Stasi catches me off guard as she shifts on my lap to cradle my cheek in her hand. “Don’t ever feel like you need to hold back with me.”
I turn my head slightly to kiss her palm. “Liam warned me you were too fucking sweet.”
She lets out a huffy laugh. “Liam thinks you’re corrupting me.”
As if on cue, the man himself comes stalking around the side of the house, caked in mud and hauling grocery bags.
A laugh punches out of me. “They let you walk in like that?”
Eyeing me darkly, Liam turns his key in the back lock. “No one’s going to tell me no.”
I chuckle, nodding. “Yeah, that tracks.”
Heisone intimidating motherfucker.
“Told you the spare key was under the mat,” Liam mutters, kicking off his shoes and sliding the door open.
A rumble of thunder cuts off my response. We all turn to look at the ominous wall of dark clouds headed our way, lightning spider webbing through them.
“So much for grilling steaks tonight,” Liam says, dipping into the house.
Seconds after, fat raindrops smack onto the patio. I haul Stasi upright as cold rain pelts us. We’re both soaked before I can push her inside the house.
Grinning, I step back from the door into the onslaught of rain.
“What are you doing?” Stasi asks, eyes wide.
I keep moving backwards until my bare feet touch the wet grass. Tipping my face up to the angry sky, arms spreading out wide, I let the rain cleanse the dirt and sweat from my skin.
My smile grows when soft lips press to my jaw. I lower my head and blink at the beautiful woman standing with me amidst a storm, little snakes of rain slithering down her cheeks and dripping from the loose tendrils of her hair.
I welcome her into my arms. Soon, I have her skipping and dancing across the grass with me like we’re unburdened kids in the summertime. No worries over lost jobs or unrequited love.
We’re justliving.
She spins with her tongue hanging out to catch the heavy droplets. I’m not sure I believe in perfect moments, but this has to be as close as it gets—a reminder that while life can be cruel, beauty still exists beneath the surface. A current you can’t see. You only feel it when you wade a little deeper.
I feel the tug of it now, bringing my gaze to the back door where Liam stands, arms crossed and muscles flexed. I’m not sure how long he’s been watching us, but simply observing the fun isn’t gonna cut it.
I jog over to him. “You arenottoo cool for this.”
“This isn’t a thing. People don’t play in the rain,” he replies.
“Were you never a child?”
His jaw tenses. “I didn’t get that luxury.”
And just like that, joy is stripped from me.
“Jesus, Liam.” I step right in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s in the past. Buried six feet under.”
Holding his hard gaze, I wait for him to give me more. When he doesn’t, I slowly bring a hand to his forearm. “Do you trust me?”
He pushes out a deep breath. “Honestly? Instinct tells me I shouldn’t.”
“Well, fuck. That kind of stings.” I pout.
