Chapter 54
LONDON
Ihad not expected him to say that. The words echoed through my mind, also hitting me harder than I’d have expected them to, even if I had thought I would ever hear him say anything of the sort out loud.
No, London. Being back with you. That’s what feels like home to me.
I covered the moment with a smirk and a jab, but inside, I was feeling all the feels and I had no idea what to do with them right now. “Wow. Did you steal that line from a Hallmark movie or is it your own?”
He chuckled, raking a hand through his dark hair and giving me a one-shouldered shrug. “Nah. I’m pretty sure it was on a billboard about emotional growth and hot guys named Liam.”
My eyes widened. “Emotional growth? Boy, you know exactly what to say to make women all hot and bothered, don’t you?”
“Yep. I also like listening, long walks on a moonlit beach, and giving foot massages.” He pumped his eyebrows at me, then got drawn into conversation with Cody when he dropped back into his chair.
Meanwhile, I was reeling. I couldn’t tell if he’d even been serious, but it sure felt like he’d meant it. Being with me feels like home to him? Well, I’ll be damned.
A strange tingle sped through me and my lips curled into a smile that wouldn’t quit. He hadn’t said it in so many words, but Liam Jones had missed me too.
While we played the game, I felt his knee bump against mine like it was second nature, our feet brushing together occasionally too.
I looked around the table to see if anyone else had noticed anything between us, but the only thing I saw was the chaos of a family game night when everyone around the table had a competitive streak about two miles wide.
There was yelling and laughing, accusations flying and constant attempts at bribery. Olivia winked when she met my gaze, though. She smiled and gave a pointed look at the tiny space between Liam’s elbow and mine.
I felt my cheeks flush, but I returned her smile, too in my feels to care about being caught sitting too close to him. As he started building another railroad, he suddenly turned to look at me. “Try not to fall in love of me while I win this round.”
“Don’t worry,” I said glibly. “Your bluffing face is a total turnoff.”
“So you’re saying I have a shot?” He grinned. “Good to know.”
I tried not to laugh, but I failed and that only made it worse. Liam went back to making his move, but it was like the energy between us had shifted.
This wasn’t just flirting or banter anymore. It was comfort. Safety. A familiarity I wasn’t ready to lose, but was also completely terrified to need.
Every time he glanced at me, those hazel eyes seemed softer, happier, than they had just a moment ago. It had been a long time since I’d seen him so totally relaxed and in his element, and of course, that gave me the warm and fuzzies in a whole different way.
Because I truly loved how natural it had always been to have him around. He’d always belonged in our family, with or without me, but now, I was starting to wonder if that was because it had always been right. If he and I had always been meant to end up together.
A lot of people thought that. I would venture a guess that at least half—if not more—of the people around this table held the opinion that Liam and I would eventually get married. For the first time ever, that didn’t scare or piss me off as much as it always had.
“Congratulations,” I said when he’d finally finished his turn. “You’ve just built the world’s longest, most pointless detour. Did you really think that you’d win by building a transcontinental disaster one card at a time?”
He laughed but watched carefully as I took my own turn. Once I was done, he arched his eyebrows at me. “Well, at least I’m not blocking like I’m playing Defense against the Dark Arts instead. What the hell, Walker?”
I grinned. “Nah. All you’re doing is giving scenic tours on how to lose?”
Cody roared with laughter beside him and clapped Liam on the shoulder. “I hate to say it, bro, but she’s not wrong. Watching your gameplay tonight is a better horror story than anything I can find on TV right now.”
Liam groaned. “What happened to having my back?”
Cody shrugged. “What happened to you being good at this game?”
“I am good at this game. Strategy only works if you’re not playing against someone whose only strategy is to block you, though.”
I sniffed. “That’s not my only strategy, but your longest route is still shorter than your list of excuses.”
He chuckled and glanced at the board. “Meanwhile, there you are, playing Ticket to Roam Around Aimlessly while the rest of us are trying to play Ticket to Ride. Seriously, you’re not building routes.
It’s like you’re just sending the poor passengers on your trains out in the world so you can all be surprised together when you see where they end up. ”
“At least my railroads aren’t being built so slowly that it’s like the builders are constantly stuck in a snowstorm.”
Wyatt laughed, glancing between the two of us before he looked at Olivia. “Is it just me, or are they going at each other harder than usual?”
“Maybe it’s just because they haven’t gone at it hard enough in other ways,” Cody joked happily.
Olivia shrugged, but I saw the amusement twinkling in her eyes. “Maybe we should move on to the next game. Anybody up for Monopoly?”
A series of groans rang out around the table, but Charlie finally decided to bring out a deck of cards instead. While we packed up the Ticket to Ride board, Mason, the second eldest Anderson behind Charlie, turned to look at both Liam and me.
“All roasting being done for right now, how have you guys been holding up in Florida? We keep waiting to hear the news that you’re headed home, but nothing yet?”
“Nothing yet,” I confirmed as I leaned back against my chair, but pressed my thigh against the warm, denim-clad length of Liam’s.
I can’t help it. I might have a real problem here.
“It’s been good, though,” Liam replied and I heard the sincerity in his tone.
When these guys weren’t ribbing each other, they’d all become good friends and it showed in moments like these.
“The branch is off to a great start and we’re in the process of getting all the right asses in all the right seats.
So far, our team is meshing perfectly and the clients are loving all our initial draft campaigns. ”
“That’s great, man.” Mason grinned. “We do miss having you around, though. More hands make lighter work.”
Liam chuckled. “Only hands that know what they’re doing. I felt like I was more hindrance than help sometimes, but I miss being out here more often too.”
“Maybe you guys should come visit a little more regularly,” Olivia suggested with a hopeful spark in her eyes. “You’re always welcome to stay with us, even if I know you both have your own places here.”
“What’s happening with that?” Wyatt asked suddenly. “You both keeping your houses or what?”
“For now, yes,” I said, then cleared my throat. “Well, I am, anyway. I love my house, and if we do move back in a couple months, there’s nowhere else I’d rather live.”
For a moment, I wondered if he was going to tell them that I’d secretly named it London World. He glanced at me, and I knew he was thinking about that too, but instead of outing me, he simply shrugged at Wyatt.
“My friends live in my house, so that’s not going anywhere at least until they do. Besides, it’s a good investment either way. I’m not letting it go unless eventually I have to.”
“Fair enough.” Colt picked up his beer and raised it toward us. “Here’s to having you back and a lot more visits in the future.”
He focused on me before pointedly turning to Abi. “Especially from you two. Liv is always so happy when her sisters are around.”
Olivia picked up a crumb from her dessert plate and tossed it at him as she laughed. “I’m always so happy. There’s just a tiny bit of extra happiness when they’re here too. The family feels complete then.”
“True,” Charlie said, catching the latter end of her statement when he walked back out and tossed a pack of cards on the table. “We only need Simon now. Maybe he’ll come with you next time?”
“Maybe,” Abi said, sounding a little more uncertain than I would have liked. When she caught whatever look was on my face, she laughed. “It’s nothing like that. We’re just both really busy and I’m not sure how long it’s going to be before we’ll be able to get away at the same time.”
“The wedding,” I said immediately. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to work through your honeymoon. You can’t. I’ll come to New York myself to run the branch while you’re gone.”
She chuckled. “Thanks, but we’re actually planning for that already.
We should be fine. If we do end up needing any help though, I’ll let you know.
It’s more a case of advance notice. That’s why he couldn’t be here this weekend.
Plus, it was supposed to be sister time.
I’m not sure what the rest of you are doing here. ”
All the guys around the table burst out laughing and I smiled. “It’s because some of them can’t stay away.”
While the others protested loudly and offered excuses like, “Hey, I live here,” Liam bent his head closer to mine. “I’m not going to argue with that.”
Once again, I felt my insides turn to molten goo at his words.
That silver tongue of his sure was working his magic on me tonight and I wasn’t mad about it.
I just didn’t really know how to respond.
Just this afternoon, I’d been telling my sisters that maybe I should try to back off one more time, but now?
I exhaled a long breath, but Charlie saved me from having to respond when he suddenly stood up again. “I think maybe the games part of the night should be over. This is nice, just talking without everyone constantly at each other’s throats. What do you guys say we move to the fire?”
“Sounds good to me,” Liam said, but he didn’t stand up until I did.
In the end, we rose together with the others following us to the fire pit.
Charlie had kept the flames going all night, but he tossed a few more logs onto it.
Liam moved closer to help him and I watched them work together, wondering if they already felt like family—because they sure as hell acted like they did.
Which begged the question, was I the only one still resisting the inevitability of Liam and me? And if so, how long could I keep it up? How long should I? And why was I even doing it anymore at all when I was starting to realize he was everything I never knew I wanted?