“This is really good,” Liam said, and the comment filled me with pride. I’d had to learn to cook so I could feed the family, but there was still a certain buzz I got from someone enjoying food I’d made—or, in this case, food we’d made together. It had come out well.

“Thanks. Have you told your family about my parents?”

His fork clattered against the porcelain. Apparently the question had taken him by surprise. “I’ve told Mum, so I assume Dad knows as well. Asher too, since we see each other every day. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone else, but it’s possible they all know by now. Mum is the worst gossip in town. I hope that’s okay. We never discussed whether it was private.”

“You can tell anyone you like.” Maybe it would stop them hating me so much. “I told Grace, so there’s a good chance she said something to Nate.”

“Yeah, those two share everything.”

I pursed my lips. In my opinion, there were a few things they hadn’t shared. I could have sworn Grace had feelings for Nate, but that was none of my business, so I kept my mouth shut.

“I’m sorry I was such an asshole when you first arrived in town,” he said after a moment of quiet. “It can’t have been easy for you to come back, and now that I know what happened to your parents… I feel terrible about how I reacted.”

“Don’t.” I smiled so he’d know I meant it. “I hurt you. Whatever my reasons were, that fact doesn’t change. I just hope the past won’t get in the way of the future.”

Liam put his plate on the coffee table and reached over to take my hand. “It won’t. We have a lot to work through, I can’t deny that, but I don’t intend to lose you again.”

I squeezed his hand, the back of my throat tightening with emotion. “Neither do I.”

I set my plate aside and scooted closer. He draped his arm around my shoulders, and I rested my cheek on his chest. I loved the scent of him. Fresh mountain air, a little sweat, and a delicious undertone that was all Liam. I closed my eyes and let the comfort of being near him wrap around me. It was on the tip of my tongue to invite him to stay the night. I didn’t want to say goodbye. But our relationship was starting from scratch. It wouldn’t be wise to run too fast into something. We needed to learn to walk again first.

Chapter Thirty-Four

KENNEDY