Chapter Fourteen
LIAM
S wallowing roughly, I look at the three men in front of me, trying to find the right words to explain myself.
“You have something to say?” Jayce asks, crossing his arms and immediately looking more intimidating than he did thirty seconds ago.
“Yes.” I let out a deep breath, nodding. “I never knew Macie existed. The only reason I haven’t been with Ella every day since her accident is I thought she was engaged.”
Nolan looks confused. “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know if you know this,” I start, looking between the three of them, “and I’m not telling you this so you’ll like me, but because it played a big part in how things played out. I’m the EMT who pulled Ella from her car after the accident.” Ignoring their varying looks of shock, I continue, “I was in the waiting room when Harvey came busting in, claiming to be her fiancé. Then, the next day, I was going to try to get some answers, and I overheard… Well, I misunderstood some things. Harvey being a gaslighting piece of shit was the first one.”
“Motherfucker,” Jayce mutters, looking murderous.
“So what, you didn’t ask for an explanation after?” Nolan scoffs. “You just up and left when she was in the hospital?”
“I should have spoken to her,” I admit. “I take full responsibility for that. But I thought I was… not even a blip on her radar. We spent less than twenty-four hours together, and at first, it had been made clear it wouldn’t be more than that. Then, I thought she had someone already. I’m not trying to make excuses or anything, just… explain.”
“I can see where you were coming from,” Lincoln says. “You had no way of knowing what had really happened.”
Nolan and Jayce shoot him a look that reads, “ What are you saying right now?”
I give him an appreciative nod. “All of that to say, I’ve never experienced a connection like the one I have with Ella, and I never meant to hurt her. When I saw her in Boston, it was like my world tipped back on its axis, and I couldn’t not be with her. I moved here to find her, which Ella doesn’t even know yet. I didn’t know about Macie at the time. Now that I do, there’s no way I can go back to how life was before. I want nothing more than to be with Ella and to be a father to Macie. Not being there for them the last four years is the biggest regret of my life,” I add on, and those seem to be the magic words.
“Well, boys,” Lincoln says, coming between the brothers and slinging his arms over their shoulders. “That’s all we can really ask for, isn’t it?” Jayce’s expression softens slightly, and Nolan grins. “Now why don’t we stop roasting Liam here and go have some of the roast your mom cooked up for us?”
“Really quick, Liam.” Nolan grabs my arm to keep me behind with him and Jayce as Lincoln heads to the kitchen. “We’re all invested in Ella and Macie’s safety, so you should know that Harvey’s been… a nuisance. To put it lightly.”
“Too lightly,” Jayce grumbles. “There’s something… sinister going on with him. Dad told us he showed up at the house yesterday.”
My blood runs cold. Ella hadn’t told me that. “What did he want?”
“That’s why we wanted to talk to you. Can you find out from Ella what the asshole said?” Nolan asks. “She’ll tell us to fuck off and that she can take care of herself, but she might tell you.”
“Yeah, okay.” I nod, looking between the two of them. “He showed up at Nonna Rossi’s the other day too, before I knew about Macie. He was trying to tell Ella that they needed to talk about Macie, which made her really mad.”
“I don’t blame her, it’s making me pissed off just thinking about it,” Jayce says darkly, his expression murderous. “That shit-stain doesn’t deserve to even think about her.”
“I think we’re all in agreement about that,” Nolan jumps in, putting a hand on each of our shoulders before focusing on me. “So, find out what he wanted, and keep an eye out for him, yeah? Tell us if you see anything.” At my affirmation, he grins. “Okay, good. Because I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”
“Come on then,” Jayce practically grunts.
“Mom’s roast is legendary,” Nolan says, falling into step beside me as I follow Jayce into the dining room where Ella and Lincoln are helping Celine set the table and Macie is already sitting.
Something wet pushes against my hand, and I look down in surprise to see Ollie nudging at me with his nose.
“Hey there, boy,” I grin as I reach down and pet him.
“Well, why didn’t you say you already had Ollie’s approval?” Lincoln asks as he walks to the kitchen behind the dining room. “Everyone knows Ollie’s opinion supersedes all of ours.”
I bark a laugh. “I guess I should have started with that, huh?”
“Liam! Come sit next to me!” Macie calls, patting the seat next to her.
Glancing at Ella, I ask, “Is there anything I can help with before I sit?”
Celine doesn’t give her a chance to answer. “No! Guests do not help with dinner. Sit down next to Macie. Jayce and Nolan, go grab the bowl with the roast and grab some tongs for the roast potatoes.”
“Mom always takes an opportunity to bring out her teacher voice again,” Ella informs me, and I remember how she said her mom used to be a high school teacher.
Ten minutes later, we’re all sitting around the table, talking and laughing as we pass food around and dig into the mouth-watering pot roast Celine prepared. It feels a bit surreal, watching a family interact like hers does. It was clear, even four years ago as I watched them interact in the waiting room of the hospital, that they were close, but to actually be a part of it fills me with a warmth I didn’t know I needed.
Macie is sat between Ella and I, and nothing has ever felt more right .
“Are we going to play poker?” Nolan asks, standing up and taking his empty plate to the sink.
“Why would we play poker?” Celine questions, her brow furrowed.
“Dad sent us into the garage to get the chips out earlier!” Jayce says indignantly. “Why would we need to grab that if we weren’t playing poker?”
“Oh, right,” Lincoln gives a sheepish smile. “I was trying to give Ella time to talk to us before the two of you bombarded her with questions about Macie’s dad, since Macie was talking about it all day.” He glances over at Celine. “You guys could play, though. I don’t feel much like losing to Ell tonight.”
So that’s how Ella ends up kicking all of our asses at poker while Lincoln tries to play go fish with Macie. Ella and Jayce are the last two playing when she puts down a straight flush, and Jayce throws his cards down in frustration, causing Ella to let out a maniacal laugh as she gathers all the chips.
“All hail the queen of the cards!” Nolan calls out in this ridiculous court-jester voice.
“Yes, bow down, peasants,” Ella cackles, and I can’t hide my smile. She’s too fucking cute. This family… fuck. My childhood, my family, was never like this. Even when Dad was alive and well.
“Mommy! Can I sleep here tonight?” Macie pulls on Ella’s pant leg and Ella looks at her mom, who shrugs.
“I suppose it’s nearly bedtime anyway, and you’re coming back tomorrow…” She bites her lip. “That’s fine, Macie-girl. Why don’t you go put on your jammies?”
Macie rushes to her room before coming out in a princess nightgown, kissing Ella’s cheek, telling her goodnight.
“I guess that’s our cue to leave,” she laughs. Then Macie is coming over to my side of the table and crawling into my lap.
“Nigh night, Daddy.” She presses a kiss to my cheek and I can’t help it. I start to cry like a fucking baby. Okay, I tear up, but I might as well be bawling with the smug-ass looks Jayce and Nolan give me. I’ve decided I never want to hear her call me “Liam” ever again. Nope, just daddy. Later, dad. Something cements in my heart and I wrap my arms around her, brushing a kiss to her hair.
“Goodnight, baby girl.”
On the drive home, I can’t stop comparing Ella’s family to my own. How much love and laughter there is, even when her and her siblings are grown and no longer living at home. Compared to the cold and almost formal way my own mom treats me. I’m going to have to tell Ella eventually. About my family, about who I really, legally am. Right now though, we’re in this little bubble of anonymity and it’s so damn nice. Once they find out… they might treat me differently. Ella might treat me differently, and I’m not sure I can handle that right now on top of everything else.
“Is everything okay?” Ella’s voice shocks me out of thoughts, and I quickly nod.
“Yeah, Ell. Everything’s fine. I was just thinking about how great your family is.”
Her brows shoot up. “Really?”
“I mean, yeah.” I shrug, still looking at the road. “Compared to my family growing up… my mom is very concerned with appearances, and even when Dad was alive, it wasn’t like your family. Mom wasn’t always so bad, but then Dad passed away—” At her sharp intake of breath, I chance a quick look at her and explain, “Alzheimer’s. After he was gone, she got so… impersonal. It was really nice being with your family tonight.”
“How old were you when he passed?”
“Fifteen,” I answer tightly. “There was a twenty-year gap between my parents’ ages, so he was… older. I think it was safe to say I was the only one in school whose dad forgot who they were.”
“That must have been so hard.” She grabs my hand on the center console. “Do you have any siblings? Or is it just you and your mom?”
“It’s just us now…” Shit. The truth is right fucking there. It would be so easy to tell her right now. Why don’t I tell her? Oh, right, because I’m a damn coward and I’m terrified of the idea of her looking at me differently. Or worse, choosing to not want to be with me. “No siblings, just me, mom and the cook.”
“The cook?” Ah, fuck. Welp, I guess we can dip our toes in.
“Mom never liked to make food, and my dad, who was a pediatric surgeon, made enough to where they could afford it. That’s what drew me to your family, I think. Sitting down together, eating a meal that someone made with love…”
“Oh Liam,” Ella’s voice is full of empathy as she rubs her thumb over the back of my hand. “A pediatric surgeon? Is that why you wanted to become a doctor?”
My voice catches in my throat, which is thick with emotion, and all I can do is wordlessly nod.
“I know he would be so proud of the man you are.”
Her words have my chest filling with warmth, my heart beating wildly for the woman in the seat next to me. “You think so?” I ask quietly, turning my hand and linking our fingers together.
“I do. You’re an amazing man, Liam.”
We pull up to the parking lot of our complex, and before Ella can get out of her seat, I’m on the other side of the car, opening the door for her, taking her mouth with mine as she slides out. My blood is on fire for this woman.
She’s sweet and gorgeous and sexy and mine.
Ella meets my lips with equal fervor before she’s pulling away and grinning at me.
“Race you upstairs?”