Page 16 of Versions Of Us

The other is that I’ve taken her for granted for way too long.

I’ve always known what she’s wanted, even if she’s been too scared to say it out loud.

I’m ready now.

I want to be that family that she craves.

The only question left is whether I’m worthy.

I look back over to Old Tommy. He’s hasn’t moved from his position, hunched over on the barstool, his stare still focused intently on his untouched beer.

Chapter 7

KRISTEN

Steve’s Tavern has been utterly transformed. What was once a ramshackle, dimly lit space now resembling a rustic ballroom garnished with fairy lights, wildflowers, and candles.

Liv and I had spent the early hours of the morning for the past week here converting the tavern into something Liv and EJ would remember forever. We’d had a little help from Henley with hanging the fairy lights and a few other tasks that our lack of height prevented us from being able to do easily.

The four of us stand off to the side of the bar, awaiting the rest of the guests that are due to arrive any minute now to celebrate the engagement of Olivia Petersen and Emmett Jensen.

Liv unfurls herself from EJ’s embrace, then leans into me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “I love what we’ve done with the place,” she says with a grin.

I turn my head and nod in agreement. “We are pretty amazing, aren’t we?”

“I’ll second that.” Henley comes to my other side and curls a long arm around us both. “This place is unrecognisable.”

“Well, we couldn’t have strung up all these lights without you, Alex. So, thank you,” Liv says. “And Kristen, your eye for interior design is on point, that’s for sure.”

I wave away her compliment. “No way. It was all you. You did all the research. I just threw it all together.”

“Liv, you should know better by now than to give Kristen compliments. She doesn’t know how to take them.” Henley gives me a cheeky wink before pressing his lips to my forehead.

I shove him in the chest playfully, but he catches my hand and pulls me into him, his eyes blue as the sky on a summers’ day as they bore into mine. He flashes a mischievous grin and I’m amazed how even after all this time it still sends my stomach into a flutter.

“Liv,” I hear EJ say. “People are starting to show up. I think your dad’s here.”

Liv and EJ head toward the side door where people are starting to flow in. Victor Petersen is entering the tavern, my mother and Ben filing in closely behind him.

“Are you nervous?” Henley says in a low voice.

“Why?” I respond, pulling back from him in surprise.

If I’m being honest, there is something different about the butterflies that churn in my gut and I’m suddenly not sure what he’s talking about. Is he asking me whether I’m nervous about our friends getting engaged? Or is there a reason beyond that, that he thinks might warrant a heightened state of anxiety?

“About tomorrow,” he replies. “Your first shift at the helpline. Remember?”

“Oh,” I breathe. “Right. Yeah, I’m nervous. But it will mostly be the induction and training stuff tomorrow.”

“Well, I’m proud of you, Kris. I know you’re gonna be great at it.”

The way he smiles from ear to ear is proof of his genuine happiness for me. If there’s one thing I can count on in this life, it’s for Henley to be on my side.

“I hope so,” I say, wishing I had as much confidence in myself as he does.

“And seeing as you’re not working tomorrow, maybe we can sleep in. I can make us breakfast.” His eyes drift over my face, over my neck, his gaze pensive.

“Yeah,” I say, my head angled to the side in wonder.

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