Page 80 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

“Do you get what I’m saying?” he asked, hoping the shortened version of his life made sense to her.

With a slight nod, she eased down from her bar stool, causing him to move out of her way. “Yeah, I get it. You’re trying to prove to me that you don’t do relationships, and I see why, but at this point, I’d think you’d want to take back control. You say you wanted it, that’s why you left, but you’re just as hell-bent on leaving now.”

Was he? He was so damn confused. He wanted it all. He wanted Magnolias, he wanted Macy, he wanted to help his family and push forward with the success that was Chelsea’s dream.

“I was given the opportunity to buy Magnolias,” he told her. “It’s the move I’ve always wanted to make.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, Macy glanced down to her lap, then back up. “Then you should go. If that’s what will make you happy. You knew you wouldn’t be staying here, so . . . yeah. You should go and live your dream.”

That was it? She thought he should take this chance?

Liam eased back and blew out a breath. “I haven’t fully decided yet. I told Braxton and Zach, but Cora and Sophie don’t know.”

With a shrug, Macy brought her eyes up to his. A soft smile formed around her mouth. “This is what you’ve worked so hard for. If you’re waiting for a blessing from me, you have it.”

She kept her voice so steady, her eyes never wavering. He wasn’t sure what to say at this point. He’d expected . . . what? Did he want h

er to beg him to stay? Maybe. But at the same time, being passive-aggressive wasn’t his style, either.

“Something is holding you back or you would’ve left by now,” she added. Resting her elbow on the bar, she propped her head up on her fist. “You’re torn over the resort, right? What Chelsea would think?”

That wasn’t the only female he was concerned about.

“Honestly, I think she’d tell me to follow my dream.” Too damn bad that lately his dreams had become hazy and he couldn’t see them so clearly anymore. “Working at Magnolias for years only made me want more. I would leave every night knowing that one day I’d have—”

The cry booming through the baby monitor on the counter scared the hell out of him. That was definitely a noise he wasn’t used to.

Macy jerked up from her seat. Liam spun around as she rushed by him. He debated for a half second if he should follow her, but he remained in the kitchen. Her soft murmurs filled the quiet space as the monitor picked up everything. The baby’s cries calmed and Macy continued to speak in a soothing way. Then she began to sing and Liam had an instant flashback of his own mother singing to him.

Macy brought on so many conflicted emotions inside him. Was it any wonder he couldn’t get a grip on anything in his own life lately?

Here he’d been feeling sorry for himself, ruminating and obsessing on what the hell he should do, when there was a little girl whose entire life had just been ripped apart. Not only that, but he’d only added to Macy’s stress.

“I need to settle her back in bed.” Macy stood at the end of the hallway, the little girl wrapped in her arms. Poor thing still clutched her stuffed animal. “Just set the alarm on your way out.”

And just like that, he’d been dismissed. Yes, she had more pressing matters, but she hadn’t asked him to wait this time. Hadn’t said they could talk later. Clearly their conversation, half-assed as it was, had come to an end.

There were so many other things he could be doing besides getting in Macy’s way. He ended up cleaning her kitchen, wrapping up her breakfast, and putting the food for the party in her fridge. Once all was said and done, he was exhausted considering he’d started at Bella Vous at six that morning.

He started to leave her a note on the rolls, but opted not to. What would he say? He knew exactly where she stood. He’d seen the hurt in her eyes when she’d told him he should go. There had been pain, and Liam didn’t think he was too far off the mark in believing she was falling for him.

But she wasn’t about to ask him to stay. Why did he have to find her damn pride so attractive?

Her entire life, Macy had put the needs of others first. When her mother passed, she’d stayed at the store—though that had also been a defense mechanism. Then she’d been so assertive with her fostering, even if that meant putting her personal life on hold.

One thing was for certain. Macy may have dismissed him, but he sure as hell wasn’t done with her, no matter what he decided to do. If he did leave, then he’d damn well attempt to smooth things over with her. He couldn’t live with himself if he just let this pain fester between them.

Chapter Eighteen

“I think she liked the park.”

Macy turned onto her street, glancing in the rearview mirror at Lucy, who still held tight to her toy puppy. The blond curls were a little more tamed today. After a rough night, Macy knew the little one needed something fun. And taking her to the park was the perfect distraction to get Macy’s father out of the way, too.

Thankfully there were reinforcements at her house getting things set up. Macy didn’t know what she’d do if it weren’t for all her friends.

“Lucy’s lucky to have someone like you,” her father commented. “I’m proud of you, Macy. For fostering, for opening your home and your heart. Your mother would be proud, too.”

Macy’s throat clogged. This was definitely one of the many times in life when she missed her mother. On countless occasions Macy would need motherly advice, or just some girl talk, but her poor father had to fill the void.

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