Page 117 of Liam

All of us.

I pull out my phone, check for any missed calls or messages. When we left Mia’s dad’s house, Logan said it was to give them time together as a family. It’s not as if I’m expecting Addie to text me, but I don’t know. Linc hasn’t called either, which is strange. He can usually sense?—

“I called Lincoln and told him to leave you alone for now. I know you guys have that twin-telepathy bullshit, but I figured you wanted some time alone.”

I did. “I appreciate it.”

“Let’s go.”

“Nah.” I pull up the last text from Addie. It was from this morning, asking if I’d drive her somewhere. It feels like a lifetime ago. “I’m good here.”

“Well, you have no choice. Roman asked us both to go back.”

46

Addie

I slept. I don’t know how long I slept for, but it wasn’t long enough for my mind and body to recover. The first thought that flooded my mind when I opened my eyes was that I’ve revealed too much. Now, I refuse to speak.

Roman and Dayna try to get me to eat. I refuse that, too.

Roman explained where we are and what we’re doing here, and regardless of my genuine belief that Dayna is a literal angel sent from above, she didn’t just appear out of thin air when I needed her the most. Roman had called days earlier, but she wasn’t able to leave until this morning. She was already almost here when I?—

The doorbell rings, and it takes all my energy to lift my head toward the sound.

I’m sitting on the couch, Dayna beside me. Roman goes to answer the door. He’d been pacing the entire time since I’d woken up and came out here.

Liam was gone.

Because of course he was.

I don’t know how long ago that was, but it feels like another lifetime.

Soft voices filter from the front door, and a moment later, Roman returns with Logan and Liam right behind.

Liam is back.

Because of course he is.

The sweetest, kindest boy in the world.

His eyes meet mine, but I look away before he can see the things I fail to keep hidden.

“Hey, Addie,” Logan says, and my lips twitch when I attempt to smile. He sits down on the coffee table right in front of me, and I pull my knees closer to my chest, not because I’m afraid of him, but because I don’t want him to see me.

I don’t want anyone to see me like this.

I lower my head to my knees, my body tensing when I feel the couch dip beside me. A hand rests softly on my back, and the touch alone surges through my body, creates warmth in the cold, dark places where I’ve been drowning. Without meaning to, I lean into Liam’s touch. Into him. His hand moves up my back to cup my shoulder, bringing me closer.

Logan shifts forward an inch. I don’t see it; I sense it. “So… Roman asked me to come by and… see if you wanted to talk…”

I shake my head.

Logan adds, “He thought it might help if you spoke to someone who’s been through something similar.”

Immediately, my head pops up, my eyes wide. I look from Logan to Liam, asking for confirmation. I don’t want it to be true.Please, don’t let it be.Liam’s eyes drift shut, blocking me access to the ocean behind them, and then he nods. Just once.

Beside me, Dayna asks, her tone soft, gentle, “If you don’t mind me asking… how did you get through it?”

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