“Liv, these are my favorite girls, Nova and Leah. We came to visit you,” I say. “Girls, say hi to Liv.”
“Hi,” they greet her in unison. They grin at her. These two are so adorable, no one can say no to them.
Liv stares at me and opens the door wide. “This is low, even for you.”
I shrug. “You always said you wanted to meet them. Well, here’s your chance.”
We help them take off their winter gear. The only problem with having both of them with me is that I have to carry two diaper bags with everything that my sisters think they need.
“Now that we’re settled, why don’t you follow me to the kitchen,” Liv says. “If we’re going to have cookies, we need plates and maybe some lemonade or milk to go with them.”
“Fowers need wader,” Nova reminds us, grabbing the flowers from the bench where they sat while we helped them with their boots, mittens, and coats.
Liv squats and takes the flowers. “You’re right. First, we have to find a vase for them. Would you like to help me?”
She grabs Nova’s hand.
Leah and I head to the kitchen. I find plastic cups, grab some plates, and take the milk out of the fridge. Leah and I pour the milk carefully. Nova and Liv are arranging the flowers as they count them.
“The cookies are ready.”
“Why don’t you sit down while I bring something for you guys,” Liv suggests. When she comes back, she gives a coloring book and a box of crayons to each one of them.
“Were you expecting them?”
She shakes her head. “No. After a few weeks working as an event planner, I learned that some clients bring their kids. I have juice, clay, crayons… everything to entertain them while we are working.”
“Smart.”
“It’s just a little thing, but it makes it less stressful for the kids.”
Liv spends time coloring with my nieces while she talks to them. Nova tells her about Brock, her dog. I show Liv pictures of Brock and Nova. Then Leah asks me to show her pictures of Simon, her kitty. Simon is an asshole, except with Leah. He adores his human so much. The cat is always taking care of her.
At lunchtime, we prepare grilled cheese sandwiches. Liv cuts apples into cubes for them to eat.
“They are adorable,” she whispers as we set them in her guest room to take a nap. I put the mattress on the floor so they don’t fall down. “I wish it wasn’t so cold. They’d enjoy the backyard.”
“Thank you for receiving us.”
She looks at me. “I always wanted to meet them. They adore you. You’re seriously the best uncle in the world.”
“That’s one of the best compliments I’ve received in my life,” I say, shyly. “So, can we talk about us?”
Liv chews her bottom lip. “What is there to talk about, Eros? I’m leaving in a few months. You have a life. A family that loves you. I’m still—”
“Making up excuses to keep me away. It’s easier to say there’s nothing between us than to wait for me to reject you.” I pause, taking a deep breath before I continue. “I didn’t understand why you always brushed me away. When Callie died, I wanted to bring you with me because what if I died? I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you—even if it was just one breath. What if I never saw you again? I didn’t want to live without you.”
“I thought it was the pain talking,” she mumbles.
“It was the fear of losing you forever,” I confess. “That wasn’t the only time that I tried to get serious with you. Listen, I understand that you don’t believe in a long-distance relationship. It makes sense. Every other year you lost your mom—and you only saw Dan and Otto a few times during the year when you were in Canada. It was a lot for a kid. You might say that you got used to it, but it made you skittish about letting people into your life.”
She nods once.
“Persy asked me yesterday when I fell in love with you.” I swallow hard. “It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when it happened. All I know is that every time I’m close to you, I feel happy. Your soulmate theory is true. You are it for me. We can keep doing this for years. Say ‘until the next time,’ find each other again… the cycle will never end. I always end up back with you because we’re meant to be. Though, I think we need to start this fresh.”
“Fresh?”
I nod. “We date. You let me show you how much you mean to me. If by the end of this trial I can’t convince you, I’ll accept my fate.”
“Which is?”
“I’ll leave without my true love for the rest of my life. Lost without my soul mate,” I say, hoping that she’ll accept me.
“Holly needs me for a few months,” she states. “Afterwards, I’m leaving.”
“We’ll leave.”
“I don’t even know what I’m going to do next,” she offers.
“We’ll figure it out, together,” I propose. “You helped me find myself. I don’t think you’re aware of everything you’ve done for me, Liv. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for you.”
She smiles. “You did all the work. I just gave you an idea.”
“No. You made me want to do better, to realize my dreams. To find a dream. I want to be there for you,” I volunteer. “Whatever it is, wherever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
“Your family is here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll go where you go, Liv. The moment you accept that we belong together, that I love you with all my heart, I will follow you around. I understand that you need to be jumping from one place to another. I don’t need a house to be with the woman I love. I just need you.”
She clears her tears with the back of her hand. “What if you get bored of me?”
“I don’t love you because you keep me entertained. Though, you’re pretty funny. I love you because you’re loving, caring, and giving,” I confess. “Sure, we’ll have our differences. Some days you’ll want to throw me out the window. I’m not an easy person—my sisters can attest to that. My family is… different. I just hope that I’ll make you fall in love with me. That you love me enough to put up with my flaws.”
“Why did you think about being with Misty?”
“I was lonely,” I answer honestly. “You had shut me down one too many times. I wanted someone to fill the hole in my heart. The only way I felt like myself was when I was around you. You kept saying ‘in another life.’ I lost hope. When you stopped answering my texts, I thought you had found someone.”
She looks at the floor and then back at me. “I thought the same. Seeing you with her… she said you were her college sweetheart.”
“I was so mad at her. I should’ve stopped her.” I run a hand through my hair. “I’m so sorry. Let me make this up to you.”
We stare at each other for a few breaths. She breaks the silence. “Okay, we can try to start from the beginning.”
“Eros.” I grab her hand and shake it. “Nice to meet you.”
“Olivia, but my friends call me Liv.”
“Well, Liv,” I say, feathering kisses on her knuckles. “Since you’re my friend, we’re having dinner with my family tonight.”