I release a slow breath to steady myself. “Just for a little while. I have to get back to work. But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Promise?” He holds up his pinky with a hopeful expression, and my heart squeezes. I never expected to get so attached to Aiden, but he burrowed his way into my heart much the same way Liam did. I was hopeless from the moment those green eyes met mine.
I link my finger with his and smile. “Pinky promise. Besides, I can’t miss your birthday. You only turn ten once!”
He beams at me. “It’s gonna be the best birthday ever!”
I ruffle his hair and force a smile, still fighting against the onslaught of sadness threatening to pull me under.
Doing absolutely nothing to help the situation, Aiden pushes his favorite plush dinosaur against my chest. “Take him with you.”
“Oh, Aiden. I can’t take Rex. He needs you.”
“I have dad. You’re gonna be lonely.”
I give him a wobbly smile and pull him in for a tight hug. “This is the greatest gift anyone's ever given me. I’ll keep him safe and bring him right back to you, ok?”
Aiden kisses my cheek, and I tilt my head to the sky to blink back tears, catching sight of a bemused Connor. I lift my hand, flipping him the bird behind Aiden’s back.
The moment I slide behind the wheel of my truck, the dam breaks right along with my heart. I sob into Aiden’s dinosaur before thinking better of it. I’m not sure this old thing will hold up against a downpour of tears. Rex becomes my passenger princess as I rummage through the backseat to find the squished-up box of tissues that’s been back there for the better part of a decade.
I take a few deep breaths and clean myself up. I’ll need to hold it together a little while longer. I’ve never been good at farewells; I’m far too sentimental.
After a quick stop off at the ranch to say goodbye to my family, and another cry-fest thanks to the friendship bracelet Emmy Lou gave me, I join Nico in the SUV and we hit the road.
I stare at the blurring landscape out the window, watching the Oak Ridge water tower disappear in my rearview. I’m gonna miss this little life we’ve started building, but that’s all the more reason to hurry up and record the single. The sooner it’s finished, the sooner I can come back to my guys.
Chapter 32
Cinderella
? Price of Fame- Paloma Faith
Liam
After my shift, I head over to the Ridge. Cade’s there restocking the liquor when I slide onto the stool across the bar. It’s a weird role reversal I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to.
“What brings you in here so early?” he asks.
I've never been the guy to open up to people. I prefer to remain on the opposite side of such interactions, but Cade has experience with this long-distance stuff, and I could use a sounding board. I still remember how it was back when Paige lived in Canada. He was like a lost puppy until she finally moved here permanently. I still take some credit for encouraging the relationship in those early days.
“How’d you do it, man?” I ask.
Cade stops what he’s doing and leans across from me in that old familiar position. “Do what?”
“Long distance. How the hell did you live without her for so long?”
He blows out a long breath and shakes his head. “Fuck, that feels like a lifetime ago. It was hard as hell, I can tell you that much, but we talked every day. Planned movie nights and fell asleep on the phone most nights. Every spare moment I had, I found some way to connect with her, even if it was just sending her a package, or a quick text to let her know I was thinking of her.”
“Did you ever think about giving up?”
He snorts derisively. “Fuck no. Paige was worth every goddamn sacrifice, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Ruby’s only been gone for what…a day? You already having doubts?”
“No. That’s the crazy part. I’m in this. One hundred percent. It’s just…”
“You thinkshe’sgonna changehermind?”
I slide a hand through my hair and grimace. “Yeah. I guess I’m afraid she’ll realize she can do better.”
