Page 41 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

I couldn’t understand what was going through his head. Lena was intune with all of Brandon’s little worries and thoughts. I only knew how to do fun stuff with him. As I pondered how to figure it out, Brandon wiped a tear and my heart ached. How was I going to handle this? I didn’t even know how to figure out what was going through his little head.

“Brandon,” Alexander’s voice was soft, and both our heads turned in his direction. “Do you like Livy’s friend?” he asked, and my eyes snapped to his although all his focus was on Brandon.

Brandon shook his head.

“Why?” he asked softly.

“Mom said he hurt Livy,” he answered, his lip quivering. “He could take her away from us.”

“What?” None of this made any sense.

Brandon looked at me. “I heard Mommy tell Daddy that if you marry Callen, you’ll move away from us.”

He must have misunderstood something. Callen and I ended our relationship on the day we were supposed to be married and Brandon was still a baby, barely a year old.

“Sweetie, I’m not going anywhere,” I spoke softly to him. “I think Callen might be married already. He has a little boy, a little bit younger than you.”

He searched my face, as if to ensure himself I was telling him the truth. Finally, he nodded.

“Ok, finish up your hot chocolate or I’ll drink it all,” I teased him, although my heart felt heavy.

He quickly grabbed his drink and started drinking it, unaware of the struggles going on inside my head. Each second that ticked by, the overwhelming feeling of suffocation and panic rose inside of me. I tried to focus on the moment, but couldn’t shake off fears and panic.

“I’m done,” Brandon announced and I smiled despite my internal uneasiness.

“Come here,” I told him and he came over with a wide smile. I wiped chocolate off his face with a napkin. “We’ll have to watch how much chocolate we consume, baby.”

He nodded and gave me a big hug.

“Alexander, want to see my toys?” he asked him. “They were from-”

He cut himself off, sadness overwhelming his face and I felt a lump in my throat. How could I comfort him when I was falling apart myself? All our family was gone, and we only had each other. Brandon deserved more than me. I bit hard inside my cheek, preventing sobs from leaving my lips.

“I would love to see your toys,” Alexander spoke. “Will you show me?”

Brandon's face lit up and he pulled him by his hand as he stormed back into the living room, pulling Alexander behind him to show him his toys.

The lump in my throat choked me, like someone had their hands around it and the tears threatened to spill at any moment. I didn’t want them to see me like this. I rushed into the pantry, softly pulling the door behind me. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore and they spilled down my face as I leaned against the wall and slid down onto the floor, my heart breaking. I was drowning and there was nobody left to hang on to. In silent sobs, I cried for my mother, Lena, and Larry, worrying about Brandon. I covered my face, every fiber of me shaking. I was scared, my heart broken. How was I going to do this?

“Livy,” Alexander’s voice startled me. I didn’t even hear the pantry door opening. I looked up into those mesmerizing blue eyes as he knelt down next to me.

I started crying harder, pushing my face into his hard chest. I didn’t want him to see me so vulnerable, so weak. But I couldn’t stop. I was hurting and I didn’t know how to make it better.

“Shhh.” His big arms wrapped around me, his hand rubbing my back, soothing me.

Life was strange. The man I called iceman only a few weeks ago was now comforting me, and I didn’t want anyone else here with me right now. Not unless it could be Lena or my mother. My heart ached with physical pain from the loss and fear.

“I’m scared,” shaky words escaped my lips.

“It will be okay,” he murmured into my hair as I continued sobbing into his chest, soaking his expensive shirt.

I shook my head in his chest. “Everybody is dying.” My voice was muffled against his chest. “They are all leaving.”

“We are here.” His voice was strong and warm. “Brandon is here.”

It hurt so bad, and I didn’t know how to make it better. I wrapped my arms around his waist, soaking up all his strength. I needed it right now. I was so lost and weak.

“I don’t know what to do or how to do this.”

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