Chapter 10

VIVIANNE

The door opens, and we’re met by a man who has mouse-brown hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Liam!”

Liam smiles as the man chuckles, then raises a hand in greeting and clasps his in a firm handshake. They pull each other in for a brief hug, patting each other on the back.

I wait patiently, but the moment the man turns his gaze on me, I feel the weight of his attention.

His smile is warm.

“Eddie,” he introduces himself, offering a hand.

“Vivianne,” I reply, shaking it firmly. My own smile is automatic, but there’s something in the way he looks at me—like he knows something I don’t.

It’s not unsettling exactly. Just…curious.

I’m not sure if I’m being welcomed or evaluated.

Liam and I follow him inside, the two of them chatting away, their voices overlapping as they talk about something from years ago.

“You’re the last to arrive, surprise, surprise,” Eddie teases, shooting Liam a knowing look.

I can’t help but wonder what the story is there.

“You’re usually late?” I ask, leaning into him with a smile.

“No—” Liam starts, but Eddie snorts, his eyebrows raised, a wide grin on his face.

“You’ve been that way since college, man,” Eddie says. “Always the last one there. Always Mr. Busy.” He elbows Liam gently, and they both chuckle.

I smile up at Liam, loving seeing him like this.

The house is warm and inviting. Soon, we’re ushered into a dining room where a long table is already filled with guests.

The scent of food hits me first—warm and rich, making my mouth water.

“Liam’s here,” Eddie announces, before adding with a smirk, “with a date!”

A ripple of chatter spreads through the room.

I freeze, suddenly very aware of every pair of eyes flickering toward me—some curious, some measuring.

Liam chuckles beside me, the sound smooth and easy, but when he looks at me with those gorgeous green eyes, there’s a gleam there. Something playful and reassuring.

His expression says, ~Relax. I’ve got this.~

So I do what I’ve done since the moment I agreed to this arrangement—I play my part.

I give a small wave. “Hi, I’m Vivianne.”

A few polite nods. A couple of small smiles. And just like that, the conversation picks back up, as if I were never the center of attention.

Liam moves first, grabbing a bottle of wine and pouring us each a glass. Just as I take mine, Eddie stands, silencing the table.

“Welcome, everyone,” he says as he looks across the table, his gaze lingering on a blonde woman. The look between them is soft, filled with love.

I swallow. No man has ever looked at me like that.

“Let’s say grace so we can eat.” Eddie claps his hands together before lowering them to each side.

Liam takes my hand without hesitation. His grip is steady—firm yet gentle, all at once. I barely have time to react before the man beside me reaches for my other hand, bowing his head.

Everyone else around the table follows suit.

“Father, we have gathered to share a meal in Your honor,” Eddie begins, his voice full of reverence. “Thank You for putting us together as family, and thank You for this food. Bless it to our bodies, Lord. We thank You for all the gifts You’ve given to those around this table. Help each member of our family use these gifts to Your glory. Guide our mealtime conversations and steer our hearts to Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

“Amen,” a chorus of voices responds before conversation and laughter fill the air once more.

Plates are passed around. Wine glasses are lifted. Silverware clinks against dishes. The atmosphere is light and easy.

“How's dear old dad?” Eddie turns his attention to Liam, whose shoulders tense at the mention of his father.

“He’s still an ass.” Liam clears his throat, taking a sip of wine. It’s clear he doesn’t want to talk about it—at least not in front of everyone.

Eddie gives him a knowing look, nodding slightly.

“So,” I say, drawing attention away from Liam, “any dirt on this one?” I motion toward Liam, and there's a chorus of chuckles around the table.

“Plenty,” Eddie replies with a grin. “What should I tell her first, Liam? The exploding soda that got you kicked out of Flocke’s class? Or maybe the time we stayed so late at Lambda Chi that you fell asleep in Wagner’s?”

“What?” I laugh, glancing at Liam, finding him starting to relax again—glowing, even, in a way I haven’t seen before. Something about being here, around these people, makes him come alive. I turn my attention back to Eddie as he tells me both stories, clearly enjoying himself.

It makes me wonder what part of himself Liam hides everywhere else.

“So, how did you two meet?” Eddie asks.

The question catches me off guard.

I look up to find the man across from me—and the blonde woman beside him—watching with open curiosity.

“I was curious too,” says the woman, Beth, who had introduced herself earlier.

She glances at Liam, her gaze lingering like she’s sizing him up…or staking a claim.

I hesitate, thrown by the question. This isn’t something we talked about.

Then, I feel Liam’s eyes on me.

“Uh, funny story, actually.” I force a chuckle, casting another glance at Liam, who is watching me with quiet amusement.

“I came into Stryder Corp for an interview, and this one here”—I nod toward Liam—“made me wait almost an hour before he came out of his office.”

There’s a soft murmur of laughter around the table.

I lift a brow at Liam and add, “Then he had the nerve to cancel the rest of his appointments.”

Liam sighs dramatically. “I had just met with my father. It put me in a bad mood.”

“And I confronted him about it.”

“With a lot of sass, I may add.”

I shrug, my lips curving. “But I think he liked that I stood up to him.”

Liam smirks, his voice lower when he says, “I did.”

I turn toward him, and the moment locks into place.

His eyes aren’t just admiring me.

They’re seeing me,

And what I see in return makes my stomach flip.

It’s more than just appreciation. More than just friendship. More than gratitude.

I turn away, swallowing hard, focusing instead on the people across from us.

That’s when I realize everyone is watching too. But they’re not looking at me.

They’re looking at Liam

And their eyes are filled with something I can’t quite name.

Love. Maybe even hope.

I lump rises in my throat.

They believe this. They believe in ~us~.

I clear my throat and stand, reaching for the bowl of peas.

But my fingers slip.

The bowl tips.

And suddenly—peas are flying through the air.

A rainstorm of little bright green veggies pelts me, bouncing off my lap, rolling across the table. For a second, there’s nothing but shocked silence.

I freeze, wide-eyed, staring at the mess I’ve made.

Then I turn to Liam, expecting frustration. Maybe even embarrassment.

Instead—

His lip twitches. His shoulders shake.

And then—he bursts into a fit of laughter. A deep, uninhibited belly laugh.

It’s so unexpected I can’t help it—laughter bubbles out of me, then spreads through the entire table.

Liam is still watching me, still grinning, his eyes lit with real joy.

He reaches forward, fingers brushing through my hair as he pulls a stray pea from a tangled strand.

His touch is soft. Intentional.

It’s such a small thing, but it makes my heart ache.

For a brief moment, the rest of the world disappears.

And that’s when it hits me.

I’m in trouble.