Theodore


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    Casper has never been a fan of strangers. In fact, he’s never been a fan of people in general. He’d much rather glare at them from across the room than offer them a friendly meow. It took Gwen a whole year before he could be in the same room as Casper without him bolting out. Even now with Gwen living with me Casper’s still on the shy side when it comes to interacting with him. It’s something Gwen complains about on the daily.


    So I’m left speechless when he darts between my legs and climbs Liam like a tree. Gwen let’s out a gasp behind me and while I’m just as shocked by Casper’s actions as he is all I can do is stare as Liam takes him into his arms and holds him tight. Casper gives him a gentle meow as he stares up in wonder.


    “Well, hello to you too,” Liam says, and the gentleness I hear in his voice makes me smile.


    “I’m sorry about that, he’s not normally like this,” I tell him as I offer to take Casper from him. His eyes find mine and they’re the same stormy blue eyes I remember from all those years ago. Looking at them reminds me of the sky back in Maine and suddenly I’m homesick. In my mind’s eye, I see a little town surrounded by an endless forest of green. Evergreen. The one place I used to call home.


    “What’s his name?” His words snaps me out of my head and it takes me a second to process his question. By the time I think of a reply, Gwen is answering for me.


    “His name’s Casper.”


    I’m close enough to hear Liam whisper, “Casper.”


    “And you are?” Gwen asks, his voice full of suspicion as he steps in front of me like a bodyguard. His unneeded caution has me chuckling to myself.


    “Gwen, this is Liam Price, he’s—” I trail off when it hits me that I don’t know what to call Liam.


    My brother’s best friend. The stranger with the deep blue eyes. The boy who I was always too intimidated to approach. The man who professed his love to me on that bleak snowy day. The person I’ve spent late nights wondering about, asking myself endless question of what if’s. One of the many people I think about on days my heart is heavy with regret.


    “An old acquaintance,” Liam offers up and I nod in agreement even though a part of me screams that those words doesn’t do him justice, doesn’t do us justice.


    “Would you like to come in?”


    My question begins a stare down between Liam and Gwen. They seem to be having a silent conversation, one I guess they didn’t feel the need to include me in. I internally roll my eyes at the both of them.


    “Gwen, do me a favor and go feed my fish for me.”


    I tug him behind me and hand Casper over to him. Gwen looks at me in confusion. We both know I don’t own a fish. After a moment of looking at me like I’m speaking in riddles his eyes widen in realization and he sighs.


    “Call me if you need anything,” he mumbles before heading down the hallway, Casper in his arms, and Batman scurrying to keep up.


    “Come inside,” I plead and with nothing but a nod Liam follows me down the hall and into the kitchenette.


    There are remnants of Gwen making breakfast all around. The frying pan still on the stove, the loaf of bread left on the counter. Dishes in the sink and the toaster still plugged into the wall.


    “Sorry about the mess, Gwen just finished making us breakfast.”Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    I take the pan off the stove and drop it into the sink before I turn to face Liam. He’s standing with his hands in the pockets of his black trench coat simply watching me with an expression I can’t read no matter how hard I analyze it. I shift in place, feeling a sudden sense of restlessness. His gaze on me is something I had forgotten the feeling of. To have it directed solely on me after all this time feels daunting.


    “Would you like something to drink? Coffee maybe?” I force out. My question earns me a small grin.


    “If it’s not too much trouble, that would be lovely.”


    Nodding, I point to the small table tucked under an open window. The white curtains Gwen took the initiative to buy after he moved in are dancing in the breeze while the sunshine pouring in plays across the table top. Liam sits, letting his eyes roam around the house. It takes everything in me to not stand there and watch him. Instead, I busy myself with making us both a cup of coffee.


    “I don’t know how you like it, so please help yourself,” I tell him as I place both the cream and sugar on the table.


    I’ve always drank my coffee black, which made Gwen scrunch his nose in disgust when he found out. He’s always had a sweet tooth and the thought of drinking something so bitter was unfathomable to him. Liam must have developed a sweet tooth during our time apart because the amount of sugar he adds to his cup of coffee has my teeth aching.


    “I don’t remember you having a sweet tooth,” I comment and he chuckles softly before bringing the steaming cup to his lips.


    “It’s something I’ve developed over the past few years,” he proclaims as he stares out the window. I take a moment to admire the man he’s become. He was always good looking, the kind of handsome that makes me question if god really does pick favorites. Blue eyes that hold hidden charm. Dark brown hair that sits perfectly on top of his head. Full lips and a sharp jaw that looks like something an artist would sculpt. Even his facial hair looks like something cut out of a magazine.


    “Why are you here?” I ask in an attempt to stop myself from committing every one of his features to memory. After a moment of agonizing silence he speaks.


    “Lexi died last week.” His words are said without emotion, but they unleash so many in me.


    Shock, sadness, regret and anger.


    A piece of my heart breaks the way it only does when youlose someone you love. I’ve loved Lexi since the day Gillian introduced her to me with hearts in his eyes. She made him smile, brought to life a side of him I hadn’t seen since we were children. Sometimes I swore she breathed life into him. She can’t be gone.


    “Theodore!”


    One moment Liam is sitting in front of me and the next he’s at my side pulling me out of my chair and over to the sink. My right hand is covered in brown liquid and a voice at the back of my head tells me it’s coffee. Liam holds my hand under cold water that helps to soothe the burning pain I’m only now starting to feel.


    “How?” I ask him because I can’t stand the thought of not knowing something as important as to how she passed.


    When Liam answers my question with silence I explode.


    “How!” I shout, yanking my hand from his hold and stepping away from him. This kitchen suddenly doesn’t feel big enough. In fact I’m pretty sure everything is closing in around me.


    “She was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago.”


    His words feel like a stab to the heart and for a second I stop breathing. I lost Chris to cancer and now Lexi.


    “Gillian,” I can barely get my brother’s name out. I can only imagine the pain he must be feeling. Lexi was his other half. Losing her is something I know he won’t survive alone.


    Shame floods my body when I think of the fact that I wasn’t there for him when he probably needed me the most. In all honesty, I haven’t been there for him since Chris’ death. I’ve been too busy trying to escape the war inside my head.


    “Stop. Don’t do that,” Liam demands with pleading eyes. His gaze is kind and right now kindness isn’t something I can handle.


    “I can see it in your eyes. The blame you’re placing on yourself. This isn’t your fault,” he claims as he steps forward. I let him take my hand and place an envelope in it.


    “There’s a plane ticket to Maine in there. Take it and go see your brother. It’s not too late, Theodore.”


    I stare at him in wonderment. I didn’t ask for such kindness yet he readily gave it. His selflessness brings tears to my eyes.


    “Thank you.” Those are the only words that seem appropriate for what he’s done. I could repeat them a million times and it still wouldn’t be enough to convey the gratitude I’m feeling.


    “I’ll see myself out. Thank you for the coffee,” he says before turning to leave. I open my mouth to ask him to stay, but the words get caught in my throat so instead I watch him walk away, listening to the sound of his retreating footsteps and then the sound of the front door opening and closing. Not even a second later Gwen comes flying into the kitchen.


    “What happened? I was trying to eavesdrop, but failed miserably.” His eyes widen when he sees the tears running down my face. “Theo? Is everything alright?”


    There’s so much I need to tell him, but my right now I can only piece together these words.


    “I’m going to Maine.”