The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“Why are you here?” I asked her—not rudely, might I add.

She shrugged. “It’s my last chance to get away before I leave for college, so I thought I might as well take advantage of that fact.”

I put a hand over my heart and hissed through my teeth. “I’m wounded. I can’t believe you’re not here for me.”

“Well there’s that, too,” she shrugged with a laugh, “but the beach was more important.”

We began to head out of the airport and I stayed beside Grace. “So…college? I can’t imagine your dad is handling that well.” Grace’s dad was known for being overprotective of her—a lot like my uncle with Willow and her little sister Lylah.

“No, he’s not,” she laughed, her high-heeled shoes clicking along the tiled floor, “but he doesn’t have much of a choice.”

“What are you studying?”

“Business,” she replied.

I lifted my brows in surprise. “Good for you, Gracie.”

“Thanks.” She smiled up at me as we reached the car.

“I’m starving. Can we stop for lunch?” my dad asked as soon as we were all in the car.

I wanted to say no, because all I wanted to do was get back to Ari—even if it was only to sit outside the bathroom door some more—but since I couldn’t say no without giving a reason why, I said, “Sure.”

We ended up stopping at a small restaurant on the beach that sort of reminded me of Mo’s with its laidback vibe.

Once we were seated and had ordered food and drinks, I addressed Dean and Willow who sat across from me. Clearing my throat, I said, “I want you both to know that I’m sorry for how I acted when you came to stay with me. I was an asshole, and I treated you both like shit. The last two years have been rough for me, but that’s still not an excuse to be a dick.” I rubbed the palms of my hands over my shorts. Apologizing was not my forte.

Willow smiled, pushing her blond hair off of her forehead. “Don’t worry about it, Liam. It’s okay. I’m glad to see you’re happy now, and your mom was telling us on the flight over that you met someone?” She waggled her brows and giggled.

I shot a glare at my mom and then mumbled a reluctant, “Yes.”

“I’m glad,” Willow said genuinely. “You deserve it.”

“How have you guys been? Still not going back to college?” I asked her.

She smiled at Dean and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “We’re good, and no I’m definitely not going back to college. I still don’t know what the future holds for me, but for now, that’s okay.”

“Good.” I nodded. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

“We are,” Dean replied.

I tipped my head in his direction.

It was still fucking weird to see them together. Growing up, all of us kids had been close, but Willow and Dean had always had some special bond no one else could touch. It was only natural they’d end up together, but it was still awkward to see them as a couple and not just friends.

“I’m going to try to get back home in the next week or two. I want to see everybody.”

The table fell silent at my words.

“What?” I asked innocently. “Am I not allowed to come home?”

“You know you’re always welcome home,” my mom said. “We miss you. We all miss you.”

“Do you think you’ll come home for Christmas and New Year’s?” Dean asked. “The New Year’s Eve party isn’t the same without you.”

“I’m sure you guys have been fine without me,” I laughed and took a sip of my water. “But yeah, I might come. It depends on what Ari wants to do.”

“Ari?” My mom perked up at her name. “So does that mean you guys are together now?”