Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Valentine's Day

Chuckling, I briefly feel for the teenager for being subjected to that. I've been shopping with all those women before, and it's definitely an experience. "Yeah, have fun with that. At least I know you'll be able to keep her busy for a few hours."

"Have you thought about what you're going to say yet?"

I let out a sigh as I move into the bathroom to start getting ready, going through the motions of putting on my usual light makeup look that I do for stuff like this. "I've been thinking about it for a while now, but I'm not settled on anything just yet."

Liv joins me in the bathroom so we can continue our conversation, glancing around the room. She's been exploring the entire house these past two weeks, but I don't think she's been in here just yet. Although I don't understand what's so interesting about our bathroom. I don't comment out loud on it, though because I want the teenager to feel comfortable anywhere. This is, after all, her home now, too. "It is weird to think that you'll be engaged soon?"

I finish out my eye-liner and drop the pencil back in its designated spot, shrugging. "I've been engaged before, Lizzie and I both have, so I assume it will feel a lot like it did then. Only different, because this is the last time I ever plan on doing it."

Out of the corner of my eye I notice the teen's eyebrows raise. "Oh, yeah. I kinda forgot you were married before you met Lizzie. Was she really engaged to that one dude? I don't remember his name."

"Boyd, and yes, they were engaged."

Liv snaps upon hearing the name, smiling slightly. "Yes! That dude. I wonder what happened there."

I simply shrug again, finishing off the final touches of my makeup before turning to face the teenager, leaning back against the sink. "I don't know, I never asked her why she broke it off. She just briefly mentioned it once and never brought it back up again."

Liv nods, seeming content with that answer and this little glance into both mine and Lizzie's pasts. I'm grateful she doesn't question my previous marriage, as that's the very last subject I want to discuss with my own child, but it does remind me that this is kind of a two-way street. We know a lot, but not everything about Liv and there are still a few things she doesn't know about us.

"Hey, Y/N, can I ask you something?"

I nod, watching as the teen drops my gaze and fiddles with her fingers. For a moment I could swear that I'm looking at a miniature version of Lizzie, but quickly remind myself that whatever's brought about her sudden anxiousness must be serious. "You can always ask me anything, babe. What's up?"

Liv continues to anxiously fidget with her fingers for a few minutes before letting out a sigh and looking back up at me. "How did you know you were gay?"

Blinking, because that honestly caught me off guard, I just shake my head as I try and think about it. "Oh, uh. Well, when I was in middle school I had a crush on this one girl, and as I got a little older I realized that I didn't feel that way about boys."

Liv nods, frowning momentarily as she seems to get lost in her own thoughts. I don't push the subject, as much as I'm dying to know if she's questioning her sexuality, because I want her to feel safe enough to tell me that on her own- if that's what's going on.

"I think I'm...that I'm gay."

And there it is, and I don't miss the way it's quietly whispered, as if she's genuinely terrified about how I'll react to this news. I understand, I've been there. I cried when I eventually told my mother, so I get it. And with a small smile, I walk towards the teen and pull her into a tight hug, leaning my head against hers. "Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to tell me that, sweetheart. I know that probably wasn't easy, and I'm really proud of you for being brave enough to come out to me."