Liam's Wife, Harry's Half Sister

Chapter 32

Louis's car pulled into the driveway again the following evening, and this time, I met him outside before he even reached the door. The boys were already asleep, exhausted from the day, and I wanted to have this conversation without interruptions.

He stepped out of the car, his expression a mix of curiosity and hesitation. "Didn't expect you to meet me out here," he said with a small smile.

"Thought we could talk," I replied, crossing my arms against the cool night air. "You have a minute?"

"Of course," he said immediately, closing the car door behind him.

I gestured toward the porch, and we both sat down on the steps. The air was still, and the quiet hum of crickets filled the space between us.

"About yesterday," I started, keeping my gaze fixed on the dark horizon. "The kiss..."

Louis shifted beside me, his hands clasped between his knees. "I wasn't sure if we were going to talk about that."

"Well, we need to," I said, glancing at him. "I don't regret it, Louis. I want to make that clear. But I also don't want to complicate things—especially with the boys."

He nodded slowly, his eyes thoughtful. "I get that. And I don't regret it either. But I think we need to figure out where we stand—what this is—before anything else happens."

I appreciated his honesty, even if it made my heart race. "You're right," I admitted. "It's been a lot lately—adjusting to the divorce, trying to keep things stable for the kids... I haven't even had time to think about myself. And then you came into the picture in a way I wasn't expecting. I mean I've always saw you as one of my best friends but now it just feels like more than that."

Louis leaned back slightly, resting his arms on the step behind him. "Courtney, I want to be here for you, for the boys, for whatever this is. But I also don't want to rush into anything. We both have baggage, and the last thing I want is to add to yours."

I smiled at that, the corners of my mouth tugging upward despite myself. "You've never been baggage, Louis. Complicated? Sure. But you've also been steady, kind, and exactly what the boys—and I—needed."

He glanced at me, his expression softening. "I care about you, Courtney. More than I probably should admit right now. And I care about Luca, too. He's my son, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he knows that. But this isn't just about me or him. It's about all of us."

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "I care about you too, Louis. And I'm not saying no to the idea of... us. But I need time. With Liam still trying to be involved and the kids adjusting, I can't afford to make the wrong move."

Louis covered my hand with his, his touch warm and reassuring. "Take all the time you need," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. And as far as Liam goes, I get it. I can't imagine how hard it is to navigate that, but I'm here to help however I can. If that means staying in the background for now, I'll do it."

I shook my head. "You're not staying in the background. You're part of Luca's life, and by extension, Henry's and mine too. We just need to go slow, figure out what works for everyone."

He smiled at that, the tension in his posture easing. "Slow works for me."

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between us. Then Louis spoke again, his tone lighter.

"You know, Luca told me I'm the best daddy ever because I let him have ice cream," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Of course he did. That boy knows how to work you already."

"Yeah, I'm starting to see that," Louis replied, chuckling. "But seriously, Courtney, you're doing an amazing job with them. The way you've held everything together after the divorce... I don't know how you do it."

"It hasn't been easy," I admitted. "Especially with Liam. I know he's trying, but I just don't trust him. Not yet. That's why he can only see the kids when Harry or I are in the room. I can't risk letting my guard down."

Louis's expression grew serious. "You don't owe him trust, not after everything. Protecting the kids comes first, and you're doing exactly that."

"Thank you," I said softly.

He nodded, his gaze steady. "And for what it's worth, I'll be here to back you up. Whatever you need, whenever you need it."

The warmth in his words melted away some of the doubt I'd been holding onto. I leaned over, pressing another soft kiss to his cheek. This time, it felt less like a question and more like an answer.

"Thank you," I whispered again.

Louis turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine. "Anytime, Courtney."

We stayed there for a while longer, talking about the boys, about life, about what the future might look like. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't facing it alone.