9. Emily
I’d never hada real boyfriend. Or ever been in love.
Was that what I was feeling?
Every time Liam was around, butterflies would flutter low in my stomach, and I couldn’t help but smile.
When I was away from him, even only for a few hours while he was at practice, my heart ached, and I missed him terribly.
Michael wasn’t much help with the whole situation.
Anytime he was home, which was rarely, he stayed in his room, not even coming out for dinner or when we offered for him to go out with us.
I knew I needed to talk to my brother, but I also knew that I didn’t have much more time with Liam.
And that’s what hurt the most: knowing that a plane ticket back home had my name on it.
I’d been avoiding my parents’ calls and Facetime requests, feigning I was busy with the time difference, but with the looming deadline fast approaching for my trip home, I knew I couldn’t hold off much longer.
My phone buzzed with a video call when Liam and Michael were at practice.
Pressing ‘Accept,’ it was a few beats before my parents’ faces appeared on the screen.
It had only been a week and a half since I’d seen them, but they looked different to me.
Not just because of their fierce smiles and new tans from their trip to Costa Rica but because I was seeing everything differently.
Flowers smelled better.
The trees were more vibrant and colorful.
The world was changing around me, or maybe it was me who was changing how I saw the world.
“Finally, we get to see you, Emmy!” Mom squealed, her blonde bob bouncing on her shoulders.
I forced a smile, leaning back on the couch. I would have answered from Liam’s room, where I was spending most of my time, but I didn’t know how I’d explain whose bed I was in.
It was never easy lying to my parents, which is why I was always the kid who followed the rules. I never stayed out past curfew or missed assignments.
Now, I was lying to everyone in Dublin about my relationship with Liam.
Though none of it felt like it was a lie, either.
“Hey, I”ve just been busy. There”s so much to see and do around here,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Must be; we haven’t heard a peep from you since the plane landed and your brother picked you up. Your mother was even trying to look on your social media pages and hasn’t seen a single picture. You’re not spending all your time in the pubs, are you?” Dad asked, raising his bushy eyebrows.
I blushed, shaking my head. “No, not all my time in the pubs, but I have gone to a few with Michael and his teammates.”
It wasn’t a lie, but it still curled in my stomach.
“I hope this isn’t what it’s like when you’re in the office at school next year, Emmy. We’ll have to make weekly dates to chat and send us pictures,” Mom said, her smile broadening.
I tried to smile back but couldn’t even pull my lips in that direction.
School.
Leaving Ireland.
Dad cleared his throat. “Speaking of school, new student orientation is next week. It’ll be a tight squeeze once you get back from Ireland and our road trip up there, but hopefully, you get some good rest. I can’t have you falling asleep while you sign up for classes and meet your new roommates.”
Tears sprung to my eyes, and I quickly blinked them back, wiping my eyes and feigning tiredness so my parents wouldn’t question it.
“Yeah, I probably do need to catch up on some sleep. Maybe a nap is in order this afternoon.”
Dad chuckled. “Already talking like a college student.”
Mom smiled. “Well, we’ll let you take that nap, but email us some pictures, okay? And we’ll see you next week. Can’t wait to hear all about your travels.”
“All right, Mom and Dad. Love you, see you later.”
“Love you too, kiddo,” Dad said as Mom waved at the screen.
I hung up and plopped my phone down on the couch before letting out a big breath.
As if the universe decided I didn’t need any time to think, the front door opened, and in came Liam, smiling and still a bit sweaty from practice and his run home.
“Hey, Babe,” he said, taking out his earbuds and sauntering toward me. “I have to take a quick shower before we get lunch, unless you want to join me?”
He placed a quick kiss on my temple and then let it linger, trailing his fingers down my sides.
But then he stopped moving and leaned back, frowning as our eyes met.
“Everything okay?”
“I just got off a video call with my parents,” I mumbled.
“Oh…”
I sighed. “They were talking about new student orientation next week.”
“And that is?” He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s where I go for the weekend to my college, sign up for classes, meet my roommates, and get to know the campus.”
“Oh…” He slumped down on the couch.
“Yeah…” I chewed on my bottom lip.
“It’s not like it’s something you have to go to. I know your return flight is coming up, but you can always push it. Spend the rest of the summer here…” His fingers tiptoed toward my knee, giving it a light squeeze.
“I can’t just not show up to stuff for school. What will I tell my parents? My school?”
He frowned. “Tell them the truth? That you’re spending more time with me and figuring things out.”
I scoffed. “I can’t just give up everything to stay here with you, Liam.”
“Hey, I didn’t say to give up everything, I was just asking for more time.”
He stood up, not looking at me. “Or if that’s not what you want, then that’s fine. Head back to Ohio and we’ll keep with the plan. Engagement off, and you left me for school.”
“Liam, that’s not what I meant,” I said, standing up, but he still wouldn’t look at me.
“Then what did you mean? Because you were the one who made a big deal about this being real, and now you’re ready to just walk away from this? From us?” he asked, throwing his arms out, clearly frustrated with the situation we were facing.
“From what, Liam? What am I walking away from?”
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know anymore. Maybe you should go. Get back to your reality, if that’s what you want.”
“Liam…that’s not fair.”
He groaned, circling his neck. “No, it’s not. None of this is. I didn’t think that it would be this quickly that I’d fall in love with you, but here we are, and now you’re just going to up and leave.”
A gasp escaped my lips as I stared at him wide-eyed. “You love me?”
“Yeah…and I thought you loved me too,” he said, his eyes pleading.
“I don’t even know what love is,” I said softly, wishing I could lie. Wishing I could tell him the truth that I had been feeling it for so long.
“Well, maybe you’ll figure it out,” he grumbled, turning on his heel and heading toward the bedroom.
I should have followed him.
Groveled.
Apologized and told him that I loved him.
But instead, I slunk back down on the couch and buried my face in the couch cushions, forcing myself not to cry until I drifted off to sleep.