Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Liam
“Engaged?” Mom repeats, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re engaged.”
“Umm, yes,” I confirm but it’s more like a mumble. Because I’m regretting what I just said. What the fuck was I thinking.
“Engaged to Audrey McCallister?” She says her name, as if it’s new, unrecognizable.
“Yeah, the same pretty girl who used to live next door,” I say, hoping to sound like a sap in love.
“But . . . but you never mentioned . . .”Mom’s voice trails, as if she’s trying to take in the idea of Audrey and me being together—and engaged.
I should say, kidding or I’m joking or . . . something smart because this might end up in a disaster. Though I stop myself the moment I remember my grandmother who has always wanted me to have someone in my life, fall in love. Find my happy.
Like that is even a thing. Okay, it worked for my grandparents but look at Mom and Dad. They hated each other and since the divorce my father has been jumping from one very obnoxious girlfriend to another. While Mom . . . Well, she has Malcolm but still. There’s no such thing as a happily forever.
“You’re engaged to Audrey McCallister?” Dad asks suspiciously. “I didn’t even know you two were dating.”
“We wanted to keep it quiet. Max can be a complete asshole when it comes to the men who date his sister. It was better to wait and see how things played out between us before telling anyone that we were falling in love,” I blurt out, the lie taking on a life of its own. It’s just like any other marketing pitch. So far it seems like I’m selling this. “One day, I realized she’s the love of my life and I proposed. Though, we wanted to tell you guys in person but of course, we didn’t want to steal the spotlight from her parents’ anniversary.”
Mom, Dad, and Malcolm stare at me surprised. I’m beginning to wonder if I said too much or . . . Fuck, what am I doing?
Retreat , Cohen. Shut up and say you’re kidding before things get out of hand.
Dad’s brow furrows, confusion and surprise warring on his face. “Little Audrey from next door is your fiancée?” He’s definitely not believing me and maybe I should just say I’m just kidding, Dad.
But my mouth and my brain are not connecting. It keeps spewing shit. “She’s not so little anymore, Dad. And we are crazy in love. It was pretty simple. She lives in San Diego, I do too and, well, we realized we’re meant for each other.”
Okay, that’s vague enough to be believable. We’ll think about the details later. Fuck, I need to talk to Audrey soon.
Dad’s shock gives way to a wide grin that splits his face in two, a rare sight that makes me feel both guilty and grateful. He steps forward, engulfing me in a bear hug so tight it’s like being squeezed by an affectionate python.
“Son, that’s wonderful news.” His voice rumbles with pride, vibrating against my chest .
When I glance at Mom, her eyes fill with tears. “Liam. That’s . . . that’s amazing.”
I nod, riding the wave of their happiness, even as my stomach churns with the weight of the lie. “Yeah, but we still want to keep it low-key. You know, not to overshadow everything that’s happening this weekend.”
“Of course, of course,” Mom nods, already lost in a daydream of floral arrangements and future grandchildren. I just hope that she really keeps this quiet. I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts texting the Montgomerys and . . . Oh fuck, she won’t be holding this for long, will she?
“Mom, I mean it. This doesn’t get out of here,” I try to come across as serious.
She waves a hand as if I’m just being a little too anal. “Liam, just focus on this—this is just the blessing we needed right now.”
She rushes forward, pulling me into a fierce hug. I can feel the dampness of her tears against my shirt, the way her body shakes with a mixture of joy and sorrow.
Dad claps me on the back, his grip firm and reassuring. “I always knew you two would end up together. Even when you were kids, you had a special bond.”
I force a smile because I doubt he did know shit but now is not the time to argue with him or anyone. I know I should feel guilty for lying, for giving them false hope in the face of such devastating news. But in this moment, I can’t bring myself to care. Because for just a little while, I want to believe in the fairy tale, in the happily ever after that’s always seemed just out of reach.
I want to believe that love can conquer all, that it can ease the pain of loss and give us something to hold onto in the darkest of times.
Even if it’s a beautiful lie.
“Your grandma will be over the moon, Liam. To think she’ll see you engaged before . . .” He trails off, but his eyes brim with hope. The unspoken words hang in the air, a reminder of the ticking clock we’re all too aware of.
“Glad to hear that,” I manage to say, the words feeling thick in my throat. I swallow hard, trying to dislodge the lump that’s formed there, but it remains stubbornly in place.
“Liam, Audrey is like a daughter to us already.” Mom’s voice is warm honey, sweet and comforting. She reaches out, cupping my cheek with her hand. “We couldn’t have handpicked a better match for you.”
“Thanks, Mom. That means . . . a lot.” My voice falters, because it does mean everything—but it’s all a lie. The guilt twists in my gut, a sharp, nauseating sensation that threatens to overtake me .
And fuck, there’s a lot I have to do to pull this off. For starters, I need to talk to Audrey about the little thing I just did. The silver lining is she’ll be able to tell her parents that I’m her secret boyfriend—see, we’re helping each other already.
“I should go talk to her, let her know that the cat’s out of the bag.” I glance at Mom. “And that you’ll be keeping it on the down-low until Sunday.”
As I’m heading toward the door, Dad calls out, “Liam, are you alright?”
I pause, my hand on the doorknob, my back to them. I close my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself before turning to face them.
“Ah, just . . . overwhelmed. You know, with all the stuff happening.” I offer a lopsided smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
“Of course, Son.” Dad nods, understanding—or believing he understands—my behavior. He steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. “Take all the time you need. Mom has lived a great life. We’re here for you.”
“I should go check on Audrey,” I say, my voice sounding distant to my own ears. “This . . . I’m sure she’ll want to know what’s happening with Grandma.”
No shit, as of right now she’s unaware that we’re engaged and madly in love. Fuck, what if she doesn’t agree to do this for me?
She will, it’s just a matter of selling it well enough that she’ll be actually helping me with the details.
Mom nods. “Of course, honey. She’s probably feeling overwhelmed too, with all the family in town. If she wants to stay with us, she’s more than welcome.”
“I’ll let you know if she decides to spend the night here.” I swallow hard, the guilt rising like bile in my throat. After that, I bolt. The fresh air hits me like a slap in the face, a shock to my system after the suffocating atmosphere of the house.
I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp air. The gravel crunches beneath my feet as I make my way across the lawn, toward the McCallisters’ house.When I reach the front door, my hand hovers over the bell. I take a moment to compose myself, to steel my nerves for the conversation ahead. I’ve no idea what Audrey will think about this. Will she tell me I’m crazy and push me into the brook outside the backyard?
Not that much can happen to me in shallow water, but it’s obviously the thought that will count—the thought of drowning me.
Still, I have to try to talk to her about this predicament and convince her to go along with it. I’ll give Grandma the hope and peace of mind during her treatments. In exchange, Audrey will have a loving and doting fiancé to show at home, so they don’t think that she was making shit up, like what happened during one of her summer camps.
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment before pressing the bell.
When the door swings open, Audrey’s surprised, yet beautiful face welcomes me. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. She seems more upset or . . . “Are you okay?” I ask.
She leans against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest. “What are you doing here? Did you already burn down a house and need an alibi?” Her gaze darts behind me, as if she’s expecting someone else to appear. Probably her brother.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “We need to talk,” I say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. “It’s important.”
“How important?” she asks, skeptical.
“It’ll help you with the little issue you had at the airport,” I say, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
She yawns, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. “I don’t follow.”
“The cheating ex issue you encountered.” My eyes dart around to make sure no one else is listening.
“Shut up,” she whisper-yells, her eyes widening in alarm. She steps outside, pulling the door closed behind her. “What about it?”
I tilt my head outside, “Would you like to take a walk with me?”
“Nope. Talk now,” she demands.
“Someone might overhear us,” I remind her, leaning closer and whispering in her ear. “It’s a solution to your problem, but no one can know about it.”
She takes a step back. Giving me a suspicious look. “What’s your game, Liam Cohen?”
“If you want to know, you have to come with me.”
She hesitates, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. I can see the indecision playing out on her face, the warring emotions in her eyes. “Fine, let’s go.”
We set off down the street. Audrey struggles to keep up. “Slow down,” she complains, huffing a little as she tries to match my speed. “Where’s the fire?”
I slow my pace, falling into step beside her. “Sorry,” I mutter. “This is my normal walk. Maybe you should try to walk a little faster.”
“Well, your normal walk is like jogging for me and I don’t jog,” she says. “Actually, I only run if someone is chasing me or there’s a zombie apocalypse.”
I can’t help but laugh. “You’re something else, Little McCallister.”
She gives me a dirty look and we continue walking in silence until we arrive at the park where we used to play as children. We make our way to our old spot, a quiet corner shaded by a large oak tree.
Audrey leans against the trunk, her arms crossed over her chest. “Okay, spill. What’s so important that you dragged me outside and . . . how you think it’ll solve my boyfriend issue.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for her reaction. “I just told my parents we’re engaged,” I say, the words rushing out in a single breath.
Her mouth falls open, her eyes widening in shock. “You told them we’re what?!” she shrieks, her voice rising an octave.