“What are you drawing?” he manages—clearly still trying to hold it together.
“This week Nellie told me to draw my people. You know… the ones I can count on.”
His throat moves up and down, and I don’t understand why until I lean forward to see the full picture.
“I’m on the last one now,” she continues.
My eyes trail over the people already drawn and labeled—Dad, Uncle Levi, Aunt Alex, Uncle Mack. Then they land on the last person in the group.
“I like her braid,” Liam says, his voice thick—broken.
I gasp, pressing my lips together, tears building as he looks at me.
“Thanks,” she says. "I'm almost done."
I watch his throat move up and down as mine does the same. And when he reaches his palm out, I leap for it.
"Ya know, Roo," he says, his eyes still on me. "I think we might have the same people."
I squeeze his hand, beaming as Ruthie's smile grows.
"You think I could add Sammy?" she asks without looking up.
The dog's head pops up at the sound of his name, and a laugh escapes all three of us—breaking the tension and grounding the moment.
"Not to mine," Liam quips, his brows high with sarcasm.
Ruthie rolls her eyes playfully, shaking her head, and Liam ruffles her hair, brushing his thumb across mine.
I glance down at Sammy, his tongue falling from his mouth exactly as it was the first time we met.
"Hey," I say, an idea coming to mind. "What do you guys think about grabbing some ice cream?"
I look up just as Ruthie springs off the couch, tossing her drawing to the side. "I'm in."
The dog wiggles off the chair to join her as she runs toward the door. I smother a laugh as my gaze trails to Liam. "What do you say, Two-Three?" I stand, and he joins me. "You down for a cone?"
He grins, wrapping his hands around my waist. "You sharing, Hastings?"
"Yeah, with the dog."
We both chuckle as I drape my arms around his neck, then Liam's face grows serious.
"What?" I ask.
He shakes his head and sighs.
"What?" I repeat, my heart rate increasing.
"I just realized," he groans. "I technically have that damn dog to thank for introducing us."
The metal clasp of Sammy's leash jingles against his collar as the door crashes open with a bang. A smile tugs at my lips, and I rise onto my tiptoes, pressing my forehead to his. I let out a slow breath—the kind that only comes when you finally feel at home.
"He led you to me, didn't he?"
Liam's eyes fall shut in mock annoyance as he pulls me closer. When he opens them, he smiles. "Turns out he was worth chasing after all."
Epilogue - Liam
