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He’d turned toward me. I could feel the heat of his gaze searing my profile, but I kept my focus locked on the sunset reflecting in the water.
“No, it can’t, Liam. We have kids. Responsibilities. Work. Any of that sound familiar?”
“Yes, those are all big parts of our lives. So? That doesn’t mean we can’t reach third base on a park bench anymore.”
I let out a sarcastic snort. “Yes, it does. We’re old now—”
“Speak for yourself, grandma. I’m only thirty-five.” He snagged a twig from the grass and tossed it into my lap.
My smile dimmed, along with the joy that had been floating through me. “I’m serious. We have to be responsible.”
Life was about more than just the two of us now. We were cradling the well-being of two incredible boys in the palms of our hands. We could not drop them.
“We can be responsible, good parents and have fun too. Imagine bringing them with us down here. Or taking them to the beach. To the mountains. Heck, to the Grand Canyon. Wherever they wanted. We could do it together. It could be better.”
“How?” My throat had suddenly gone dry as I choked back the fear and emotion threatening to spill out all over us and this beautiful place.
Liam shifted his whole body so he was facing me, reaching for me. He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed, probably trying to ensure I wouldn’t run off.
“By working at it. Every day. We could make it work this time. I’ll do better.”
Even if he could, he hadn’t ruined our marriage all on his own. In the end, I’d just given up. I’d accepted that it was over before it truly was. I’d buried it while it was still alive.
“We’re going to fight.” He tugged on my hand. “And it’s going to be hard. I know that. But it would be us. You and me again. Will you do something for me?” he asked, his dark eyes so full of hope it was impossible to say no.
I dipped my chin in silent agreement.
“Take a moment to picture a future where we’re together. You and me. Every day for…well, forever.”
I picture it daily. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to shout it. I picture you and me, living life side by side until we’re old and gray with grandkids running around and happiness overflowing in our house.
“I-I.” I inhaled a deep breath, my heart twisting itself into knots. “You can’t just say stuff like that.”
“Why not?” He stood, his voice loud enough to send a small animal nearby skittering into the brush.
“It confuses me.” I stood too, dusting off the back of my skirt, then crossing my arms to shield myself from the pain I knew was coming.
Liam paced along the creek, raking a hand through his hair. “You know what confuses me?” He stopped and turned back to me, hands fisted at his sides. “How we both know that you and I are inevitable, and yet here we are, pretending like we can keep going like this without it imploding on us.”
It already was imploding on us. And this time, I didn’t think the remaining pieces of my heart could be put back together.
“We got a divorce, Liam. We can’t just ignore that. Who’s to say we won’t end up right back where we were seven years ago? One of us has to think about more than just the two of us.”
He ran a hand through his hair again and scowled up at the sky. “Why haven’t you changed your last name?”
My mouth fell open and my stomach sank. “What?” I stomped my foot. “That is not what we’re discussing here.”
He took a step closer, a fire in his eyes and that cocky smirk tipping up one side of his lips. That stupid smirk that told me he knew all my secrets. “Go on. Tell me why.”
“Because I’m…lazy.”
“You’re the least lazy person I know.”
“Because I hate the DMV?”
He stepped up close and angled in, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear. “Try again.”
I swallowed past the lump of emotion that had lodged in my throat. The one I’d kept locked up tight for nearly seven years.
