“Yeah, and that he isn’t sure if that’s a good thing. Nico told him to let it be because he’s getting what he wants. I thought Dad would argue with him, but he didn’t. I guess he is getting what he wants.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I guess everyone is getting what they want.”
She angles her body toward me, slipping her sandals off and pulling her legs up on the seat. “Not you?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” I regret the words as soon as I utter them. I sound like any other adult in her life. Sparing her. Not giving her credit.
I’m sounding like all the men in our lives. Jesus.
“Not you as well.” She immediately calls me on that. “Everyone always tells me I’m too young. I might not be able to give you advice, but I can listen.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know where my head is at the moment. Liam loves me.” I sigh.
She perks up. “That’s amazing. Do you love him?”
“I don’t know.”
She swats her hand, dismissing my internal turmoil. “How can you not know? Do you miss him?”
“Yes,” I admit. No hesitation.
“Do you think of him every time something good happens to you, wishing you can share it with him?”
I nod.
“And when things are hard, do you wish he was there to help you carry the load?”
Her eyes are wide, expecting my answer as if it would solve all the world’s problems.
I stall. The answer is a resounding yes, pressing against my ribs like it wants out. But it leads me in a direction that is so unfamiliar, I don’t know how to navigate it.
She wiggles her eyes, grinning as if my silence was answer enough.
I frown. “Where is this wisdom coming from?”
She gives me a coy smile. “A romance novel.” She shrugs.
“Jesus.” I bark out a laugh. This is what will decide my future?
“Don’t dismiss it. It seems like you love him, but you’re scared that you will get hurt.”
I shake my head. “Okay, Miss Life Coach. Thank you for that perspective. This is real life. It’s not that easy.”
She rolls her eyes. “It would be if you stopped complicating it.”
“Is that a quote from another novel?”
“It might be.” She slurps her drink. “I don’t know anymore. Reading is the only thing keeping me occupied in the manor of boredom.”
A jolt of guilt kicks me in my gut. “You should stay with me.”
“Because that’s less boring.” She snorts.
“I’m sorry, Tee, I just… Liam has been gone for two weeks, and I haven’t been able to figure out how our lives should look.”
“As I said, you’re complicating things.”
“I’ve been relying on myself for so long, I don’t know how to let someone else in.”
