Chapter 21

Emily POV

Years from now, I’ll replay this memory in my head like a movie on repeat, every scene meticulously wrapped in tissue paper and saved for preservation.

We play for hours, never mind the fact that it’s the early hours of the morning. Liam speaks with an urgency while regaling me with stories of monsters and princesses, as if he’s afraid I’m going to leave any minute now.

“What’s your favorite song?” he asks, his eyes filled with curious excitement.

I sit and think before I answer. No one’s ever asked me that before.

“Mmmm, that’s a tough one. What’s your favorite song?” I ask in return.

“Dad likes Otis Redding. He said he used to play all of his songs when I was little ’cause his voice was the only thing that calmed me down. So if I were to pick one, it would be ‘Dock of the Bay,’” he says.

“That’s a really good choice. I quite like Otis too,” I yawn at him.

“I really like Ariana and Beyonce as well. Dad says it’s important to have diversity,” he adds. “I don’t know about th