Page 18 of Keeping Score

“Clearly,” I rolled my eyes, not bothering to tell him that I wasn’t either.

It made it easier on me having two of my people in the same house. Saved money on gas that way, too.

Plopping down on one of their swivel chairs by the kitchen island, I stared at Liam as he leaned against the stove across from me.

“So?” he said.

“So?” I asked back.

“Anything you want to talk about, or is this just a random visit?”

“Geez,” I said in an exaggerated huff. “What happened to ‘stop by anytime?’”

“I’m not saying you can’t, I’m just asking—”

“Yes?”

“If you wanted to talk about anything.”

“I do.” I nodded.

“Okay—”

“With Cassie.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Happy to know I’m useless to you,” he muttered, and I did actually feel a little bad about it.

But like I said, he just wouldn’t understand where I was coming from. My issues with my dad were decidedly different than Liam’s with the same man. Because even though we had the same circumstances, it’s like we viewed the situation through entirely different lenses.

I shifted uncomfortably away from the feeling, not knowing how to tell him that. Instead, I looked around the room, letting my eyes fall on the huge collage of pictures of their family throughout the

years.

Liam and Cassie’s wedding. Their honeymoon. When Lily was born. The three of them on trips. It was like an all-encompassing testament to their love.

But I knew they were no different than any other family in the early stages of life. How did so many marriages break apart? How did so many families just like Liam and Cassie’s shatter? Didn’t the parents want to stick it out for their kids’ sake?

Would Liam and Cassie, if it got to that point?

“You love Lily a lot, huh?” I asked him, turning my attention away from the photos.

“My daughter?” He shot me an incredulous look. “Yeah, I’d say I like her a pretty good amount.”

“You’d be so sad if Cassie wouldn’t let you see her,” I remarked sadly, thinking of what Mr. Reilly was going through.

I tried to picture it. Cassie taking Lily and leaving. Ignoring Liam’s calls. Liam going out of his mind in this big house all by himself while his family was just out of reach.

“What?” Liam’s eyes widened.

“I just meant that it must be hard on dads when they can’t see their kids.”

“What the hell, Mags? What’s going on?”

“Do you think if you and Cassie got divorced that you’d be able to co-parent peacefully?”

“We wouldn’t get divorced,” he said with a resolute expression.