His Reason to Stay

Liam again

as fine

g to make the next payment to the bank. Or how I was supposed to cover the vet bill for Missy, our only milk cow, who'd starte

he weeds behind the shed, yanking them from the dry earth like they were responsible for everything

ear the tr

d a

I turned sharply and found him standing a few fee

i

cou

sleeves were rolled up again, and his hair looked perfectly tousle

"Thought you might be ou

him. "You bro

hat w

as thirsty and partly because refusing it woul

d. I'd hate to

k. It was perfect. Cold, tart, not t

here, Liam?" I asked, not

riting. Escapi

it sound

imes l

red a

ared

uncomfortable, just... full. Like there wer

ing it," I s

t's

hiding s

oba

ght me o

se trouble, Amara. But I've got my reaso

brow. "You

only one with thi

oo close. Too true. And that irri

self useful?" I asked,

t up. "I'm

heelbarrow a

errible at

e it fun

d, stepped in something that made him gag dramatically, and

leaning against the fence as h

shirt sticking to his back. "I

e to re

to complain abo

eks, maybe longer. And it wasn't just a polite chuckle. It

when he

en it happene

d turned into something quieter. Intense. His gaze linger

ed awa

said. "Still g

not quite close enough to touch. And I hated how aware I wa

up

s not t

r and stepped inside. The shade was a relief, and the

till breathing hard fr

I said. "And try not

ute, then started swe

, but before I got far, I heard a lou

pped

ded on his back, legs tangled in the broo

aid, running ove

ed. "Def

grin as I crouched beside him. "

eed a bett

a hand. He took it and didn't l

t, we were standi

Just long enough to make my heart do that stupi

've pull

I di

lips for half a second.

when the pi

era

all hook, and it clattered to the ground inche

ike teenagers cau

g my temples. "That's

, grinning. "Barn

I didn't

lence, but something h

us could name yet or

p and a notebook in my hand. I tried to write out a plan

pt circling ba

per

am

p. But there was also something that made me fe

s, I tol

stop thinki

ght flickered, and the cri