Page 15 of Love in Times of Contempt

"I'd like to point out I've pushed no buttons," Liam said to Ana's side, his hand reaching to her waist and pulling her close. She surrounded his waist with her arm, squeezing in what she hoped was a comforting manner.

Alex' eyes followed the gesture. His face remained immobile, except for the slightest change to the tension on his lips.

"Except for that one comment, you mean." Julia arched an eyebrow.

Ana glanced at Liam, who smirked. "Except for that one, Mom."

"Anyway, do you want a drink, Alex?" Steve offered. "Dinner's almost ready."

Ana and Liam sat at the kitchen island again, but Alex remained away. He leaned against the counter where his mom worked.

Ana changed the subject. Maybe it would lift the spirit of the room. "I noticed some of the paintings here look a lot like the ones in your house, Liam." A whisper of a thought questioned whether she should have saidour house, but she squashed it for later contemplation. "Are they from the same artist?"

"It's two different artists," Liam replied. "Mom and Alex."

"What?! And you never told me?" Ana blanched.

He chuckled. "I… guess I didn't, sorry. I thought you'd have noticed the signatures."

"They're beautiful." Ana gazed at Liam's mom, who had a soft smile on her face. Alex's face, on the other hand, was hard as a stone. Ana whipped her eyes back to Julia. "I always thought they looked like the works of two different people; I guess I was right. Are yours the more abstract ones or the other style?"

"Mine are the abstract ones—" she started to say, but Alex interrupted her.

"You have some of my stuff up in your place?" His voice was deep and aggravated.

Ana barely noticed that she was looking back and forth between the brothers, just like their mom had before.

"Yeah." Liam responded with a hint of a challenge in his tone. Ana knew him well enough to know he regretted it; he tried to do better and added, "of course."

Alex frown deepened. "You should take them down."

"What? No. I like them."

"They really are great," Ana tried.

"Maybe you could come see them." Liam put his arm around her again, pulling her to him. "They really do look good. And we'd love to have you there."

Alex shook his head. "Maybe. One day."

"Alex," his dad admonished.

"I didn't ask him to buy those." Alex scowled and looked out of the window.

"That's not what this is about." Liam's hand pressed against Ana's skin, and she put a hand over his, sending him as much comfort as she could.

"He was trying to support you," Steve said at the same time.

Julia sighed. "I hope you prepared poor Ana for this, Liam."

Julia's concern broke the spell.

Liam had turned to check on Ana, and she watched his face transform from sudden worry to relief. "I didn't. Not quite for this."

"It doesn't scare me." Ana gave Liam a peck. She couldn't help it; she smiled. "I can take two brothers quarreling."

Liam kissed her temple.

"And with that," Julia said as she opened the oven, "dinner is ready."