Chapter Nineteen
Liam
The crunch of gravel under tires pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance out the front window. My chest tightens with excitement as I see the car pulling into the driveway. Jaxton’s driving, and before the vehicle even comes to a full stop, their doors fly open. Lennox and Kamden step out, their expressions lighting up like the fourth of July.
It’s been months since I’ve seen my twin, Lennox, and far too long since Kamden’s been around—home or not with the new restaurant. The weight of their absence lifts as I head to the door, swinging it open before they can reach the porch.
“About time,”
I call, stepping out onto the driveway, grinning like an idiot.
“You miss me, brother?”
Lennox fires back, his smirk a mirror of my own as he bounds across the few remaining steps.
“Every damn day,”
I reply, pulling him into a tight hug the second he’s within reach. The connection between us, as strong as ever, settles something restless inside me.
Kamden’s grin is wide as he steps up behind Lennox, clapping me on the back with a force that nearly knocks me off balance. “Good to see you, man. Where’s our girl?”
“She’s inside,”
I say, gesturing for them to follow me. “But keep it down. She’s napping on the couch.”
The three of them exchange quick glances, their excitement momentarily tempered by concern. As we walk through the door, they spot her immediately. Avery’s curled up on the couch, her favorite blanket tucked snugly around her, her face relaxed in sleep. But there’s a faint pallor to her cheeks that makes me frown.
Jaxton speaks first, his voice dropping low as we step into the living room. “She looks tired. What’s going on?”
“She was working in the yard this morning,”
I explain, keeping my voice quiet. “Overdid it a little, I think. She skipped breakfast, and the heat got to her. She’s been out cold for about an hour now.”
Kamden crouches beside the couch, his expression softening as he takes her in. “She looks wiped. Was she feeling sick earlier?”
“She got a little queasy,”
I admit, leaning against the arm of the couch. “It wasn’t anything major—just heat and not eating enough. I made her lie down, and she passed out pretty quickly.”
Lennox steps closer, his gaze locked on her peaceful face. “She’s something else, isn’t she? I mean, we’ve seen her over video, but in person...”
His voice trails off, the awe in his tone unmistakable.
“She is,”
I say with a small smile. “She doesn’t do anything halfway. That’s why we’ve got to take care of her—sometimes she doesn’t know when to slow down.”
A soft murmur escapes from the couch, and all four of us freeze, our eyes snapping to Avery. She shifts slightly, her brow furrowing, but she doesn’t wake.
“She hears us,”
Lennox whispers, his lips twitching with a smirk.
“Maybe,”
I reply with a quiet laugh. “We should move this to the kitchen. Let her sleep a little longer.”
The four of us tiptoe out of the living room, our movements careful as we make our way to the kitchen. Once we’re there, Jaxton leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest.
“So,”
he starts, his voice still low, “how do you think she’s going to react when she wakes up and sees these two?”
He gestures toward Lennox and Kamden.
“She’s going to lose her mind,”
I say, already smiling at the thought. “She’s been missing them so much, even if she tries to play it cool.”
“Cool?”
Kamden raises an eyebrow. “She cried during our video call when we said we couldn’t make it last week.”
“She tried to hide it,”
Lennox adds, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “But yeah, she’s been missing us. And we’ve been missing her.”
“You’re not the only ones,”
I say, glancing at my twin. “Having all of us here together is going to be huge—for her and for us. It hasn’t felt right, being split up like this.”
I start setting the lunch I prepared on the counter to add the finishing touches.
Kamden nods, pulling out the ingredients for the salad as he speaks, nudging Lenn out of the way. “She’s been incredible through all of this. Treating us the same, even with the distance, like we’re already here. I’ve never met anyone like her.”
“You won’t,”
Jaxton says, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Avery’s one of a kind.”
Lennox leans against the counter, watching me as I start seasoning the steaks. “She’s changed you, hasn’t she?”
I pause for a moment, then nod. “Yeah. She has. She’s made me... better. More grounded. And seeing her with you guys is going to make this feel complete.”
“You’re getting soft,”
Lennox teases, his smirk widening.
“Maybe,”
I shoot back, flipping the steaks over, coating them with a second layer completely. “But it feels damn good.”
The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we continue prepping lunch. Jaxton sets up the grill, Kamden works on the salad, and Lennox helps me with the steaks. It’s easy, comfortable, the kind of rhythm we’ve always had when we’re together.
Every so often, one of us glances toward the living room, waiting for the moment Avery wakes up and realizes the surprise waiting for her. The anticipation is electric, and I can already picture the joy on her face when she sees Lennox and Kamden standing there.
“She’s going to be so happy,”
Jaxton says, his tone softer now. “This is exactly what she needs.”
“She’s not the only one,”
I reply, glancing around at my brothers. “This is what we all need.”
Kamden nods, his expression serious. “Then let’s make it perfect for her. She deserves it.”
As we finish setting everything up, the house feels alive with energy, with the promise of something bigger than all of us. And as much as I can’t wait to see Avery’s reaction, I know one thing for sure: being here together is just the beginning.