Page 44 of Forever Flames: Padraig & Stevie
I shoot my twin a look. “Thank you for finally acknowledging it.”
“Aye.” Liam nods to me and continues for Connor’s sake. “Look, I’m trying but I’m so uncomfortable around her.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. I didn’t know.
“So, about Linus.” Connor’s gaze flickers. “It’s real then?”
Liam pauses before grinning from ear to ear. “Aye, it’s real.”
“Good.” Connor claps him on the shoulder. “You deserve it. You don’t need to hide who you are.”
Liam doesn’t answer. We all know what he’s thinking.
Connor’s tone softens. “Well, maybe from Da. Thing’s aren’t great.”
Instantly, a chill settles into our bones.
“How bad?” I brace for the update. It’s been a blissful few months of ignoring the issues at home.
“He barely gets out of the chair.” Connor wraps his hand around the root beer can, thumb tapping the rim. “Without the meds, pain’s unmanageable. Ma’s trying everything. Home physio. Massage. None of it’s working. He’s barely fighting anymore.”
Liam’s pacing slows. We both look at him.
Connor shakes his head sadly. “She doesn’t say it of course, but she’s scared. Really scared. I’ve hired someone to help me out so she can focus on getting him better.”
The weight of what’s happening in our family home lands heavy between us.
“She’s excited to see youse,” he reminds us. “We’ll all have breakfast tomorrow so you can spend some time with her and the wee lads. We’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
My chest seizes as the reality of the situation sets in. Connor booked the band a couple of hotel rooms as a surprise. Obviously, he doesn’t want Liam and Linus to stay at the house.
“We keep in regular touch with the boys. Tell the truth, how are they doing?” I tamp down the guilt I feel for leaving them behind.
“Coping.” Connor considers his words. “Cillian’s quiet. Apologetic for Da, for some reason. Always holed up in his room with headphones on, pretending he can’t hear the yelling. Thinks if he ignores it, it won’t touch him.”
Liam snorts softly.
“Brennan’s on his computer day and night. Also with headphones on. Hackathons, Discord. Reddit rabbit holes. None of it makes sense to anyone but him. He’s coping the way he knows how, by zoning the fuck out.”
I grimace. “And Seamus?”
“Ah, the wee one.” Connor exhales through his nose. “Too perceptive for his own good. Keeps asking medical questions no one seems to be able to answer. Why Da drinks so much. If there’s something wrong with his brain. I swear that boy is going to be a doctor or something.”
Liam runs a hand over his mouth.
I close my eyes for a beat. Our childhood house used to be alive. Full of music and laughter and bad jokes. Ever since Da’s accident, life as we knew it has imploded. It’s hard to keep up hope we’ll ever come back from this.
Connor stands. “You two staying away isn’t a mistake. He’s not even lucid enough to register any of us half the time. But Ma, she needs to see your faces. Even if it’s only for breakfast and coffee.”
“We’ll be there,” I promise.
Liam nods. “Aye, we’ll be there.”
“I’m proud of youse.” Connor grips the door handle. “You’ve got this thing taking off but don’t keep someone around whoisn’t worthy.” He points at me. “Don’t let Stevie get away.” Points to Liam. “I’m glad you’ve found someone who sees you. He seems to be the real deal.”
“He is,” he murmurs.
“One last thing,” Connor adds. “You’re in the home stretch. Finish school. Don’t roll your eyes, Liam. I’m serious. You’ve got momentum, but it’s a fickle game. One viral hit doesn’t mean stability. Get your degree. Music isn’t going anywhere.”
