Aria’s POVThe auditorium at Joe and William’s school buzzes with excited energy as parents, teachers, and students gather for the science fair presentations. I take a seat in the front row, my eyes scanning the stage for the boys.They’re near the back, standing beside a large, papier-mâché volcano
Aria’s POVThe phone buzzes on my desk, cutting through the soft hum of the office. I glance at the screen, already knowing who it is before I pick up.The executive’s name flashes across my phone, and a knot forms in my stomach. I’ve been expecting this call, but that doesn’t make it any easier.“A
Liam’s POV The rhythmic hum of the printer fills the room, each sheet of paper sliding out one after the other. I watch them as if they're about to reveal the secrets of the universe, but my heart pounds a little harder with every page that lands on my desk.My assistant gives me a tentative smile
Liam’s POVThe morning sun filters through the windshield as I drive William to school. The radio’s on, playing softly in the background, but the weight in the car feels heavier than usual.I glance at William in the rearview mirror. He’s unusually quiet today, which isn’t like him.Normally, he’d b
Aria’s POV For days, I had agonized over this choice. I had pushed it off for as long as I could, finding every possible excuse not to face this imperfect decision. There were so many reasons to choose either side. I liked it here as things were, but it would be a disservice to me and the good o
Anything to keep the growing doubts from rising up in my mind. I made the right choice, I told myself, again and again. Any choice would have had doubts attached. But this one has new opportunities and room for advancement. I survived a few hours before a company-wide congratulatory email went o
Liam’s POV It was the wrong thing to ask. I knew that the instant the words left my mouth. No, before that, when I was walking down the hallway to Aria’s office, repeating to myself, Congratulate her. Be happy and proud of her. Your own feelings can wait. Lot of good that pep talk did. Fifteen s
“What if you go and he’s not happy there?” I asked. “But what if he is?” Aria countered. “What if this is the change we both need? What if it brings us both nothing but happiness?” That simply can’t be, because you wouldn’t be with me. I didn’t say it, even though it sat on the edge of my tong
Liam’s POVI watched my phone as it rang, seeing Joanna’s name on the screen. After talking with the investor, and already receiving texts from the others that mirror his opinions, I had next to no desire to answer this call and speak with Joanna herself.And after what she said on television… She p
Aria’s POVI sat on the couch between Liam and Joe, with William sitting on the other side of Liam, watching as the interview was about to air on television.I’d been nervous, even up to a minute ago, but now I only felt numb. I had no idea what was about to happen, but in this moment, I had nothing
Joe’s POVAfter school the next day, William and Joe are supposed to go to the bus and take it home, but they sidetrack, heading downtown instead. Using one of the kids at school’s phone, they already texted Isabelle their plans, asking her to pick them up. They didn’t stick around to see if there w
Aria’s POVIt was the easiest question of my life. “Of course I do. I love Liam very much.”“Then that’s really all you need,” Jackson said. Seeing I was about to dismiss him, he hurriedly continues. “Listen, I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the honest truth. Does it matter what anyone else thinks?
Liam’s POVI stared at Joanna, as the dread crept up inside of me. She was clearly trying to intimidate me though, as if hoping to see if I’d buckle under pressure, and I absolutely refused to give her that satisfaction. So I rallied myself, standing straighter, and told her plainly, “I won’t be int
Liam’s POVWho the hell did this guy think he was, coming into our home and attacking Aria like that? The interviewer Craig had a bad attitude from the start, but I’d been willing to overlook all of it for the sake of the actual interview. To even get the crew here, I’d had to call in some favors. I
Despite that look, the first half of the interview seemed to go alright. Liam and I introduced Joe and William, and the kids talked for a bit about how much they loved us, as well as some of their favorite pastimes.“I want to be a racecar driver when I get older,” William said. “Just like my dad.”
Aria’s POVThe producer suggested that we start with the full family interview as we eased into things, so, after the crew set up the cameras in lighting in the living room, we sat down.The interviewer, the reporter from the station Liam had called a favor into, kept us waiting for a while, as he s
Aria’s POVUnder my ear, I heard the quick pulsing of Liam’s heart, hammering in his chest. Glancing up at him, I was surprised to find his eyes a little wide. Then, I realized the implications of what I had just said.“I didn’t mean it like that!” I said quickly, blushing hard.I wasn’t ready for s