EVERMORE ─ marvel

VIII. Welcome To The Family

Chapter Eight
Steve

"How far into the book is he?" I ask Jo, who is lounging upside down in a beanbag chair next to me. All of us are in the treehouse right now; Livy and Zy against the opposite wall of us, her head leaning against his shoulder, me on the beanbag chair next to Jo and Liam in the chair on my other side, his hand secured tightly in mine.

Jo shrugs. "Jo just sold her hair."

"Whose his favorite character?"

Jo shakes her head, giving me a knowing look, one of pity. "Beth."

I sigh through my teeth, understanding her pitiful look. "That poor bastard doesn't know what's coming. I bawled like a teething baby when she died."

"I doubt Daniel will have a similar reaction."

"You never know."

"I'm glad things are getting better with him," Zy says with an encouraging smile, though it's a little forced. This past month Zy has been so busy, so exhausted, we hardly ever have time to hang out. Thankfully today is a slow day and we all managed to sneak in some time together, though it's not forever. We have to be back at the palace in about twenty minutes.

It's hard to discern Jo's expression due to her being upside down, but her tone conveys a glimmering hope as she says: "They really are. How about you, Liam? I never got to ask how things ended with your parents."

"It's complicated, but they're trying," He says with a squeeze of my hand. "I'm going to dinner at their house next week. I don't know how it will go, but I'm hoping we can start reforging some sort of connection."

"I'll go with you," I assure him with a smile. "If you want me to."

He smiles back, his cheeks beginning to blush, in turn making my own do the same. "That'd be nice."

"Alright something happened," Jo says a little aggressively, swinging her legs around to sit upright, her face conveying the same look she has when she reads a big plot twist. "You're holding hands and you're blushing and smiling at each other like idiots. Spill. I need all the details."

"We kissed last night." I whisper yell, not able to contain my excitement. Jo squeals, clapping her hands together several times.

"I fucking knew it! Bast, am I good. This is the second time I've been right. I should be a match maker."

"Please don't." Livy begs in a dreaded tone.

"So are you two dating now?" Zy inquires with a proud grin.

Liam, looking a little embarrassed and shy, nods his head, his voice quiet: "We are."

"You owe me the gritty details later." Jo whispers in my ear. I wink at her and nod, more than willing to share those details with her.

Livy sits herself up a little, Zy absentmindedly placing his hand on her back, his fingers tracing lines across her skin. "It appears you had a really busy night. Mom told me this morning you brought more stuff for your room and you're going to be living with us permanently."

Liam nods, now looking a little apprehensive. "Is that okay with you?"

Livy nods several times. "Of course. I couldn't be more happy to hear it."