This chapter is dedicated to Nightingale63 thank you so so much for the continued support. It means the world to me!!

Jessica

I walk down the stairs, Imagine Dragons blaring through my Airpods. I feel like I am going camping with how heavy my backpack is right now. But I couldn't decide which books to take and which ones to leave behind. We start finals tomorrow, and I feel both anxious and excited. I cannot believe my high school years are coming to an end, but I am also ready for something new.

The only thing is it's Liam's birthday today, and due to the amount of stress we are all under, I couldn't plan anything too out there. So Steff came up with the idea of staying in and cooking dinner. As in the whole group coming over to make dinner and have a little celebration and a study party. I didn't tell him the idea but sounds good to me. I'm planning to take him to a picnic down by the lake beforehand, so that should be fun.

I feel someone tapping me on my shoulder, and I turn around.

Mom looks at me sternly, and her lips start moving, but I can't hear her.

I pull my Airpods out.

"What?"

"I hate when you do that!" She says. "Would it kill you to take those out once in a while?"

I roll my eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me! I called you like ten times."

"Okay, sorry. What is it?" I ask dryly.

She sighs.

We had an explosive fight last week after I spoke to Brittany. I couldn't understand why she didn't tell me about Wel'ma and our relationship, or lack thereof, with the Morgan family. And I still don't get it. Her reason is "Because I didn't want to tint the image you have of your dad." As if!

I think she told him about it because he's been blowing up my phone like crazy.

"I said did you get everything ready for the Picnic?" She eyes me.

She tried to get on my good graces by helping me bake English Muffins and artsy Cupcakes to take with me.

"Yeah, I'm good to go."

"Tell Liam I wish him a wonderful birthday. I wish he would have come. But anyway, don't forget to give him our present."

"I won't," I say, walking into the kitchen to grab the picnic basket.

"Let me help you with that," Mom says, grabbing the basket. "That backpack looks heavy."

For a childish second, I want to tell her not to bother. But I decide against it, and I let her help me to the car.

I drive to Liam's place and drop my bag. Then I tell him to get dressed and lead him to my car.

He smiles at me like a delighted child when he spots the basket in the back seat.

"Picnic?" He asks.

I nod.

We've been easing back into our old routines, and things have been improving a lot. I told him about my conversation with Brittany after my fight with mom. The one about my father. And he made me feel so much better the way only he can.

"I've never had a Picnic." He admits, glancing back at the basket again. "This is fun."

My heart squeezes.

"Well, buckle up, birthday boy. We are celebrating the fact that you are a grandpa now by taking you to your first Picnic." I say.

We have been teasing him all week because he turned 19 before the rest of the group. Although, Jayden will be joining him next month.

"I may be a grandpa, but I still have a hottie for a girlfriend so I win." He winks at me. "You look beautiful."

I glance down at my yellow sundress with a smile before starting the engine. I figured I'd dress for the occasion.

"Glad you approve."

***

The park is quiet and the lake tranquil, shimmering beneath the radiant afternoon sun. There is a couple of girls down by the dock and another couple in the far distance. The only sound we can hear is the quacking of ducks enjoying an afternoon swim, and a swooshing coming from the willow trees as the breeze blows through the low-hanging branches.

I give Liam his present as soon as we sit down because I just can't wait. I got him a scrapbook full of our pictures from New York with little notes that I spent weeks making, a scratch the world travel map that we can hopefully use when we travel in the future, personalized bookmarks, a beautiful edition of The Count Of Monte Cristo, his favourite book, and a personalized brown leather bracelet that has the words "Forever yours. Love, Jess." engraved on it on the inside. He wears the bracelet immediately and gives me a heated kiss that leaves me breathless. Then he looks through the scrapbook slowly, reading the notes. And the happiness radiating off him makes every second I spent making it worth it.

Mom and the twins got him a Cook Book signed with their names, and a card wishing him a happy birthday and a long career. Dean added a painting of our galaxy made using the kit Liam gave him for Christmas. And mom made him another charcoal grey knitted sweater seeing how much he loved the first one she made him. 

One of my favourite things has to be watching Liam open presents. The way his eyes light up in childlike wonder. I love seeing him happy. It's so pure and genuine it makes me want to weep. He tells me his mom called, and he talked to her for the first time in more than a decade on his birthday, which makes my heart clench painfully. He deserved so much more than he got out of his parents.

I sip my lemonade before glancing at Liam to find him looking out at the lake, lost in his thoughts. He looks breathtaking in a plain white T-shirt, his inked arms contrasting his creamy skin. His hair has grown longer, hovering above his eyes in a beautiful mess. There are moments, like this one, where the love I have for him suddenly hits me hard and threatens to overwhelm me.

If I were a painter, I'd spend hours painting him. Trying to get every detail right down to the way his brows furrow ever so slightly when his mind is far away. Dipping a brush into paint and watching the canvas slowly come to life with his features would be most rewarding.

But I am no Picasso. So I do the next best thing, I grab my camera and adjust my angle until the lighting is just right, and I snap a picture.

Liam turns around.

"You violating my privacy?" He asks, quirking a brow.

"Maybe." I shrug. "I want you to let me cut your hair."

He runs his fingers through it, frowning.

"It used to be longer than this, and you liked it just fine."

"I do. But I want to cut it anyway. It'll grow back in like a week."

"You just feel like experimenting on me, is that it?"

I smile bashfully.

"It'll be fun. I could watch some YouTube tutorials."

He shrugs.

"Okay, you are the one who has to look at me if it turns out bad."

I lean over to kiss him, and he tugs at my arm, pulling me closer. We kiss for some time but pull away from each other when a giggling girl with a red kite comes our way.

"We need to keep this PG 13 before we get arrested for public indecency," I say, scooting away a little.

Liam adjusts the front of his pants. And I laugh.

"It must suck to be a guy,"

"HAHA!"

I chuckle, reaching over to grab the basket. I take a single expertly decorated cupcake and stick a birthday candle into it.

"You are making a wish," I tell him, lighting the candle with a lighter.

I cover the fluttering flames with my palms as I wait for him.

Liam smiles at me in that boyish way I adore and closes his eyes briefly before leaning down and blowing out the candle.

"You have better wished for that brick house. Because I am moving to Staten Island as soon as school is over." I say, offering him the cupcake.

He laughs, shaking his head. He adjusts a little and lays on his back, his head resting on my lap.

I smile, running my fingers through his unruly hair.

"Do you think things will change when we move to New York?" I ask after a while.

"For the better," He says, absentmindedly playing with the bracelet I gave him. "Though, you refuse to move in with me."

I take a bite of the cupcake because I don't know what to say. We have already talked about this. I want us to have the full college experience, living with roommates included. I don't want either of us to miss out on anything.

"You know we could always decide to do that down the line," I tell him.

He sighs.

"You won't be able to live without my cooking. You'll come packing. I just know it." He says, and I love him for lightening the mood because I don't want to argue over this again.

I swipe the cupcake across his face, smearing the vanilla buttercream all over his lips and nose.

"Sorry! It slipped."

He glares up at me, and I laugh because he looks comical.

"Let me get that for you."

I lean down, licking the cream off his lips.

He groans.

"You're killing me. So much for keeping this PG 13."

***

It's almost dusk when we get back home. It's one of the best dates we have ever had, and I feel a sense of melancholy when we drive away from the lake. We have so many good memories there, and we won't be able to come after a few weeks.

Liam pulls me on top of him when I park the car. He kisses my lips softly and trails kisses down my neck, making me shiver.

"I had a great time today," He says, pressing his lips to mine again. "Thank you,"

"I wish the timing was better. I feel bad that I didn't go all out."

He shakes his head.

"This is perfect, you and me. It's what I want."

Except it won't be just him and I in a few minutes. Steff texted, saying they are grocery shopping.

Liam kisses me again, and this time, it gets heated quickly.

"We... should go... inside," I mumble between heavy breathes as he kisses the spot beneath my ears.

"No one will see us here." He says, unbuttoning the front of my dress. "I need you."

He kisses the swell of my breasts before unclasping my bra. Then his lips close around me.

Shit! I bite my lips, resisting a moan.

I do a quick calculation in my head, barely grasping onto my thoughts as they scatter away. The nearest grocery store is at least 20 minutes away, and if I know my friends well, they will spend some time arguing over what to get. So we have a few minutes to spare, or at least I hope we do. Because his lips are driving me crazy, and I can't resist him.

I pull his head up from my chest and kiss him hard as my hands go down to unbuckle his belt. This needs to be fast.

***

I jump up when the doorbell rings. Liam frowns, standing up.

"I'll get it!" I say.

"No, you won't. Stay in here." He says, striding to the door.

"I am sure a burglar wouldn't knock on the door, Liam." I chuckle, following.

He opens the door, and our friends rush in with a bunch of grocery bags, pillows, and backpacks in a whirl of chatter.

"Happy birthday, old man!" Red says, giving him a one-armed hug, the other carrying a Cakebox. "Missed you!"

"You'll have to endure us for a night," Ryan says, grinning at Liam. "Happy birthday, man." He lowers his voice. "I brought booze."

"Endure us?" Jayden looks incredulously at Ryan. "We are cooking him food that'll probably last him a week. We brought the grocery store here, thanks to the girls. Hope you're ready for a romantic dinner for seven."

"Dang! I knew this house was huge. But it's even huger than I thought. Is huger a word?" Steff says, glancing around.

"Nope!" Jeremy raises a grocery bag. "Where's the kitchen?"

I point him to the right, and the rest of our friends follow him in.

Liam glances at me with a grin.

"You knew about this?"

"Of course."

His eyes narrow, and he leans down.

"We could've been caught." He whispers in my ear.

"I know!"

The moment it was over, I was grimacing on the inside at the possibility. But they took so long that we were able to get inside and take a shower.

The kitchen is filled with noise and laughter as we walk in. They are opening every cabinet and drawer in sight to grab things. And unpacking the grocery bags on the countertop. Liam looks amused as he points things out to them when they ask for direction. And I see his smile whenever someone calls him birthday boy. I know he's never had this many people in the house before. And I assume he's never had anything close to a sleepover with friends unless you count boarding school as one.

After what seems like hours, the table is set. And we sit around it with the smell of freshly cooked food swirling around us like morning mist. They went for an Italian dish with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Marsala, Garlic Bread, and a huge bowl of Green Salad.

"Taking you back to your roots," Ryan says, helping himself to the Chicken Marsala.

"You do know I am not Italian, right?" Liam raises a brow. "My mother is Armenian."

Ryan doesn't respond, moaning over a bite.

I chuckle. The food turned out great, and they are all scrambling to take the credit except Red, who didn't participate in much of the cooking.

We enjoy the meal talking about our college and summer plans for the hundredth time.

"Ryan's plan is staying here and getting wasted for the next decade of his life," Red says.

"Actually, it's only for a year. I just don't want to jump into college without knowing what I want. It's called a gap year."

Jayden looks at him skeptically.

"You really think you can do that?"

Ryan shrugs.

"I am having dinner with my ex and her new boyfriend a few weeks after the breakup. I can do just about anything."

We all chuckle at this.

"Well, her new boyfriend would like to do some revision. So let's hurry it up, shall we?" Jeremy says teasingly, and Ryan raises his hand.

"Whatever you wish, Comrade."

After dinner, Liam receives presents, and the rest of us clean up. Then we sing him happy birthday as he cuts his Cake which is clearly awkward for him but he amuses us anyway. And then we sit around the Persian Carpet in the living room eating Cake and reading. Ryan offers us a drink, but no one accepts it, so he ends up drinking by himself. Steff announces she is feeling sleepy when it's past midnight and heads upstairs, ready to call it a night. A few minutes later, Jeremy follows.

After a while, I yawn, getting up.

"I hate to break up the party. But I am heading to bed."

Liam quirks his brow and then gets up.

"Same."

I grin. There are enough bedrooms here for the others so we can be alone tonight.

"Don't even think about it! You two are loud." Ryan says as if he can read my mind. "The house might be big. But it's not big enough."

My face burns scarlet. Red and Jayden pretend to not have heard but I see their not-so-subtle eye contact and sly smirks. Ugh!

Liam takes my hand.

"You're in my home, Ryan. Deal with it."

We climb up the stairs, my face still hot with embarrassment. Liam glances at me and lets out a laugh.

"Baby, don't mind him."

"We need to behave tonight," I tell him.

"I know."

"This is so embarrassing. They heard us in that Airbnb." I groan when we walk into his room.

He laughs.

I look up at him and my face slowly breaks into a grin because his happiness is contagious. I love that he enjoyed his day.

"Thank you for today." He says.

"You should thank our friends," I tell him. "They were more than happy to be here celebrating with you."

He nods.

"I know. But if it wasn't for you, they wouldn't even be in my life. You made this possible for me, Jess. You gave me a life."

Hazel eyes peer down at me, the humor from moments ago long gone.

"Liam," I whisper not knowing what else to say.

He is looking at me like I am the focal point of his world, and the emotion in his eyes makes goosebumps erupt across my skin.

He brings his hands up, cupping my face.

"I want to tell you I love you. But love doesn't even seem like a strong enough word anymore."

His eyes shine with affection, and warmth spreads through my veins like wildfire. I don't think I will ever get used to this feeling.

I stand on my tippy toes to press my lips into his. He kisses me back lacing his fingers through my hair, allowing me to feel the love in his kiss. But we break apart before we get carried away.

"Does it scare you that I can't keep my hands off you?" He looks at me with dark eyes, his pupils fully dilated.

"No, because I am the same way."

He pulls me to him, and presses a kiss in my hair.

"Cuddle?" He asks.

"Sounds perfect." 

***

Hello, my loves. How are you all doing? Please hit that star and leave a comment if you enjoyed this chapter.

Much love,
Becca