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“Well, we were, but last night my friend had a party, and my sitter…” I take a breath. “I didn’t stay there last night. My ankle is feeling much better.” Heck, it was feeling better ages ago, but they don’t need to know that, nor do they need to know Liam stayed at my place with me, and I might have fallen a little more in love with him.
“Girls, what did I tell you about interrogating our guests?” his dad, Ben, says with a laugh.
“We’re not interrogating,” Tanya says, and gives a little dismissive wave with her hands. “We’re just getting to know Liam’s girlfriend, is all.”
“I’m not his girlfriend,” I say. Why the heck are they not listening to me?
His mother, Sandra, with the same dark eyes as Liam, leans across the table and puts her hand on mine. “Of course you’re not, dear.” I glance at her, and even though she’s agreeing with me, there’s a look of disbelief in her eyes. “So, what do you do, Harper?”
Now that we’re on a more comfortable topic, I say, “I work at Petco, and I have a dog walking service.” I laugh quietly as I think back to when Liam helped me and got all tangled up in the leashes. “I’m hoping to someday open my own business.”
“Ohmigod you’re perfect,” Bethany says, and I glance at her, not knowing what she means.
“Perfect?”
Just then the guys all finish playing, and come back to the table and Ben announces that the steaks are ready. Liam glances around the table and points to his sisters, one by one. “You girls had better not be making up lies about me.”
“We weren’t,” Tanya says. “Getting to know Harper was much more interesting than talking about you.”
“What’s to tell, anyway? You were a book worm, and rarely came out of your room.”
“Where’s the love?” he says with a laugh. “And I never came out of my room because you three tortured me.” He glances at me. “They dressed me up. Even put makeup on me. We didn’t need a pet.” He pokes his chest. “I was the pet.”
* * *
As everyone laughs, and totally agrees with him, Jax starts fussing in Bethany’s arms. She hands her son to Liam. “Hold him for a minute, will you. I have to go make up his bottle.” Liam takes him into his arms and when he smiles down at him, my damn ovaries clench.
“Who’s your favorite uncle?” he asks him, and he coos as he wraps his small fingers around Liam’s.
“You’re my favorite uncle,” Robyne says, and turns to Gavin. “Is Uncle Liam your uncle or your Daddy?”
A groan catches in my throat, and I quickly say, “No he’s not Gavin’s uncle or daddy.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, Liam’s gaze jerks to mine. “He’s Gavin’s big brother, of sorts. What that means is that Liam hangs out with him.”
“Where’s Gavin’s daddy?” she asks, and a sweat breaks out on my body. God, I do not want to get into my personal life with Liam’s family.
Gavin blinks up at me. “Mommy, where’s my daddy?”
“If he doesn’t have a daddy, then Uncle Liam can be his daddy.” Robyne puts one hand on her hip and has a look on her face like she just solved all the world’s biggest problems.
Liam’s mom reaches for Robyne’s hand. “Sweetie, why don’t you come and sit next to me?” Robyne smiles and hops away, and I take Gavin’s hand.
“Do you want to sit by me?” He looks like he’s about to press the daddy issue and I say, “I think they have soda pop.” His eyes go wide, and I meet Liam’s glance and wince. Great parenting moment, I know.
“Nice save,” he says quietly, but there’s something in his eyes, a sadness of sorts.
Bethany comes back out and after missing that very awkward moment, puts her hand on her brother’s arm and says, “Look how good you are with him. When are you going to get married and give us a niece or nephew to spoil?”
Liam hands Jax back. “Don’t start with that,” he says and glances at me. “Three sisters and not one brother. What did I ever do to deserve that?” he asks, and the mood around the table lightens.
We all sit down to eat, and the food is delicious, conversation is fun and light and we all laugh over childhood stories and there is so much love at the table, it overflows in my heart. Beneath the table, I give Liam’s leg a squeeze and smile at him when he looks my way. Once the meal is done, I sit back in my chair, sure I’ve never been so full in my life.
“So, what do you say, Gavin? Want to see my room?”
Gavin nods, and Tanya puts both hands on the table, palms down. “Up to your old tricks again, I see.”
A goofy grin crosses his face when he says, “What?”
She glares at him, then turns to me. “This is what we call pulling a Liam.”
