Page 138 of Liam

His eyes widen. “It’s been three years?”

Liam answers for me. “To the day. Like, he called at midnight.”

“Damn,” Roman singsongs. “He must’ve been waiting for that clock to tick over.”

I shake my head. “He told me he had a calendar alert.”

Roman’s face pinches, and he asks, clearly skeptical, “That’s what he told you, huh?”

“That’s what I said,” Liam murmurs.

I add, “He wants to meet in person.”

“Oh, yeah?” asks Roman.

“You think I should?”

“That’s not up to me, Addie.” Roman motions to Liam. “What do you think?”

Liam shrugs. “I think she should.”

“Yeah?” Roman asks.

I tell him, “He thinks I should just get it over and done with.”

“It’s notjustthat,” Liam says, shaking his head as he faces me. “I just think a part of you will always wonder what he had to say or how he’d react to whatever you have to say. And also—three years is a long time to hold in any feelings or thoughts about the whole thing, so now that you have the opportunity, I think you should.”

There isonething I’ve wanted to say, but I don’t know if I’m justified in feeling it, so I don’t know if I have the nerve to speak it out loud. I’ve even talked about it in therapy.

With a heavy sigh, I pick up my phone, send Pierson a text.

Addie

Are you free to meet up tomorrow?

He writes back almost immediately.

After reading his reply, I set my phone aside and relay what he’s said. “He wants to meet at a Dave & Busters halfway between us. His girlfriend will be there, too. He wants me to meet her.” I catch Liam’s gaze, a silent question hanging between us.

Roman’s the one who answers it. “Addie, he can’t go into a Dave & Busters. He’ll getmauled.”

“I can try,” Liam’s quick to say, but the wariness in his eyes gives him away.

I pick up my phone again. “I’ll ask if we can meet somewhere more intimate.”

“Don’t,” Roman says. “His girlfriend’s going to be there, and you know nothing about her. What if she’s a fan? What if she snaps a discreet photo of him and posts with his location just for clout?”

My shoulders drop.

Roman turns his attention to Liam. “Look, I think it’s great what you do, but your fan base iscrazy.Not necessarily in a bad way—they pay your bills, but…” He focuses on me again. “I don’t know, Addie.We weren’t here when they first took off, but I’ve heard the stories—the security gate they had to put up at the house because girls just started showing up. Or the ones who camped out on Main St. Or that one girl who got pissed at Lucy in her store because she wouldn’t call them to meet her. She threw a bunch of books into a trashcan and set it on fire.”

My eyes widen on that last one, and I look at Liam for confirmation. He nods, his lips pressed tight.

Roman continues, “You’re a grown-ass adult, and you can make your own decisions, but I, personally, don’t want that for you. Not until you’ve been together a little longer.”

“He’s right,” Liam agrees. “Julie had to move to an apartment off campus that has a doorman because someone found out where she lived.”

“Damn,” I breathe out.

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