Chapter 63

sixty-three

LIAM

I should have realized that Paul was about to talk about the one thing I was trying to ignore.

After we left the kitchen, we found some chairs on the edge of the living room. Most of the other guests were enjoying dessert in another room.

Paul seemed nervous, but I put that down to being surrounded by Alex's soon-to-be extended family. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that I knew something important was happening.

"I've been thinking about what you said the other day. About hope and looking for the good in the world." He clasped his hands on his lap. Paul was more nervous than I'd ever seen him. "I've been so busy planning for Amy's and my future that I didn't consider what was going on around us. Until a short time ago, you weren't in any of our plans. None of this was. And then I met you. I thought if I changed what I was going to do, it would ruin everything. But I didn't appreciate what was happening between us."

My hand shook so much that I had to leave my coffee beside Paul's. "I need to tell you something. "

"It's okay. I understand if this is a shock. I don't usually change my mind so quickly, but?—"

"I've accepted a job in Chicago."

Paul's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I'm driving back to Boulder tomorrow morning. I'll pack most of my things and organize a company to take them to Chicago. I fly out of Boulder on Friday."

Paul cleared his throat. "How long are you staying in Chicago?"

"It's not a contract. It's a permanent position."

"Permanent?" Paul's face lost all its color. "Your dad must be excited."

"I haven't told him yet. I only found out this afternoon that I got the job. I'll be leading a team of fifteen special agents and working closely with the Pentagon. Jobs like this don't come along very often."

"Congratulations. It sounds exciting. I need to…I need to check on Amy. I'll be back soon."

As soon as Paul left, I took a deep breath. He'd been close to tears, but following him out of the room wouldn't help.

Accepting the position in Chicago wasn't an easy decision. My dad would be over the moon, but I hadn't known how Paul would react. And now that I knew how he felt about me, I wasn't sure I'd done the right thing.