Page 90 of A Forgotten Mistake

Liam laughs before lifting my hand up so he can kiss my fingertips. “Oh, love, I already knew that was a lie.”

I watch as he swiftly dishes up things and slides them out onto the kitchen table that’s now laden down with all kinds of food. I’m not sure why anyone else even brought anything because it pales in comparison to Liam’s buffet.

“You realize you were just supposed to make the turkey, right?” I ask.

He pulls out a fork and scoops up some crab salad over rice that he aims toward my mouth. I take a bite and realize that I never want turkey on Thanksgiving again. “Oh my god.”

“Yeah?” he asks.

“Are there cucumbers in that? Why do they work perfectly?”

“Right?”

“And the radishes? Why do radishes go with this?”

I grab the entire bowl, deciding that it’s all for me.

“Hon, you need to share the food,” Mom scolds as the others start to line up.

“I don’t want to,” I whine as she pries it out of my arms and sets it out for the others.

“Mabel, please, you go first,” Liam says, suckering my mom some more.

She hurries over to the dishes as he leans in. “I’m going to be honest, she’s the only person besides your father and sister whose name I remember.”

“Want me to go through them again?”

“Not in the slightest,” he says as he hurries over to the plate that came off the grill, maybe remembering that he never put it out.

“Tom, right?” Liam asks as he looks at my cousin. “I made this one for you.”

He hands the plate over as I realize that I really should never have mentioned that Tom was a bully.

“Ha! Ha ha, no, Liam.” I rush over as Tom takes the lid off and looks down at a horrifically burned chunk on his plate and one single green bean.

Tom stares at it as everyone in the family also turns to see what’s so interesting. “What is this?” He seems almost mystified by what he’s been presented.

“This is what I personally made you for lunch,” Liam says as Matthew gives out a snorting laugh.

“Looks delish,” Jesse comments. “Was that once a slice of turkey?”

“Itwas. Blackened to perfection,” Liam responds with a grin on his face that tells me he’s just daring Tom to say something.

“Haha, such a kidder, my Liam. So funny,” I say as I try to take the plate back from Tom who is glowering at Liam. This man really has no fucking idea that he’s like a Chihuahua staring down a lion.

Liam hands Tom a fork. “I hope you enjoy.”

“What is this?” Tom repeats, clearly not impressed.

“This is your lunch,” Liam says.

“Are you saying shit about me again?” Tom asks as he looks over at me.

“Language, Tom!” Grandma chides.

“Yes, Tom. Language,” Liam says in a way that makes me want to drag him off to the bedroom to break it in… again. Why the fuck is him defending me so hot? I really shouldn’t find this so sexy.

I take the plate and fork before raising an eyebrow at Liam.

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