I want to give her everything again, even though I don’t know how long it will be before she throws it back in my face.
When we arrive at the house, the kids are excited to see a new face. They demand Liz’s attention, and she ends up on the beach, playing fetch with the boys and the dog.
I watch Damien jumping around Liz’s legs, looking up at her with an adoring expression.
“I think you have competition,” Landon teases, handing me a drink with ice floating at the top. “Damien is definitely more attractive than you are.”
“I’m not arguing that.” I watch Preston throw the ball to Damien who catches it and hands it to Liz. “He’s got it as bad as his uncle.”
“So,” Landon gives me a serious look. “Is she still leaving?”
I nod, trying to ignore the pain. “She hasn’t said anything about staying.”
Landon sighs. “It doesn’t have to be the end if she leaves.”
“I know that,” I reply, “Or at least I think I do. But if I can’t make it work while we’re here together, how am I going to make it work when we’re miles apart?”
Rachel emerges from the house and takes in the scene on the beach.
“Awww,” she croons. “This is sweet.” She takes a few pictures then comes to sit with us. “Why the sad faces?” she declares. “Come on, Penny’s finally asleep. Let’s all go for a walk.”
The boys love it. We walk along the beach while they run after Scribbles, who barks joyously at all the activity.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” Liz says.
“More so in the summer,” Rachel smiles at her. “Are you nervous about opening night?”
Liz makes a face. “A little.”
“Well, judging from that preview, you’ll blow them away.”
Liz looks at me and I shrug. “I told you.”
She smiles softly, and in that moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world. “You did.”
Why do I feel like my heart is tearing?
Don’t leave, Liz.
I love you.
Chapter Thirty Four
Liz
We’re still walking along the beach when Damien runs back to join us and Rachel scoops him up. He’s a sweet little kid, more like his mother than his father and uncle, unlike Preston who is a little copy of Landon.
Damien gives me a shy smile. “Liz, are you Uncle Aidan’s girlfriend?”
I turn to look at Aidan and he chuckles. “Yes, she is.”
I’m almost too happy to notice the cute glare Damien shoots at his uncle. “Ohkay. I guess I’ll marry someone else, then.” He wriggles down from his mother’s arms and runs back to Preston, who has the knowing expression of the big brother who guessed right.
“Awww.” I watch Damien take his brother’s comforting hand. “Did I just turn down his proposal?”
“Broke his little heart too,” Aidan says, shaking his head. “How could you?”
“He’ll get over it.” Landon laughs. “Aidan used to fall in love with his nannies and propose in the first week, then when they scolded him, he’d go, I don’t want to marry you anymore.”