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Liam blinked. “I didn’t see any dessert at your place.”
“Oh God.” I fell back in my seat and wrapped my arms around my stomach. “I forgot. I got dressed then I…I sat down on the couch and googled how to tell a person unpleasant news…”
“Our child is not unpleasant news.”
“Then afterward you came and I—” I turned to him. “I didn’t get dessert, Liam!”
“It’s just dessert. I’m sure Thomas won’t mind.”
“No, it’s not just dessert! It’s tradition. The way things have always been.” My heart raced so fast I had to pull in slow, deep breaths. “If I don’t have it, he’ll know something is up.”
“Well, something is up.”
“Oh geez. This is going to be a disaster. We have to turn around. We need to go back and get something, anything.”
“Ava, no. Look at me.” When I didn’t comply, he cupped my cheek. Then he turned my head so my gaze was on his. “Your dad won’t get mad over forgetting dessert, I promise.”
I gulped. “You’re sure?”
“Very.” The line between his brows was at war with the smile on his lips. “It’s all good, okay?”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” His thumb ran over my cheek softly. “We’ll get through this tonight.”
I closed my eyes and absorbed his words and his touch. His presence calmed me. For what it was worth, I was glad I wasn’t doing this alone.
“Ready?”
I blinked open and nodded.
Dad met us at the door with a wide smile. “Peanut!” He swept me into a hug and squeezed. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, Dad.”
He let go and faced his friend. “Liam, you made it.”
A sensation crowded my gut. Would Dad suspect something was up since Liam and I had shown up together?
My eyes snapped to his face. His smile was in place and genuine, with no suspicion in his eyes.
“Come in, you two. Dinner’s ready.”
Dad disappeared into the house. Liam and I shared a look before following after him.
We stood in the foyer, eyes still on each other. Dad went on speaking, but neither of us listened. I, for sure, knew I didn’t hear a word.
All I could hear was my heartbeat and the ticking clock. Dad would soon discover the truth. And I was going to be the one to tell him.
It had to be done.
I grabbed my scarf, but my hands fumbled around it, tangling it.
“Should I help?”
My eyes shot to Liam. “No.”
Dad was in the kitchen, but his booming voice carried over to us. If he saw us touching…
