Page 12 of Liam

“I know, son.”

I hung up, frustrated by him, Linc, and the whole situation.

“I should’ve called you,” Linc says now. “I was walking into a meeting, and?—”

“I don’t really care,” I cut in. I’m sure he has his excuses, but a simple “call Liam and tell him” would’ve sufficed. Either way, I can’t hold on to my resentment forever. Because here’s the thing: Linc would swear up and down that he knows everything about me. But he doesn’t know about my history with Adelaide, and he sure as hell wouldn’t understand it even if he did.

Hell,Idon’t even understand it.

I don’t understand how, after everything she’s done to me, there’s still a part of me that wants to protect her. It had always been that way, even when we were kids. She’d always been so small, all skin and bones, and her eyes… Her eyes held the type of darkness that made you afraid to explore their depth. But then she’d smile or laugh, and that darkness gave way to this extraordinary light that was so few and far between that, sometimes, I wondered if I’d imagined it.

I probably did.

I never told Linc about finding her that first night, never told himwhypeople started talking shit—to andaboutme—the very next day.

For years, Linc was there for me through the constant name-calling that came with an occasional side of beatings from her friend, Helmet, and his buddies, but Linc never actually knewwhy.

It wasn’t until the day before high school, when the cops came knocking on our door, that he started asking questions. And even then…

All I ever did was protect Adelaide Baker.

A lot of fucking good that did.

6

Addie

I should’ve taken up Dayna’s offer to come home for the weekend, but it didn’t feel right to bail on Roman after only a week. Not that I planned to disappear forever, but the temptation to stay would’ve been there, and I didn’t want to risk it. Now it’s Saturday, and I find myself slow-strolling up the long-ass driveway toward the Preston cabin, because there’s nothing else to do. After the first two days of work, and Roman having to come home on his morning break to pick me up, I told him not to bother. That I could find my own way. His apartment wasn’t all that far from the Preston property, so I could walk. Besides, I needed the exercise. I didn’t want to become completely stagnant over the summer break.

I’ve spent the past few days in the cabin alone, with only my phone to keep me sane. It’s a complete contrast to my life back home. Even without the boys around, there was always something to do. Something to keep my hands and mind busy.

I’m antsy, bored, and constantly on the verge of giving up on this little charade.

And, admittedly, I may be a little homesick.

From what I can tell, no one else has stepped foot in the cabin while I’ve been there, and I expect it to be the same when I unlock the door.

It’s not.

I freeze the second I step inside and notice the twins sitting on the couch, their camera equipment set up in front of them. Liam looks away, but Lincoln… Lincoln’s smile is huge as he stands up and approaches me, his arms wide open. “Addie!” he greets.

Before I can protest, I’m locked in his embrace, and—surprisingly—I don’t want to push him away. Liam stays on the couch, unmoving, unwavering from his clear and unwarranted hatred toward me.

Idiot.

Lincoln pulls away, saying, “It’s good to have you back!”

Is it though? Because I swear, I can’t recall ever speaking to Lincoln in my life. “Thanks. It’s good to see you, too,” I say, continuing the ridiculous facade.

“You’re working on a Saturday?” he asks.

I shrug. “My brother’s at work, so I figured I may as well get as much done as possible.”

“My dad’s crew doesn’t work Saturdays.”

“Yeah, he’s working at an auto shop today,” I inform. A detail I just recently discovered. My brother works two jobs, six days a week, and I haven’t had the nerve to ask why.

“Right on.” Lincoln nods his approval, as if I needed it, and I glance toward Liam, who’s gone from passive to outright glaring.

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