Page 29 of Forever Mine

She nodded her head yes. I couldn’t let myself even think of what this meant. I sat and watched as the girls embraced and cried. I knew Lily would have a million questions and wanted to give them space to catch up, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Maddie’s side. When they let go of each other, she sat back on my lap looking happier.

“I can’t believe you even remembered.”

“Not remember? Are you insane? Liam has to distract me every year on this day. We spent months hanging posters and looking for you after you left. Where have you been? Why didn’t you come home?”

Sadness filled her. I could feel it. “It’s okay,” I reassured her, rubbing her back.

“I’m sorry, Lil, I really can’t talk about it. It’s too hard and today was just really hard.” She looked at me and gave a small smile.

I returned with a hesitant smile. Instead of sharing her story with Lily, she instead bombarded my sister with her own questions.

“What are you doing these days? Are you living in San Marco? How have you been? I want to hear everything.”

Lily looked at me with questions still in her eyes before answering each and every one.

“Okay, I’ve answered all your questions,” Lily finally said. It was getting late and my stomach was rumbling. My leg had gone to sleep from Maddie sitting on it for so long, and I needed to stretch.

“If you two are going to yap all night long, I’m going to order pizza. I’m starving.”

“Oh no,” Maddie said, jumping up. “What time is it?”

“It’s nine o’clock,” I told her, seeing panic flash across her face.

“I have to go.”

“No,” Lily cried. “Please don’t go. We have so much to talk about and I’m afraid I’ll never see again once you leave.”

My heart hurt for both the girls, but I was afraid of the same thing. Maddie had leaned on me for comfort and support once again. Could she really just walk out of my life forever? I wasn’t sure I could just let her and Oscar go without a fight. They were worth fighting for.

“Call them,” I told her with more authority than I normally would.

She nodded without questioning me.

“Call who?” Lily mouthed while Maddie went to call Annie and check on Oscar.

When she returned, she looked relieved. She smiled and nodded. “Fast asleep.”

“It was a big day, I figured he would be.”

“Who? What are we talking about here?” Lily asked.

Maddie looked at me questioningly and I nodded reassuringly.

“Lily,” she started. “I have a son. His name is Oscar. He’s with his grandparents in our hotel room. I had promised him I’d be home in time to tuck him in, but he’s already fast asleep.”

I could see the guilt of missing bedtime written on her face. Without thinking I got up and walked to her, pulling her to my chest.

“Um, y’all want to clue me in what’s happening here? ?Cause if I didn’t know any better I’d swear you were . . .” I saw recognition flash across her face. I looked away from my sister and down at my mate in my arms as she stared up with a death look. I wasn’t going to win either situation, so I let go of Maddie and backed away slowly. The girls could hash it out. “Liam Michael Westin, you better tell me right now. What is going on?”

“Mad, what do you like on your pizza?” I asked.

“Um, pepperoni and mushrooms,” she said.

“At least no pineapple,” I joked. Pepperoni, mushroom, and pineapple was my sister Elise’s favorite pizza. It grossed us all out, but then we found out her mate, Patrick, loved it, too. Gross! I could tolerate just pepperoni and mushrooms, as long as there was no pineapple.

I was grateful to have gotten a suite where the bedroom had a door of its own. I walked in there and shut the door behind me. Madelyn could figure out what she wanted to tell Lily without me. It wasn't like I had anything to hide, except I really didn’t want my sister to know I’d found my one true mate, especially if Maddie really did walk away from me.

I ordered the pizza and cautiously headed back to them.

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