**Zayla’s POV**
As promised, Liam showed up bright and early, knocking with an urgency that sent my heart racing. My dad answered the door, and I could only imagine the interrogation he was putting Liam through in the living room. My dad has a knack for transforming simple introductions into twenty-question marathons.
I zipped through my morning routine, my heart pounding with excitement. I quickly tossed my hair into a messy bun, slid into a comfy sweatshirt and leggings, and tied my tennis shoes. Bolting down the stairs, I burst into the front room, and my breath hitched at the sight of Liam—he looked so out of place and awkward. A giggle slipped out, and his smile lit up the room, melting me like ice on a summer day. Even Ari, my cat, purred at the tension in the air, sensing the mome
