Page 79 of Liam

“Nah,” she says, shaking her head. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but youdorealize how amazing your family is, right?”

“I’m starting to see that,” I tell her honestly. Prior to Addie coming back into my life, I took them for granted. I’d have easily hopped in my car before daybreak and driven to nowhere, but now? I can’t imagine my life without them. “Speaking of my family.” I tap her leg. “We’re all heading back to the lake. Roman, too. You coming?”

“I can’t,” she whines, pouting. “I made plans before Benny invited me here, so…”

Right. Because unlike me, she has a whole life outside of work, and the cabin, andus. Not that we’re anus, but we’re definitely something.

I push down my disappointment and hesitate to ask, “Plans with who?”

“I’d tell you, but you might get mad.”

Helmet. I mean, I figured as much, considering he’s the only person around here she seems to have stayed in contact with. “Do you need a ride somewhere?

“No, he’s meeting me in the parking lot. Actually, he’s already here.”

I walk Addie to the parking lot, and, unfortunately for me, the rest of my family follow, carrying equipment bags and coolers and whatever dumb things they bring to these games. Wyatt’s beat-up truck is easy to spot, sitting idle, taking up two parking spots.Idiot.

I lean against the side of the minivan while the rest of the family load up their cars. Addie stops in front of me, close enough that I could reach out, grasp the back of her neck, and kiss her to the point of claiming her. I don’t. For reasons. Instead, I quickly tug on my jersey she’sstillwearing. “This suits you.”

“That’s good,” she says, smirking. “Because you’re not getting it back.”

I lift my chin, look down at her. “It’s got my name on it.”

“Oh, I know.” She runs a hand over the fabric. “It’s kind of my way of claiming you,Preston.”

My eyebrows rise, and I push off the van, stand taller. “Claiming me, huh?”

She laughs quietly. “Well, according to you, I’m no Mike Tyson, so this will have to do.”

I lean in, lower my voice. “You know… I’d be kissing you right now if literallyeveryonewasn’t here.” I pause a beat. “Helmet can fuck off. The shitmybrothers would give me—I can handle… butyourbrother? Scares the living crap out of me.”

“Yeah,” she says, rolling her eyes. “That’s the Roman Effect.” Then she pushes up on her toes and hugs me around the neck. Ihug her back. We may not be able to kiss in front of an audience, but a mere wave or lame high five sure isn’t going to cut it either.

Arms around her waist, and mouth to her ear, I tell her, “Text me when you get home.”

She pulls back, smiling from ear to ear. “Yes, sir.”

26

Liam

Whenever we’re all at the lake, my brothers like to play this game called “blind dive.” Linc and I are the only players, and the specifics of the game go like this: One of us stands at the end of the dock while the other stays a short distance away with their back turned. Twin one dives into the water however they want—backflips, cannonballs, etc. And once they’re done, the other twin takes their turn.

If I go first, nine times out of ten, Linc will replicate my actions to a T.

If he goes first, there’s a seventy-ish percent chance I’ll get it right.

When we were kids, my older brothers used to tell Lachlan we were made of magic and, for the longest time, he believed it.

I’d love to find out exactly what happened to make him realize we weren’t.

Now, I face away from the lake and wait for Lincoln to create hissplash.

The grandparents offered to take the grandkids for the night, so all the girls are at Lucy’s for what she refers to as “high tea” aka food, booze and a yap, yap, yapitty-yap.

Leo’s setting up the jet skis. Lucas, Logan and Cameron are already in the water, and Lachlan’s standing in front of me, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed, assessing my every move. He does this sometimes—tries to catch me and Linc “cheating.”

Lachy says, raising his chin, “Did you just receive Linc’s message via that fake-ass twin telepathy bullshit?”

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