Chapter 57
Aria’s POV
The 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 that looks like it’s been through some serious trial and error.
Both Joe and William are grinning ear to ear, animatedly talking with their classmates while they wait for their turn to present.
I can’t help but smile at the sight. They’ve become inseparable over the past few months—two peas in a pod.
Watching them now, I realize how much Joe’s friendship with William has done for him.
Joe has always been bright and independent, but this bond seems to have brought out a new layer of confidence in him. And William—well, it’s clear how much he needs this friendship, too.
As the presentations move forward, I shift in my seat, feeling a swell of pride. When the boys’ turn finally comes, they rush up to the stage, their enthusiasm palpable.
Joe takes the lead, explaining the basics of how their volcano works, while William eagerly demonstrates, tipping a small bottle of baking soda into the cone as Joe pours in the vinegar.
The reaction is almost immediate—foam erupts from the top of the volcano, splashing onto the table. A few people gasp, while others applaud the spectacle.
William and Joe beam at each other, clearly pleased with their work.
"See, we told you it would work!" William says, nudging Joe with his elbow.
Joe grins back. "Yeah, but it was my idea to use extra vinegar."
William crosses his arms, mock-offended. "Your idea? Please, I’m the one who figured out the right amount!"
I stifle a laugh as their friendly bickering continues. The boys' competitiveness has become a regular thing, but it’s always good-natured.
They push each other to be better without ever losing that playful camaraderie.
As the crowd applauds, I find myself clapping a little harder than necessary, proud of them both. When the boys step off stage, they head straight to me, wide-eyed with excitement.
“Mom, did you see that?” Joe asks, breathless. “It worked exactly how we planned!”
William, not to be outdone, adds, “And the explosion was huge! Everyone was impressed, right?”
“I think you guys might have the best project in the whole fair,” I say, ruffling Joe’s hair. “You both did an amazing job.”
Joe beams, and William stands a little taller, as if my approval means more than he’s letting on.
As we pack up their materials, I notice Liam waiting near the entrance, scanning the crowd. He catches my eye and offers a small wave, his expression unreadable.
I walk over, leaving the boys behind to finish up.
“Hey,” he says softly when I approach. “Can we talk?”
I glance back at the boys, then nod. “Yeah, sure.”
We end up at a small restaurant nearby, tucked into a quiet corner booth away from the main hustle and bustle of the dinner crowd.
The conversation starts light—small talk about Joe’s school, William, and the science project. But after the food arrives, Liam puts down his fork and leans forward, his tone turning more serious.
“Aria, there’s something I’ve been meaning to say for a while now,” he begins, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re more than just my past. You’re my future, if you’ll let me prove it.”
I blink, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. He’s never said anything like this before—not so plainly. My heart beats a little faster, and I find myself grasping for words.
“Liam, I—” I start, but then pause. How do I even respond to that? The truth is, I’ve been feeling so many conflicting emotions lately.
Yes, we’ve reconnected, and yes, there’s still something between us. But the hurt from our past, the uncertainty about our future—it’s all still so complicated.
Seeing my hesitation, Liam presses on.
“I know things haven’t been easy for us, and I take full responsibility for a lot of that. But I’m trying, Aria. I want to be there for you, for Joe. I want to be the person you can rely on again.”
I bite my lip, feeling the weight of his words. My mind races. This could be the moment to tell him the truth about Joe. I take a deep breath, steeling myself.
“Liam, I have to tell you something—” I begin, but before I can finish, the waiter stumbles into our table, knocking over several glasses of water.
The cold liquid splashes all over my lap, and I gasp in surprise.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry!” the waiter exclaims, frantically grabbing napkins to clean up the mess. Liam, ever the protector, immediately jumps up, his face a mask of irritation.
“What the hell, man? You can’t be that careless!” he snaps, glaring at the poor waiter, who looks like he might burst into tears any second.
“It’s fine,” I say quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. I’m secretly relieved by the interruption. I wasn’t ready to have this conversation—not yet.
Liam eventually calms down, though he’s still scowling as the waiter brings us new drinks. I offer a small smile to Liam to let him know I’m okay, but internally, I’m grappling with the near-confession I almost made.
A few days later, Logan and I attend a play together.
It’s one of those spontaneous things—he texted me last-minute with tickets, and I figured, why not?
The play is entertaining enough, but I can’t help but feel Logan watching me during the performance, like he’s waiting for something.
Afterward, we grab coffee at a small café. Logan leans back in his chair, sipping his drink while eyeing me thoughtfully.
“So, how’s everything at work?” he asks casually.
“Busy,” I reply with a shrug. “I’m still weighing the promotion offer.”
Logan raises an eyebrow. “You still haven’t decided?”
“It’s not that simple,” I say, stirring my coffee absentmindedly. “There’s a lot to consider.”
“I get that,” Logan says, his voice quiet but serious. “But you can’t stay stuck forever, Aria. You deserve to move forward, in whatever direction that is.”
His words hit me harder than I expect. Logan’s always been straightforward with me, but this feels different—more urgent, more personal.
“I just... don’t want to make the wrong decision,” I admit, finally meeting his eyes.
Logan’s expression softens, and for a moment, I see something vulnerable in him.
“I believe you’ll make the right choice,” he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. “And whatever happens, I’m here for you.”
There’s something bittersweet in his tone, and I realize just how much this promotion—and everything else—has been weighing on both of us.
Logan’s been so supportive, but I can tell the thought of me leaving hurts him. He doesn’t say it outright, but it’s there in the way his smile falters, in the way his eyes flicker with something unspoken.
“Thanks, Logan,” I say softly. “That means a lot.”
As we finish our coffee, the conversation drifts to lighter topics, but the undercurrent of tension remains. I know I can’t keep avoiding these decisions forever.
