“Calm down,” I say, climbing out of bed. “I’m sure this kid’s mom isn’t going to toss Liam out on the streets if you’re not there by 4, right?”
She lets out a breath. “Right.”
“So, get dressed and we’ll go get him.”
She smiles as she pulls her jeans up. “You’re coming with me?”
I walk naked over to her. “I think you’re stuck with me,” I say, cupping her cheek. “That okay?”
“More than okay.” She leans up on her toes and presses her lips to mine. She’s only half-dressed and I’m not dressed at all. I feel myself begin to harden against the soft skin of her bare belly. She pulls away and smacks me on the ass.
“Cover that thing up or we’ll never leave.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I laugh as I go search for my clothes.
We’re only a few minutes late to pick up Liam. We’re also not the only ones running late, which I think makes Hannah feel a little better. When Liam sees Hannah, he grins and runs over. He notices me a second later and smiles. I hold out my hand so we can execute the complicated handshake he came up with last week. When it goes smoothly, he lets out a little boy giggle that seems to burrow its way into my chest. I ruffle his hair affectionately. I think of Hannah telling me that Paul hadn’t asked anything about Liam, and it fills me with anger. I want to find him and beat him senseless. Doesn’t he know what he’s missing?
“Finn, are we grilling burgers tonight?” he asks me, full of excitement.
I remember the dinner we’d planned to have the night before. It had been cancelled because Hannah had met Paul for dinner instead. I see her wince and I know she’s feeling guilty. I hate seeing that look in her eyes. I smile down at Liam and attempt to fix things.
“We can’t do it tonight, kiddo,” I say. “We’ve got Sunday dinner at Mack’s, remember? But tomorrow night is definitely burger night, okay?”
“Oh yeah! It’s Sunday!” Finn’s excitement over dinner with the Kings is obvious. “Claire’s gonna show me her guitar tonight.” I smile as Liam practically bounces to the car. Hannah and I follow a little slower.
“I think he loves you,” she says, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I think he loves my sister.”
She laughs. “Oh, he definitely loves her.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Finn
Dinner with my family is noisy as ever. Claire immediately steals Liam, seating him beside her at the table. Hannah pretends to be hurt, but I can see how much it pleases her that Liam is already practically part of the family. After dinner, Claire pulls out her guitar, as promised. My brothers and I clear the table while she shows Liam how to hold the instrument. It’s too big for him, but he holds it carefully seeming to understand that it’s important to Claire. It’s clear he wants to do well for her.
Hannah tries to help us clean, but I insist she go join Liam and Claire. I can tell she wants to argue with me, but she eventually gives in at Van and Wyatt’s insistence. I glance at the three of them from time to time, happy to watch them as they talk and laugh and strum the instrument.
“Things seem to have worked out okay.”
Ronan’s voice startles me out of my thoughts. I turn to look at him. He’s wearing one of his rare smiles as he watches Claire, Liam and Hannah.
“Yeah,” I say. “Things are good.”
Ronan nods. “That’s good. Have you told her yet?”
“Told her what?” I ask, following his gaze over to Hannah.
“That you’re in love with her.” Ronan turns back to meet my gaze and raises a brow in challenge.
I smile and shake my head and go back to stacking plates. Ronan has always been good at reading people and this time is no different. I glance around the restaurant, empty but for seven people. I marvel at how full of life the old building is, even with so few people. Wyatt and Van are grinning and talking as they wipe down the table where we ate. Ronan begins silently shifting tables and chairs around back to their regular arrangement. He notices me watching him and glances at Hannah. He taps his watch and looks at me expectantly. I roll my eyes and nod. Because he’s right, of course. I’m in love with Hannah. I’d have to be crazy not to be. I can’t wait to tell her and watch her smile light up her face. I can’t wait to plan our future together. I can’t wait for a million firsts with Hannah and Liam.
We finish the cleanup and I walk over to join the others, standing next to Hannah where she sits watching Liam. He grins up at me from behind the too-big guitar and I can see the nerves in his eyes along with the excitement. He wants to make me proud. My heart catches in my throat and I smile broadly at him as he strums the strings.
“Sounds great, kiddo,” I say.
His grin spreads and he turns an intensely focused gaze back to where his tiny fingers grip the neck of the guitar. He’s all concentration and enthusiasm and it’s amazing to watch.
Hannah reaches out and takes my hand in hers, leaning against my side. My brothers come join us, everyone watching Liam strum the guitar in a tuneless rhythm. Claire starts to peck away at the piano. The two instruments combine to make something that still isn’t exactly music. I have the thought that this might be the best Sunday family dinner I’ve ever had.
Chapter Thirty-four
Hannah
Once Liam is in bed asleep, I go about preparing for the next morning. I move around the kitchen making sure I have everything for
