Later that evening, after my mom and Grady’s parents took all the kids for the night, it’s our usual group—my siblings, Grady, Blake, Adrian, Lexi, Lucas, and Knox.
And Liam.
It should be surprising how easily he fits into the group, but in hindsight, I should have known.
He can joke with my brothers and Grady in a distinctlybroway that doesn’t grate at me. Even earlier, when he threw both of us into the water, I had fun. Liam’s also asaintto my mother and Vivi—despite what his hot-as-sin tattoos may imply to some people.
He’s winning over my entire family in one afternoon. Something I’m certain I wouldn’t be able to do with his family.
Martha didn’t mind me when I was just a local girl who hung out with her son and his friends sometimes. If anything, my family’s reputation around town bought them some brownie points of their own around here—Stefan needed it. He wasn’t a “bad boy” like Liam, he was just entitled and arrogant. Privileged enough to not have any consequences.
None of that mattered in Martha’s eyes as soon as I moved fromfriendtogirlfriend. I was naïve to believe anything other than disdain would come from dating Stefan. The laundry list of reasons she didn’t want me with her son was endless: I had a single mom, we were from a much lower tax bracket, I didn’t want children, he had to move to Amada Beach, and on it went.
There was never acceptance of the situation, or of me. Martha fought to change me. In her head, I wasn’t anything more than putty in her hands, moldable to whatever container she needed me in. Unfortunately for her, that only worked for the first few years. Then I finally learned how to say no again.
Liam’s fingers lightly brush along my lower back, pulling me out of my thoughts. Blinking, I turn away from the fire and avoid his gaze.
Unwrapping the foil with tongs, I cut a piece of the toasted s’mores sourdough loaf. It’s been a huge hit atthe bakery, and Lexi begged Chuck to bake a couple extra loaves for me to bring.
Like I always say, that man is a sucker for the women in his life.
Glancing back, I offer a piece to Liam.
“Thanks,” he says with a handsome smile. He takes a large bite and lowly groans in appreciation.
Sliding back into my chair, I watch him openly and eat my toast. Everyone has broken off into separate conversations, giving us a little privacy.
He holds eye contact and I can see where his mind is going before he says anything.
I point at him. “Don’t say it.”
He’s apologized multiple times for dunking me, and refused to take the cash from Asher. I appreciate that.
For some reason, it was important for him to fit in with my brothers and Grady. In their aggravating, younger brothers way, I know Liam is right and it was their olive branch to him.
He closes it around another bite and grins brightly at me.
Pulling my legs into my chest, I lean closer to him and point at one of his tattoos. “I never asked about these.”
He eyes me. “You left before I could even get your name.”
“I told you I wouldn’t have shared that with you,” I remind him. “Not that night.”
He nods, understanding my reluctance more. “I would’ve told you anything you wanted,” he admits. I’m not sure if he’s being flirty or serious. Before I have to think of a response, he adds, “Like how I got this one—” he points at his skeletonrock onhand, “—when I was eighteen at Warped Tour in Pomona.”
My mouth drops open. “You went to Warped Tour out here?”
He tilts his head in curiosity. “Yeah, I spent every summer out here. But I’d meet some of my friends and take Lucas when I could.”
“I was at the same show, assuming that was, what?” I ask, knowing he’s a year older than me. One of his tattoos is a 1989 on his inner wrist, it wasn’t hard to figure out.
“It would have been about sixteen years ago,” he confirms with a sparkle in his blue eyes.
I nod. “I went to the first show in California every year after I turned sixteen.”
His eyes move over me, fitting the new pieces of information together.
“Former ballerinaandemo kid,” he muses in appreciation. “I was wondering when you played “Vacation”the other morning.”
