Page 148 of Back to Willow

“How could I tell you that your brother was the one that–”

“I know, baby,” he hushes me. “I know now. I’m sorry I was so angry at you. I had just assumed you stood me up. Then when you started ignoring me for those weeks before you disappeared, I was going crazy; I didn’t know what to think.”

“I need you to believe me, Liam. What your parents said, I...I didn’t want it. I cried and begged him to stop. I even screamed it, but he never stopped.”

His eyebrows twist in agony before his eyes shut tightly. This must be so hard to hear, but he asked me to tell him the truth and it hurts just as much to admit it. The pain was and still is unbearable. I was torn open and broken—not only physically but spiritually.

“I believe you. Always.” Then with a sigh, he continues, “My parents…they’re horrible people. My brother was and is sick, and they keep on enabling him instead of making him accountable for his actions.” His voice rises a little, showing me the annoyance of being reminded of his family.

“I’m sorry for everything. For ignoring you and then leaving.”

“I wish you would have told me back then…” he trails off, half lost in his thoughts. “You wouldn’t have gone through all of this alone. I would have believed you and been there with you every step of the way.”

I can only nod in understanding, but still…while I can’t change the past and make the right decision, I don’t know how I would have been able to face him back then either.

“It hurt, but I understand you, and I forgive you if you forgive me,” he mutters, his thumb caressing my lips. Our faces are so close I can breathe in his exhales. “And we better forgive each other because I love you so fucking much. I never stopped, and I never will.”

“Yeah?” I ask, hopeful.

“Fuck yeah,” he exclaims. “I want to try; we need a chance to have it all, and I’m not going to waste it. There’s no life for me without you and Dylan in it.”

Fresh minty breaths fan my face with a light hint of pineapple. It’s comfortable and familiar. It’s home.

“Neither am I,” I agree with him. “But what about this mess with your parents? They won’t let it go this easy.... And–” I stop myself to bring my voice down to a whisper, “We still need to pick up the paternity test.”

“Well…” He leans back, creating some distance between us, while digging something from his back pocket. “How about we deal with one thing at a time, hmm?”

With that, his hand comes back into view, between our bodies, holding a white envelope.

“Is that...” I trail off, attempting to grab it, but Liam dodges me.

“I need to say,” he chimes in, catching my attention again. “If you want to be sure, I won’t stop you. It’s your choice, and I will understand either way, but I need you to understand mine as well.”

Then, doing the unthinkable and with his eyes set on mine, he tears it in half. I gasp, attempting to grab it. He lets me grab it, but doesn’t let go, holding it between us with his eyes scorching mine in an intense stare.

“Wha–” I trail off, shocked. “How could you do that?”

“Because,” he grits, finally letting the papers go. One of his hands traces my skin, up my arm until it reaches my neck. Gently, he splays it over the nape of my neck, bringing our faces impossibly closer again. “I don’t fucking care what that DNA test says, what’s written on that paper will not define what I feel for him nor my relationship with him. I am Dylan’s father whether blood agrees with it or not.”

Tears flood my eyes, blurring my sight, and my lips and chin tremble with the wave of emotion that hits me. This man, this man right here in front of me, means everything to me, and I love him so, so much.

Without thinking twice, I lunge towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. I kiss the hell out of him because, dang, he deserves it and so much more.

“I love you.” Once again, we breathe the magic words to each other at the same time and end up chuckling.

With a naughty smirk, he holds me up and sits me down on the counter with his hips wedged between my legs. My cheeks blush violently as memories from two nights ago invade my head, mixing with the fact that I haven’t been in this position since we were sixteen and horny.

We’re just not sixteen anymore.

Liam notices and with a smirk, he kisses my cherry-reddened cheeks.

“Repeat with me,” he mutters as his hands slide up my waist. “He’s ours.”

“He’s ours,” I repeat, tasting the words in my mouth.

The heaviness of the meaning isn’t lost on me as tears start to flow freely. How can he be so calm and sure of this? How can he want to move forward without having confirmation?

“Baby, don’t cry,” he coos. “Everything’s alright.”

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