A Perfect Fluke

Five

"I admit it, the cookies are good," Liam said at the same time the back-door closed behind him.

I grinned. "I'm sorry, though. It seems like all I do is screw up around here."

He sat beside me. "Noah is asleep and even Loki is tired, so I'd say it's all good." He gazed at the field, but having him so close was making my heart pound faster. "Plus, you didn't burn the house," he added as an afterthought, smiling slightly.

My stomach flipped, and I shifted on my seat. We stayed silent for a moment, both lost in our thoughts. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him. Most about Caiden, but he intrigued me too.

"When did, Caiden learn that he was ill?"

Liam glanced at his hands before turning to me. His eyes were sad, but mostly tired. "In January." Wow. That was six months ago. "Everything happened so fast, yet it felt too slow. Especially at the end," he shook his head.

My chest constricted. I bit my lip as I gazed to the front too. I know about that.

I remembered when Amy got sick. It was frustrating to see her go through all the medical treatments, without many improvements. I knew she was hurting, and I couldn't do anything about it.

Swallowing hard, I blinked the tears away. "My best friend passed away over a year ago." I creased my brows. "She got sick when Caiden and I started dating. One week she was well, and the next, she had breast cancer. It all went downhill from there. A part of me always thought that I was too invested in Amy and Caiden resented it." My voice was soft. "I admit it. I wondered what could have happened between us, yet I don't regret spending those months with my friend. He cheated on me because he was angry, and we broke all contact after that."

I glanced at Liam. He breathed out as he listened me. "I didn't know he was sick," I added a moment later.

Liam run a hand through his hair. "I was mad at you. So mad." It felt as hot rocks pressed on the bottom of my stomach. His gaze was intense as he studied me for a moment. "Caiden wouldn't shut up about you. He kept saying that you were too good for him, that you were too kind... and all I could think was poor bastard, she doesn't give a shit about you." His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Every day, I expected a call from you. A signal that you cared about him, but there was none. Caiden kept talking about you, always with a smile on his face." He shook his head. "I didn't understand."

I pressed my lips together. "I'm so sorry," my voice broke. I wish I knew. I would have been here for him. No one deserves to go through cancer alone. Not even him. After Amy, I felt the need to help anyone with cancer, to make them feel better, to give them hope.

His eyes were lost in the distance of the horizon. "To be honest, Caiden and I weren't really close. He called me four months ago, and asked me if he could move in with us. I was worried for Noah but Caiden was my brother. I couldn't say no. He sold his apartment and paid half of the farm's mortgage. His attitude was different, he was the little brother that looked up to me again, not the ass he was before." He lowered his head, holding his hands together. "I'm glad I said yes."

I exhaled slowly. "I wish I could have been here for him."

He glanced at me, rubbing his five o'clock shadow. "I guess you were here in a way."

I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"

His lips tugged up before he stood up. "Come."

My eyebrows squished together, but I stood up and followed him through the house until we reached the TV room. He opened the last door to the right and waited for me.

My heart was racing as I stepped inside. I froze at the sight. Pictures from different recipes I'd made on my blog covered the walls. I brought a hand to my mouth as I took it all in. Caiden did follow my blog.

Moonlight rays shone through the window on the empty bed. Slowly, careful not to disturb the silence, I made my way to it. There was a picture of us in the bed stand. Possibly the one selfie we'd taken. It was black and white. We were both laughing at the camera, all tangled up in each other. I took the photo in my hands and an immense sense of nostalgia filled me. I had no idea. I didn't know Caiden at all.

With teary eyes, I gazed at Liam. He hadn't entered the room, and his eyes were shining with unshed tears, too. My stomach tightened as we stared at each other in silence for a moment.

"Keep it," he murmured softly.

I nodded and brought the frame to my chest. "Thank you." I said it to Liam, but I also meant it for Caiden. 

Sorry that the chapters are so short, they didn't look so small together, LOL. That's why I'm trying to update sooner! 

Love you all!!!