Page 67 of Just Between Us

“Hey,” he says, quietly, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Hey.” My voice is thick, and it guts me that Liam is right here, so close, yet so far out of reach. I want so desperately to wrap my arms around him, to fix whatever has broken between us. But I keep my hands laced in front of me.

I open my mouth to say more, but then something strange occurs. As some of the crowd parts to let Tyler through, my attention shifts to Josie. All the color is leeched from her face, and she’s looking straight at my cousin.

Liam, also noticing, leans closer. “Is it just me or is something weird happening here?”

“Nope. Definitely not you.”

“Who’s the guy she’s looking at?”

Swallowing hard, I break my attention from whatever is happening between Josie and Tyler to look at Liam.

“That’s my cousin Tyler.”

Liam looks at me with a cocked brow. “How would they know each other?”

We turn our attention back to whatever is happening in front of us. “You think they know each other?”

Tyler and Josie both wear matching expressions, shock but also like nobody else exists around them.

“Yeah, they know each other,” Liam and I both say, almost in unison.

I laugh, and, for a second, we feel like us again.

I’m opening my mouth to say more, when a flurry of motion captures my attention. Josie starts to sway, and everyone scrambles as Tyler pushes through catching Josie right before her head hits the pavement.

“Liam, I think this is bigger than just knowing each other,” I say, flicking my eyes to him and back to my cousin, whose arms are wrapped around Josie.

I’d like to do something to help, but from the looks of things, Penny and Tyler have things under control. Josie’s eyes have opened and Tyler is helping her to her feet. It’s clear there’s nothing I can do here. I’m sure I’ll get the full story soon from either Josie or Penny. Probably not from Tyler, since he’s not much of a talker.

Liam and I watch on in silence as Josie gives instructions to Lisa about her kids and Tyler guides her to his vehicle. The whole thing is bizarre.

I feel like my emotions are walking a tightrope with all that’s happened today. Reuniting with my mom, then seeing Liam again for the first time in weeks. Austin’s proposal, and now this crazy situation between Tyler and Josie. Closing my eyes, I take a centering breath and turn to Liam.

“Can we talk soon? I might be busy with Mom in town this week, but can we find time?”

Liam angles toward me and I think I see some of my best friend return to his face. “I need you to be patient with me, but we’ll talk soon.”

Patient. I’ve been nothing but patient. Patient when he pulls back mid-conversation, and I pretend I don’t notice. Patient when he treats me like I matter, but goes quiet for weeks on end like I don’t.

But the frustration at this situation never stays. Now, knowing about Julie, I can only imagine what he carries. But why does he feel he should carry it alone?

So, I do the only thing I know to do. I meet him where he is.

Extending my pinky, I raise my brows. “Pinky swear?”

He glances at it, a slow smile forming on his face. Seeing that smile is like a ray of light pushing through the shadows of his face. His pinky hooks with mine and he says, “Pinky swear.”

With my pinky in his, I don’t dare blink, breath held as theworld around us fades half a decibel. But then Liam lifts them, bringing them to his lips. I suck in the breath I was holding when he presses his lips to my finger, my heart kicking into double time. For one suspended moment, his eyes meet mine over our joined fingers.

“I should go,” he says, but he’s still holding my pinky with his.

All I can do is nod.Stay here with me a minute longer, I want to say.

But he drops my hand and takes a step back, the moment receding around us.

He takes another step, shoving his hands into his pockets, but just as he’s turning to leave, I find my voice. “Liam?”