I nodded. “There are maps at the information center if you’d like to have a look.”

I hadn’t been into the information center since I’d returned. I’d been too much of a wimp to face Heather Braddock. With Blair at my side, acting as guard dog, maybe I could manage it.

We said our goodbyes to Arthur and walked the short distance to the information center. I froze in the doorway, spotting a small group of people at the front desk.

Liam.

His golden arms flexed as he gestured animatedly to his mother. I swallowed and backed up a step. A woman stood beside him. Based on her blonde hair, I’d guess it was Summer, but I couldn’t see her face from where I stood. Standing to the side was Asher, smiling for once—although perhaps that was because he hadn’t seen me yet.

“Um,” I murmured, about to suggest we come back later, but words escaped me.

“Shit,” Blair said, noticing the same thing I had. He wrapped an arm around me. “Come on. You can do this.”

The Braddocks looked up as one. Asher’s expression distorted into that familiar scowl. Summer’s eyes lit up with excitement. Heather pursed her lips. And Liam….

Well, if I didn’t know better, I’d think Liam looked jealous. But then Asher grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out the side exit. Summer followed them, mouthing an apology.

Damn. I guess things hadn’t improved all that much between Liam and me after all.

Chapter Twenty-Six

LIAM

Sometimes I wonder whether I’d give you a second chance if you begged me to take you back. Some days I don’t think I could say no. - unsent text message from Liam to Kennedy

“What was that?” Summer called from behind us. “Why did you walk out? I thought you guys were working out your differences.”

“They’re not ‘working out their differences,’” Asher snarled. “She’s wrapping him around her finger all over again, and he’s letting her. He needs to keep his distance.”

Summer jogged around in front of us, cutting us off. “Don’t you think you should both be more mature about this? You’re grown men. Why not just hear her out and then decide what to do next?”

“Because—” I started to reply, but Asher had already launched into a response of his own. I stood and watched while they argued over what I should do next. Asher was clearly in a mood, but Summer had taken exception to his attitude and wasn’t about to back down. They raised their voices, waved hands, poked fingers, and I looked around, realizing we’d garnered more than our fair share of attention.

“Guys,” I said. “Maybe we need to move.”

“What we need is for you and Tweedledum to act like adults,” Summer snapped.