Page 94 of Falling for Love

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and something else I couldn’t quite name.

We just stayed like that for a brief moment, the space between us heavy with unspoken words.

And then Hayden’s voice broke through from the living room.

“Mom! Liam! You have to check this out.”

Evie pulled her hand back, standing quickly.

“We’d better go join him,” she said, her voice lighter, though I could still see the worry lingering in her expression.

I nodded, standing and following her into the living room, even as my mind raced.

Whatever was going on with Evie, I wouldn’t give up.

Not on her.

Not on us.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Evie

Hayden was fast asleep on the couch, nestled into the corner with a blanket tucked under his chin. Liam had cued up one of those animated movies kids loved, but Hayden hadn’t made it more than halfway through before drifting off.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, swirling the last sip of coffee in my mug as Liam rinsed the dishes at the sink.

“Are you sure you won’t let me help?”

He shook his head and smiled, glancing over his shoulder. “Absolutely not.”

The kitchen was warm and inviting, the soft glow of the overhead lights reflecting off the polished wood cabinets. The faint scent of the pine logs burning in the fireplace mixed with the aroma of garlic and herbs from dinner made the space feel impossibly cozy.

“You’ve been quiet since dinner,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “And I don’t think it’s just because Hayden crashed. Did you want to talk about it?”

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around my mug. “It’s nothing. Really.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Evie, come on. If this was too much for you and Hayden, just say the word. I promise I won’t take it personally. But if it’s something else…something you could just use another ear on, I’m here for that, too.”

“It’s not that,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I love being here. You’ve made us feel so welcome. It’s exactly what I needed.”

His expression softened at my words, but the concern didn’t leave his eyes.

“Then what’s up? You look like you just got handed a barn full of mucking duty.”

I laughed softly at that, even though my chest felt tight.

“It’s... complicated.”

“Complicated how?” he pressed, his voice gentle but persistent.

I sighed, setting my mug down on the counter.

“Something changed. Something big. And I might need some time to figure it out

He continued watching me.

“I meant what I said earlier. It’s not you, Liam. You’ve been... amazing. Better than I ever could’ve imagined. It’s just me. My life. And everything that comes with it. What popped up in my life was an obvious reminder of why it’s not fair to drag you into my world.”

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