“Zoey’s taken Yivi under her wing. We’ve got more to fear from those two girls taking over than from us causing trouble. They spent all day yesterday updating Zoey’s bus cleaning schedule. I think Yivi has become as obsessed with the stickers and colored pencils as Zoey.”
“Damn, you really are screwed.” Leo laughs down the phone.
“Yes.” I pause. I value Leo’s opinion on everything. He’s the wisest man I know. “Do you think I’ve done the right thing?”
“Are you asking about bringing her along or not annulling the marriage?”
“Both I guess.” I let out a long sigh.
“Bringing her along is good. I’ve pretty much already said that. Not getting the annulment? I think only time will tell with that. But I have one piece of advice for you, Liam. You need to be careful not to think you’re in love with her because she’s vulnerable. You need to be sure you’re in love with her for the right reasons before you take things any further. Not just for your sanity but Yivi’s as well. It sounds as though she’s been through a lot and is trying to learn so many new things. You’ve been good for her, and you’ve become her protector. She could mistake gratitude for stronger feelings. You don’t want to end up hating each other because you’ve both misread your emotions.”
I know everything Leo is saying is true. I’ve thought about it a lot, but I can’t forget the pain I felt in my chest when I found out what had happened to her. That wasn’t just me being caring, it was me genuinely feeling something for her.
“Liam, you there?”
I realize I’ve drifted off into my own thoughts.
“Yes, sorry. I know everything you’re saying is right. I’ve been thinking it myself. It’s why I’m trying not to be physical with Yivi even though there’s a part of me that wants to. She’s very pretty, and a fabulous woman, but until I know in my head and heart I love her, I’m not going to touch her.”
“Damn, I think you boys will stop needing my advice soon. You’re more grown up than my own band sometimes. You do cause trouble, but you have a maturity I don’t see often.”
“I know it sounds strange thing, but I think we can give Heidi the credit for that. We grew up the day she died.”
We were in our mid-teens when Tate’s sister died of a drug overdose. It scared us all and made us even more determined to be good people.
“I can understand that.” I hear a noise in the background of Leo’s call. “I have to go. Sam needs me. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Safe trip. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I chuckle. “Believe me, most of my journey is probably going to be spent explaining how British people aren’t sinners, and we love their monarchy so much an American married into it.”
“Kinky!” Leo hangs up, laughing his head off.
I give Cameron his phone back and grab a soda from the fully stocked fridge before lounging on the couch and grabbing one of Austin’s remotes.
“Come on man, I bet I can beat you,” I taunt, enjoying the new normality of my life.
Chapter 10
Yivi
#IsThatADinosaur
A lady wearing a smart outfit of black pants and a white shirt leads us through the upscale grille restaurant in Seattle. She’s taking us to a table in the back where Liam tells me we won’t be disturbed. As I walk past the other diners, my eyes instantly observe all their meals. There are things on plates I’ve never seen before.
“What’s that?” I grab Liam’s hand tightly when I see this prehistoric looking orange creature on a woman’s plate. She’s holding what look like a pair of nutcrackers similar to the ones the Leader used at Christmas to give us all a hazelnut if we’d been good.
“That’s a lobster,” Liam explains.
The waitress gives us a bit of a strange look but continues to show us to our table. She pulls out a seat for me, and I take it. She then does the same for Liam before handing us menus.
“Can I get you anything to drink to start with?”
“Two gin and tonics, please,” Liam orders for me. He’s done that a few times now, but I honestly don’t mind, because half the time I’d have no idea what I’d be ordering otherwise. My diet in the cult was limited to basic foods and only water to drink.
“What is this lobster thing?” I ask when the waitress disappears. “Is it a prehistoric animal? Are some of them still alive?”
“It’s just a sea creature. There are loads of other animals like it. Crabs, shrimp. I’ll have to take you to the aquarium while we’re here so you can see them.”
“Aquarium?” I question not knowing the word.
“It’s a place on land where you can go and visit sea creatures. They’re in the water, but you remain dry. Have you heard of zoos? They are a similar thing but have wild animals like tigers, lions, monkeys, and bears.”
I shake my head. “Sounds amazing. I’d like to see them.” I go silent and look down at the menu for a moment. I don’t understand a lot of it, as expected. “Liam.” I look back up at the handsome man sitting opposite me. He’s smiling warmly. “Is it bad I know so little about the real world. I’m not too stupid for you, am I?”
“Not at all.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. I instantly feel a warm heat flood my body.
“It’s just… I know nothing. You have to keep explaining everything to me all the time.”
“I enjoy it. I love watching you learn, and you’ve come so far in a week. Don’t worry, honestly. Now ask me anything you want about the menu. Do you want to try the lobster? We can get one to share? I’m going to have a steak as well.”
“That’s something I know. A steak. We had a lot of cattle.” I laugh. “I would like to try the lobster, but I don’t think I could manage a steak as well. Can you suggest something lighter?”
Liam scans the menu. “How do you feel about fish?”
“I’ve only really tried meat.”
“Then I suggest the tuna tartare. It has a fabulous flavor. If you don’t like it, we can order something else.”
“I’d like that.”
The waitress returns with our gin and tonics. I drink mine as Liam places our order. He also chooses a bottle of wine, and the waitress quickly returns with it.
“How about a game?” Liam finishes his gin and tonic and munches on a slice of bread the waitress brought to our table.
“Okay,” I reply uncertainly.
I don’t know what this game will entail, but I’m sure I’ll learn something from it. And it’s not like Liam will embarrass me in the middle of a restaurant. Zoey would kill him. She’s like a machine with the bandmates—never letting up and always making sure they behave.
“You get three questions. You have to answer them no matter what, but it doesn’t have to be a long answer. If need be, it can be yes or no, but you have to give an answer,” Liam explains.
“Sounds good. Do you want to go first?”