Page 54 of Liam

And it’s not as if I want the boy to fall head over heels for me, but I don’t want him—or anyone associated with him—to hate me the way he does. Has. Used to. Whatever.

He bought vegetarian pizza just for me.

I thought it meant something, but no. He just knows what I like because he simply asked.

I shift my gaze away from my reflection, done with the self-deprecation, and run a hand over my new dress. Thankfully, I kept the tags on the others, and I’ll be sure to return them the next chance I get. When I open the bathroom door, the chatter coming from the kitchen intensifies tenfold. I take a moment to listen in, and I picture them all there, sitting around a table full of conversation, memories, and laughter and?—

Longing blooms in my chest, and I imagine life back home, Dayna, Griffin, and the boys, and suddenly, I’m missing them more than ever.

I don’t go back to the table—not quite ready. Instead, my feet lead me back to the entrance, back to the framed photos by the staircase. It’s strange—how I spent so much of my childhood being jealous of the Prestons, and now I’m here, standing in their home, wanting nothing more than to be accepted by them.

The photographs all start the same, the siblings as newborns, and then through their younger years, where you can see theirtiny little faces form into who they are now, what makes them different from the rest. Besides the twins, of course. I focus on Liam. Even as toddlers I can tell them apart. Their hair is the same. Their noses. Their smiles. But their eyes…

I slowly climb the stairs, watching them grow with every step, until…

I check the next year’s picture, just to be sure. Then the one after, and the one after that. Then I go back to the beginning, counting the photographs, counting the years…

I stop when I get to it and sit down slowly, my legs no longer strong enough to keep me upright.

With my back against the rails, I stare at the single picture. Then stare at it some more.

Ocean-blue eyes stare back at me.

I only look away when footsteps approach. Lincoln is at the bottom of the staircase, eying me curiously, his gaze switching from me to the wall and back again. He doesn’t say a word as he ascends, and I have to shift my legs momentarily so he can pass. I watch his retreating back until he’s no longer in view.

I take one more glance at the younger version of Liam before taking out my phone from my dress pocket and pulling up the chat with Dayna and Griffin.

Addie

I miss you guys.

Dayna

We were just talking about you!

Griffin

About how much we missed you.

Dayna

How are you doing, hun?

Griffin

And Roman? How is he?

Addie

I’m good. He’s good.

Dayna

And you and Roman together?

Addie

Also good.

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