Page 23 of Chase Our Forever

I’d expected her to come downstairs for breakfast this morning, but she stayed in her room. Clara and I had gone to church, and for some reason, the entire service, all I could wonder was what she was up to at the house. It seemed logical. She’s still a stranger alone in my house. But I wasn’t worried because I didn’t trust her; I worried because I hoped she wasn’t upset that we left.

I tell myself the reason I’m going out of the way to the house before going to my parents’ is because my mom won’t stop pestering me about bringing Clara’s new nanny to Sunday brunch. My mom had a point about inviting Liv. It was rude for me not to tell her about our family tradition. It only makes sense for me to run by the house before spending the rest of the afternoon there.

I’m just being polite.

I repeat that to myself over and over as I park my truck in the driveway, letting out a small sigh of relief when I see Liv’s old car still parked there. My mom offered to take Clara straight to their house after church since my daughter was distraught at the thought of missing any play time with her cousins.

Which leaves me alone to stop by the house and invite Liv.

Since it shouldn’t take long for me to tell Liv where we’ll be for the rest of the day, I leave the truck on. I open the garage andhead inside, finding the house eerily quiet. Liv isn’t anywhere on the main floor or out on the back deck, so I climb the stairs to see if she’s in her room.

I’m busy reminding myself that if her door is shut, I’ll just leave her alone and leave a note downstairs telling her where we are when she steps out of her room.

“Shit!” she shrieks, her hand flying to her chest.

“I’m sorry,” I rush out, seeing the fear in her eyes. “I should’ve probably called out or something, but I was worried you were maybe sleeping, so I came upstairs quietly and?—”

Liv shakes her head, holding her hand up to stop me from talking. Her chest still rises and falls in quick succession as she tries to regain her composure. “It’s fine. It’s your house. I was just downstairs five minutes ago getting water and knew the house was empty, so you just surprised me, that’s all.”

She takes a deep breath, trying to even out her erratic breathing.

“We were at church, and when I mentioned you were still back at the house, my mom wouldn’t stop bugging me about inviting you back to their house for Sunday brunch. It’s kind of a big deal in our family. All my brothers go, too, and I think she contemplated disowning me as her oldest son when I’d told her I hadn’t invited you.”

“That’s so nice of her,” she notes, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I’m okay with staying here so you guys can have family time. “

I don’t bother to hide my growl of displeasure. “You’ve been alone all day.”

“I’m used to being alone,” she quickly responds. I don’t know why, but her words create a dull ache in my chest. I typically prefer being alone—aside from being with Clara. But now, I’m wondering if those around me feel that same ache in their chest when I tell them I’d rather be on my own. I take too long tosay anything, so she clears her throat and rushes to get her next words out. “It’s a family thing, like you mentioned. I don’t want to intrude. But do tell your mom I appreciate her thinking of me.” She plasters a smile on her face to try and convince me she’s fine here.

I return her smile with a frown of my own, not liking her answer. “What if I saidIwant you there?” My voice is low and gravelly as I second-guess if it was the right thing to say. It’s the truth, but the way she stares wide-eyed back at me makes me wonder if I should’ve kept the thought to myself. I sigh, trying to think of a way to not sound unprofessional. “It’d be nice for you to get familiar with my family,” I rush to get out. “Plus, Clara would love to show you around the family property.”

She purses her lips as she mulls over my offer. It’s only in the silence between us that I realize she’s wearing a familiar sweatshirt,

“Find some warmer clothes?” I ask, the slightest hint of humor in my tone.

Liv’s eyes go wide as she looks down at the sweatshirt that is far too big on her. She immediately pulls at the bottom and begins to pull it up to take it off.

I reach out, grabbing her arm to stop her. “Don’t. Keep it on. It’s cold, and you need warmer clothes. I was just teasing you.”

Liv freezes as she watches me carefully. “I don’t want you to think I was trying to take it. I was just reading outside, and it was colder than I was expecting. The hoodie was hanging by the door, and I just…well, I took it.” She lets out a nervous laugh, one that makes a corner of my lip turn up.

“We have countless Livingston Real Estate hoodies at the office. Keep this on. It’s cold—plus, you’ll become my dad’s favorite if you wear it. I don’t typically wear mine unless it’s around the house.”

“I didn’t say I was going,” she counters, her cheeks a little pink from me calling out the sweatshirt.

“Don’t spend today alone, Liv. You don’t have to be alone anymore.”

I don’t know why it’s so important to me to convince her to come to Sunday brunch. SometimesIbarely want to go to Sunday brunch, but it’s important to my mom. I missed two after Selena’s death before my mom drove over here herself and forced me to attend the tradition. As much as I thought I wanted to be alone at that time, I didn’t.

Maybe that’s why I’m still standing here trying to convince Liv to attend as well. I don’t know her backstory, but without her telling me, I know it seems like life hasn’t always been kind to her.

I want her to see kindness here in Sutten. With this job. And with my family.

She sighs. “Is thisyouinviting me or just your mom?”

I can’t help but smile. She’s wittier than I was expecting. “Both.”

“Fine. But are you sure the sweatshirt is okay? If it’s yours, I can change real quick. The flannel Carmen picked out is fi?—”

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