Page 71 of Falling for Love

I snorted, covering my mouth with my hand. “Tragic.”

“Right?” he said, grinning. “Then there was college. I dated a girl who only wanted to talk about her cat. Don’t get me wrong, the cat was great, but—”

“But you were competing with a feline,” I finished for him, laughing.

“Exactly,” he said, shaking his head. “And then there were a few other near-misses. None of them stuck.”

“Why do I feel like there’s more to this story?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He shrugged, his grin softening. “Honestly? I think I was waiting for the right person.”

The sincerity in his voice made my breath hitch. “And you think you’ve found her?”

He tilted his head, his gaze locked on mine. “Maybe.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like I was teetering on the edge of something big.

“That’s a bold statement.”

“You asked,” he said, his grin returning. “What about you? Any love mishaps for you?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “None worth mentioning.”

“Oh, come on,” he said, leaning closer. “You can’t leave me hanging like that.”

I hesitated, the weight of my past threatening to creep in. But then I saw the way he looked at me, so open and patient that I found myself relaxing.

“Let’s put it this way. I had the wrong version of love in my mind. I know better now.”

“Fair enough,” he said, nodding. “But for the record, I don’t see you as the type to settle for anything less than amazing.”

“Is that so?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “And you’re pretty sure you’re amazing?”

“Absolutely.”

What I appreciated about Liam was right here. He didn’t press. He gave me time to explain things on my terms in my time. There was no real pressure.

The words hung between us, heavy with meaning, and I found myself smiling despite the flutter of nerves in my chest.

“You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And yet, here you are,” he said, grinning. “Still putting up with me.”

“Barely,” I teased, though my tone lacked any real bite. “Do you think that will ever get old?”

“You thinking I’m impossible?” His eyes stayed on mine, and I nodded. “No. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to think I’m a real possibility.”

The sound of Hayden stirring again broke the moment, and I glanced toward his room. “I should check on him.”

Liam nodded, his smile softening. “I should probably head out anyway. But… I’m glad I stayed tonight.”

“Me too.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

He stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine for just a moment before he turned toward the door.

“Goodnight, Evie.”

“Goodnight, Liam,” I said, watching him go, my heart full and light all at once.

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