Page 108 of Feels Like Love
“No, buddy.” I gripped his biceps, waiting for him to meet my eyes. To see the sincerity there. “You’d never be alone. You have lots of people who love you.”
“That’s right.” Liam crouched down next to me. “You have me and Grandma and Grandpa.”
“And me,” I added. “But your mom isn’t going anywhere.”
“You don’t know that,” River cried, meeting my eyes with tears gathering in his own.
“You’re right.” I nodded, completely blindsided by this conversation. Though I didn’t think I would’ve ever been prepared for it. “I don’t. And while I wish I could promise you that she’ll always be okay, I can’t.”
“I know.” His expression was solemn. “Which is why I want you to be my dad.” River peered up at me, so full of innocence and love and hope.
I swallowed hard, nearly losing my balance. I could see Liam watching me out of the corner of my eye, waiting for me to respond. But I was at a loss for words.
River wanted me to be his dad?
Fuck me. My heart was thumping wildly, and I wanted to say yes so badly I ached. I wanted to be his dad. I wanted to have the chance to teach him how to cook or stand up for himself. I wanted to watch his baseball games or dance recitals or whatever and have everyone know that he belonged to me, and I belonged to him.
“Riv, you know I love you, right?”
He nodded, but he worried his lip. Just like his mom. I glanced up to find her watching us with tears in her eyes, fingers pressed to those gorgeous lips.
“I love you too, and I was just—” He was getting flustered, the tips of his ears turning pink. “I want you to be my dad. I want us to be a family.”
“I may not be related to you by blood, but I am your family,” I said. “And I willalwaysbe there for you. I promise.”
He nodded and walked into my arms, letting me comfort him.
River stayed at my side for a while, and I tried to talk about dogs to distract him. At some point, he ran off to join Savannah and the other kids. I grabbed another drink and headed outside to the backyard. The trees swayed overhead, sun dappling the grass, but the day was so tinged with sadness it might as well have been raining.
One of the guys suggested taking some pictures, and I handed Wren my phone. Our fingers brushed, and we shared a secret smile, but that was it. And it killed me—not being able to touch her. To comfort her. To seek solace in her.
She took several pictures when my phone chimed with a notification. I watched her face fall, and I rushed over.
“What’s wrong?”
Her brow furrowed. “Why do you have the LoveBirds app on your phone?”
“Didn’t you know?” Liam slung his arm around my shoulder. “Bennett has been chatting with some chick from LoveBirds. But he’s all mysterious about her. Have you met her?”
Wren looked as if she’d been slapped. And in that moment, I had to make a choice. Between my best friend and the woman I loved.
I turned to Wren. “I wasn’t cheating. I’d never, ever cheat on you.”
“Wait.” Liam paused, glancing between the two of us, confusion marring his features. “What?”
I took a deep breath and turned to him. This wasn’t how I wanted to do this, but there was no going back now. “I’m in love with your sister.”
He grabbed his hair and tugged, and I wondered if his brain was about to explode. Mine certainly felt like it was. “I thought you were dating Tits McGee? I thought you didn’t want anything serious.”
I cringed. Wren’s eyes went wide, and she turned to stare at me. They both did. “Who the heck is Tits McGee?” she hissed.
I squeezed my eyes briefly. I really,reallydid not want to get into this. It wasn’t going to help my case with Liam. But he’d left me no choice. “Remember when you texted me…”
“Oh.” Her cheeks turned red. “Why did you show himthat?”
“Oh god,” Liam groaned, covering his face with his hands. “I’m going to be sick. My sister is Tits McGee. My best friend was sexting my sister.”
I kept my attention on Wren. “It was an accident. We were texting, and he walked into my office.”
