breathe.
"You are," he says quietly. "You can. Everyone already sees you as family, Lucy."
I smile weakly and glance down at Pip, who’s now trying to burrow into my sweater.
But I can’t tell him what I really mean. That in less than two months, I’ll be gone.
I change the subject instead, nudging his knee with mine. "You’re getting sentimental, West."
He grins. "Don’t tell anyone. I’ve got a reputation to maintain."
I laugh, and he laughs, and just like that the air between us shifts. Lighter.
I scramble to my feet and grab Pip, holding him high. "Come on, West. Bet you can’t catch me."
He arches a brow, but before he can answer I take off, laughing, weaving between the trees.
And then he’s chasing me.
His footsteps thunder behind me, closer, closer until I feel his hands at my waist.
He tackles me down onto the grass, and we roll, breathless and laughing.
Pip and Nibbs dart around us in circles, chittering indignantly.
When we stop rolling, I’m flat on my back, Liam leaning over me, his hands braced on either side of my head.
We’re both breathing hard.
And then I realize how close he is.
His chest pressed to mine. His breath warm against my cheek.
I stop laughing.
So does he.
The air thickens around us, charged. His gaze drops to my lips. My hands grip his shoulders before I even realize it.
I want to tell him to kiss me.
But before either of us can move, Pip barrels into my side, squeaking furiously.
We spring apart instantly.
I laugh nervously and scoop Pip into my lap. "Guess he doesn’t approve," I say, my voice too bright.
Liam doesn’t answer right away. He just keeps watching me. And his gaze… it’s enough to undo me.
Later, we wander toward the cliffs.
The ocean stretches out before us, endless and calm, the sunset spilling gold and pink across the horizon.
We stand side by side, hands brushing occasionally. Every time his fingers graze mine, something sharp and sweet twists inside me.
I stare out at the water, pretending not to notice. But all I can think about is him.
***
The clinic feels quiet today. Too quiet, like the calm before a storm. The usual bustle of phones ringing and animals barking is muted, replaced by the low hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.
I’m sitting at the front desk, sorting through paperwork, when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I don’t need to look at it to know who’s calling.
My father.
I hesitate for a moment, my fingers brushing the phone screen before I slide it out of my pocket.
There’s a strange weight in my chest, a tightness that makes it hard to breathe. It’s a feeling I’ve known all too well, and every time he calls, it drags me right back into the past — into a life that feels more like a cage than anything else.
I glance around the clinic. It’s a slow morning, the few patients we have are in the back with Emma, and everyone else is busy with the usual tasks.
I slip out of the front office, ducking into a small, quiet storage room in the back.
It’s isolated, private. Just enough space to put up the walls I need.
The phone rings again.
"Hello?" I answer, trying to keep my voice steady, despite the knot in my stomach.
"Lucy," my father says, his voice smooth, detached, like we’re having a normal conversation. "How’s everything going? You still enjoying your time there?"
It’s always the same. Always.
I bite my lip, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "Of course, Dad. Everything’s fine."
I pause, forcing myself to exhale slowly. "I haven’t forgotten our deal. I’ve still got a little over a month left."
His tone shifts, just slightly. I can tell he’s trying to sound more engaged. More like he cares. "I’m glad to hear that. You know how important this is, right? You understand that this whole thing is for the good of the family. Your mother—"
I close my eyes, cutting him off before he can say it. "I know, Dad. You’ve said it a thousand times. But remember, you agreed to give me this time. No pressure. No interruptions."
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. Just long enough to make me question if he’ll even respond.
But then he sighs, the sound heavy. "I just want you to be happy, Lucy. You’ve got a future waiting for you. You can’t run forever."
I swallow, fighting the burn behind my eyes. The familiar ache that’s been there for as long as I can remember. "I’m not running. I just needed this. This time."
His voice softens, but it doesn’t reach me. "I’ll always be here, you know that, right?"
I nod, even though he can’t see me. "Yeah, I know."
But I don’t believe him. Not really.
I change the subject quickly, cutting the conversation short. "I’ve got to get back to work, Dad. I’ll call you later."
I hang up before he can say anything else, my finger pressing the end button harder than necessary.
I sit there for a moment, letting the silence sink in. It’s the same every time. He tries to sound caring, like he’s really here, but I know the truth. The truth is he’s still too caught up in his own grief to see that he’s lost me too — lost us both.
I remember the way things were after my mother passed. I remember how he withdrew, how everything changed in an instant. I remember how I had to grow up fast, how I had to fend for myself because he was too consumed by his own pain to see what I needed.
Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I won’t let them fall. Not now. Not when I’ve finally started to feel like I can breathe again.
I take a deep breath and push the memory aside, focusing on the present. On the now.
I get up from the small closet, straightening my shoulders as I head back toward the main office.
When I step back into the waiting room, I spot Liam and Max standing near the counter, talking to Emma. I smile as I see Max running circles around Emma, laughing as she pretends to chase him.
Liam notices me first, and his gaze softens. His smile is warm, easy. And for the first time today, I feel like I’m not completely lost.
"Lucy!" Max calls out, running over to me with a big grin. "Liam’s taking me out! Do you want to come?"
I blink, surprised. "Out? Where?"
"To the park!" Max says, his eyes wide with excitement. "Liam says I can play with all the animals here while you finish your work."
I glance at Liam, and he raises an eyebrow, a silent invitation.
My heart stutters in my chest. It’s tempting, more tempting than I care to admit. After my call with my father, I need a distraction. I need to clear my head.
I glance at the clock. "I’ve got thirty minutes until my break starts," I say, looking between Liam and Max. "Can you wait?"
Max bounces on his feet. "I can! I’ll play with the animals!"
I laugh softly at his enthusiasm. "Okay, then. I’ll be out in a few."
Max runs off, and I feel Liam’s gaze on me as I make my way back to the desk.
He follows me quietly, and when I sit down, I feel his presence at my side. There’s a softness to him that I can’t quite explain, something that makes it hard to push the walls back up I’ve spent so long building.
He leans in slightly, his voice low. "What’s wrong, Lucy?"
I freeze, my stomach sinking. I try to plaster on a smile, but it’s hard to ignore the tension in my chest.
"Nothing," I say, my voice not as convincing as I want it to be. "Just… stress. Work and everything."
But Liam doesn’t buy it. I can see it in his eyes, the way he studies me, the way he watches me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to figure out.
He doesn’t push me. But the concern in his gaze is enough to make my heart twist.
"Are you sure?" he asks quietly, his voice gentle. "If you’re not feeling well, you should take care of yourself. Maybe go to the hospital if it’s serious."
I blink at him, startled by how much he cares. It’s sweet, almost too sweet. I can’t remember the last time someone cared this much. Nana was the only person who ever cared this much for me. The one person who treated me like I was more than just a responsibility.
I shake my head quickly. "I’m fine, really."
Liam relaxes slightly, but there’s still that quiet concern in his eyes.
"Are you sure?" he presses again.
I laugh softly, a little embarrassed. "I’m sure. It’s nothing. Just some stress from work. Really."
He doesn’t look convinced, but he nods slowly.
I force myself to smile, feeling touched by how much he genuinely seems to care. "You don’t need to worry about me, Liam."
"I can’t help it," he says, his voice steady. "I care about you, Lucy. More than I should, maybe."
My heart skips, and I glance away, not sure how to respond. He reaches out and cups my face. Instantly, I freeze as I stare into his eyes.
Before I can say anything, Emma calls from the back, her voice loud enough to reach us.
"Well, well. What’s this I see, Liam?" she teases, walking into the room with a knowing look. "Kissing my colleague now?"
I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, and I quickly look down, fumbling for words. "We’re not—"
But Liam doesn’t look bothered in the slightest. Instead, he wraps his arm around me, his grip casual but confident. "I came to steal her away for her break," he says with a grin, giving Emma a look that’s far too casual.
Emma laughs, clearly entertained by the sight of Liam getting flustered. "Well, the clinic’s less busy today. I’ll give her an extra hour. Consider it a reward for working so hard."
"Thanks, Emma," I say, trying to act normal despite the heat still rising in my cheeks.
She winks at me as she heads out. "Enjoy yourselves, you two. And Liam? You’re striving hard to take the award of the best uncle."
Liam scoffs. "I’m already the best uncle."
Emma throws a mock salute. "Then you’ve got the job. But I'll tell Bryan he needs to up his game."
Liam gives her a dramatic look. "Betrayer."
Emma just grins. "I’ll be on my man’s side. Always."
I watch them banter, a smile tugging at my lips. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I belong.
When Emma leaves, Liam turns back to me, and the weight of his gaze makes my stomach flutter. "Ready?" he asks.
I nod, the air between us thick with something I can’t quite put my finger on.
"Let’s go," I say, standing up and grabbing my bag.
Liam holds the door open for me, his eyes still on me with that same intensity.
And for the first time, I’m not sure if I’m ready. But I know I want to be.