Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

The Proposal: Part Two

Liv nods, already way ahead of me as I watch her send the picture on through before the sixteen-year-old glances up at me with a smirk. "You look super whipped in that photo."

I shrug, not even dying that I am indeed whipped. "What can I say? Lizzie's hot, and I just know how to be incredibly grateful for what I got."

I almost choke from laughing as I catch the way the teen looks at me, with pure disgust. "Ew. Gross. Don't talk about my mother like that."

That comment seems to catch us both off guard, and I know she must have let that accidentally slip out, because the teenager's eyes are as wide as saucers as she stands frozen next to me. "I- I didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry."

I somehow manage to compose myself and shake my head, reaching out to squeeze the girl's shoulder. "No, Liv, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. I can completely forget that happened, and I won't mention it to Lizzie if you want me to."

The brunette shifts her weight anxiously as she tears her gaze away from mine and directs it down to the floor with a frown. "It just slipped out."

Glancing around the room, I take note of all the people that could potentially overhear this conversation and quickly grab the girl's elbow to lead her out of the living room and into the empty kitchen. She seems confused by my actions and I give her a small, but reassuring smile. "Sorry, I just figured you wouldn't want anyone else to overhear us. You wanna talk about it?"

The girl hesitates before shaking her head, suddenly looking guilty. "No, it's okay. It was just an accident, it's all good. I don't want to make this into, like, a thing. Tonight it is supposed to be about you and Lizzie. I'm not gonna take away from that."

"You're not taking away from anything, kiddo. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. You just looked like you were struggling there for a second."

When the teenager doesn't respond I let out a sigh and pull her into a tight hug, smiling a little when she melts into it. "You know Lizzie and I don't expect you to call us by anything other than what you're comfortable with, right? There's no pressure, and there will be no ill will if you choose to just call us Y/N and Lizzie for the rest of your life, so if that's what you're worried about- don't be. We love you no matter what, babe."

The teen nods against my shoulder and it's only then that I pull away and duck down to meet her gaze and smile. "Although if, and it's only if you want to, we would be honored to be your moms."

I'm not really sure if it's the heavy nature of the topic or what, but I watch as the girl's big brown eyes well up with tears before I'm pulled back into a hug. This time I don't pull away, because I get it, so I make sure her wrapped up in my arms for as long as she wants.

After a few more minutes, I feel her arms slacken around my waist and I let her back up, wiping at her cheeks to remove a few of the tears that had managed to escape. "Are we good?"

The teen nods, sniffling a little and I keep a hand on her shoulder just because she looks like she needs the support right now. Our little moment is interrupted when the kitchen door swings open, and Lizzie walks in, looking more than a little worried until she spots the two of us. "There you two are. I was wondering where you went."

She must notice Liv's puffy eyes because her concern is quickly back as she looks over at me questioningly, and as I'm not about to mention the slip-up unless Liv wants to, I keep quiet.

My reaction only causes the blonde to frown more before she makes her way over to take the teenager's face in her hands. "Are you okay?"

Olivia nods, giving the older woman a small smile as her gaze flickers over towards me for a split second. "I'm good, Mom."