Summer

Chapter 60

When Cassie leaves, I head upstairs to pack. Even though Liam and I made up, he never mentioned anything about staying. Cassie was bummed to hear that we were leaving on Friday, but I told her I'd come back another time to visit. Maybe, without my brothers.

It takes me about two hours to pack a quarter of my things, and by the time it's midnight, I'm ready to pass out.

I plop onto my bed and close my eyes shut when, all of a sudden, there's a knock on my door.

"Fee?" Liam calls out.

I bring my body forward so that my head is no longer resting on the pillow. "Come in," I say loud enough so that he can hear me.

He walks in, taking note of the half-packed suitcases laying on the floor. "Whatcha doing?"

"Just packing," I say. "What's going on?"

"I just came in here to give you something," he says as he removes a white envelope from his back pocket.

"What's this?" I ask, taking it from his hands.

"Open it." The smile on his face has me wondering what it could be.

I tear it open and come to find a plane ticket with my name on it that reads:

From: Charleston International Airport (CHS)

To: Westchester County Airport (HPN)

Date: August 26, 2021

"It's a boarding pass."

"It's your boarding pass," Liam clarifies as my eyes scan the piece of paper.

"It says August 26th," I state, tilting my head to the side out of confusion.

"I know."

"But I thought we were leaving on August 6th."

"Jacob and I are leaving on the 6th. You're leaving on the 26th," Liam explains.

"I don't understand."

"Like I said, it's really important to me that you be happy. I don't know if three more weeks here will bring you that, but it's worth a try. Without me and Jacob in your way."

I see what Liam's doing here, and while I appreciate it, I can't accept it. This trip was supposed to be about me and my brothers, not just me. "Liam, I can't. I'm...I'm not staying here without you guys."

"Listen, Fee, at the end of the day, it's your choice. But I think you need to do this. If not for him, then for yourself."

"But what about you and Jacob?"

"Jacob's the last person you should worry about. Let me put it this way, he told me that we should consider Ibiza for next year's vacation."

Typical.

"And, me," he continues. "Well, it's better that I get back to the office. Dad's been pestering me about some properties. Speaking of dad, I told him and mom that you'll be staying in Charleston without us to spend some more time with Cassie. At first, they were nervous to leave you alone, but I convinced them that you'd be fine. We have the house until the end of the month, so you should be all set."

"Liam, I..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he smiles. "You're welcome."