Page 126 of Falling for Love

“Still,” he pressed, straightening up. “Let me do something to say thank you. What if I brought dinner over tonight? A surprise for you and Hayden?”

My heart did a little somersault, which was as disorienting as it was ridiculous. Dinner with Liam sounded like the kind of thing that could make a regular Tuesday feel like a fairytale, but it also sent my brain into overdrive.

“I don’t—” I started, but my words faltered as Liam’s eyes locked on mine. They held a mix of humor and sincerity, making it hard to form a coherent thought. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to,” he said, his voice dropping a notch. “I want to. I like spending time with you, Evie. And I’d like to get to know Hayden better ,too. And you know, I like to see my girlfriend now and again.”

There it was again—that warmth, that sincerity that made it impossible to hide behind my usual walls. But along with it came a pang of worry. Dinner? At my house? With Liam? That felt... serious. Too serious.

But then, the thought hit me as clear as day.

You already slept with him, Evie. You’re in too deep already.

I bit back a laugh, a mix of nerves and humor mixing inside me. When my eyes met his again, the corners of his mouth curved into a soft smile, like he could sense the whirlwind of thoughts running through my head.

“Okay,” I said finally, surprising even myself. “Dinner sounds nice.”

His grin widened, and I forgot how to breathe.

“Great. I’ll swing by around six. And don’t ask what I’m bringing—it’s a surprise.”

“I wouldn’t dream of asking,” I replied, shaking my head. “Just, uh... nothing too fancy.”

Liam chuckled. “Noted. I’ll keep it simple.”

He gave a wave, and I watched him go, my chest tightening with a strange mix of anticipation and nerves. This was happening. Dinner. With Liam. At my house.

I turned back to my truck, momentarily climbing in and resting my hands on the wheel before starting the engine. My mind was racing as I drove home, alternating between imagining what kind of dinner Liam would bring and panicking about the fact that I had agreed to this.

When I pulled into my driveway, I couldn’t slide the smile off my face.

As I waited for Hayden’s bus, I leaned against the porch railing, watching the familiar yellow vehicle come into view. My little boy bounded down the steps with his usual energy, waving enthusiastically as he spotted me.

“Mom!” he called out, running up the driveway. “Guess what? We learned about zebras today in class!”

I burst out laughing, the irony of the day’s events not lost on me.

“Did you now? What did you learn?”

“They can run really fast,” he said, his eyes wide with excitement. “And they’re like horses, but not really. And did you know their stripes are different for every single one?”

“Sounds like you’re an expert,” I said, ruffling his hair as we headed inside. “Maybe you can help me keep Macy in her pen next time.”

“Did she escape again?” he asked, giggling as he kicked off his shoes and darted toward the kitchen. “Can I have a snack?”

“Sure,” I said, grabbing a banana and some crackers for him.

As he settled in at the table, munching happily, I couldn’t help but smile.

This was what mattered. These quiet, ordinary moments with Hayden. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the flicker of excitement that sparked every time I thought about Liam.

I smiled and started tidying up the living room, picking up a couple of Hayden’s books and a lone sock that somehow made its way onto the coffee table when movement outside the window caught my attention. Through the lace curtains, I noticed a car rolling slowly down the street, its tires crunching softly on the snow.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. Buttercup Lake wasn’t a big town, and it wasn’t unusual for cars to creep by leisurely. Maybe it was someone admiring the view or a neighbor I hadn’t seen in a while. But as the car reached the front of my house, it slowed even more. Too much to be casual.

A chill ran up my spine. I set the books on the side table and walked closer to the window, peering out for a better look. It was an older sedan, navy blue, with a dented fender. I couldn’t make out the driver through the glare on the windshield, butwhoever it was must’ve seen me because the car suddenly sped up, rolling past my driveway, and disappearing down the street.

My stomach twisted as I stood there, watching the empty road. My hand brushed against the curtain as I stepped back, my mind racing.

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