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Gently, he eased her away and stood. “Now, what do you say to some food?”
“I’d rather have my bottle back.”
“You’re already drunk, Soph.”
She gasped. “How dare you? I resemble that remark.”
He lifted an eyebrow. She sure did.
She glared at him and although wobbly, stood up. Then, to his absolute shock, she stomped her foot demanding her bottle. He couldn’t help but laugh.
Liam stepped closer to steady her. “Come on, let’s get you some water before you declare war on the furniture.”
“Too late,” she muttered, kicking at a throw pillow on the floor. Then she scowled at it. “That thing tripped me earlier. Off with its head!”
Liam bit back a smile. “Right. Definitely the pillow’s fault.”
Sophie poked him in the chest. “You know, Liam Gallagher, you’re very bossy.” Then she patted his cheek a little harder than she probably meant to. “But that’s okay. This handsome face can boss me around anytime.”
Oh, great. Now she was flirting. Liam exhaled. It was going to be a long night. “We should get you some carbs, or you’ll wake up with a whopper of a hangover.”
“A whopper sounds good.”
Liam snorted. “The nearest Burger King is at least two hours from here. And if your uncle Henry ever caught you there, you’d never hear the end of it.”
Sophie groaned and put on a brogue Irish accent imitating her uncle. “Him and his ‘proper chips’.”
Liam laughed. “I can cook.”
Sophie perked up and stumbled behind him into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and looked over the contents. “Keefe won’t get upset if we use some of this beef, will he?”
“He’ll get over it.”
“I will?”
Sophie yelped, startled, as her brother appeared in the kitchen. “What the hell, Keefe?”
Keefe folded his arms. He’d smelled the whiskey from the front door. “Jeez, had enough to drink, sis?”
Sophie got down from her seat and made her way to the side table where Liam had laid the letter then shoved the crumpled letter at him. “Shut up and read this.”
It was then he noticed she had been crying. Keefe scanned it, his expression darkening. “What a—well, this changes nothing.” Keefe sighed, understanding now why his sister was upset. He took her in his arms, hugging her hard. “Listen, I don’t want you worrying about money. I didn’t drag you into this plan for your money. I did it to get you away from this.” He crumpled the letter tight inside his fist. “From him. I wanted to help you start fresh. I never really needed your money to do this. I just let you think I did.”
Again, her eyes burned with tears and she held her brother even tighter. “Why would you do that?”
Keefe softened his voice. “So you’d feel like you had a purpose again. I didn’t want you to feel like you were just tagging along or coming as my special case.” He pulled back but held onto her shoulders. “But most of all, I couldn’t see myself doing this without you. I need you here, Soph. I told you, I can’t do this without my big sister.”
Sophie threw her arms around him. “I love you, you big jerk.”
Keefe hugged her tight. “I love you too. It’s all going to be okay.”
Sophie sniffled, then turned to Liam, her head still on Keefe’s shoulder. “Liam?”
“Yes, love?”
She wiped her eyes. “You can keep your money.”
Keefe didn’t know what that meant but it didn’t matter. Knowing Liam, he’d probably offered her a loan. He clapped his hands together. “Now that’s settled—Liam, get the hell away from my stove. I’ll make us some food.” He turned to Sophie. “Fried cheese and a ham omelette, sis?”
