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“Does that mean I’ll have a daddy now?” Crew asks. I palm my heart to make sure it’s still beating as tears of joy run down my cheeks.
“That’s what it means, buddy,” Liam confirms.
“Good. I was hoping you would be my daddy. You’re the best,” Crew says, and he gets up from his chair, runs around the table to Liam, and throws his little arms around his neck.
“Congratulations are in order,” Dad says. “Thank you, Liam, for including me in this special moment in your life.” His dad gets up and hugs all of us. He’s also crying happy tears.
“So it looks like we have a wedding to plan,” Liam says.
“It looks like we do. And I think we can move in here. What do you say, Crew? I know it will be a bit of a commute to school and work, but we can make it work.”
“Yay,” Crew cheers. “This place is so cool. Wait until Patty hears where we are going to live.”
As I think about Patty, my stomach sinks. She is my guardian angel. I don’t know where I would’ve been without her in my life. It will be hard to leave the apartment and not live with her.
“She’ll understand,” Liam says, reaching out and placing his hand on mine. The fact that he gets me means everything.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
Skylar
6 months later
I can’t believe I’m at NYU to finish my degree. I had been granted all the scholarships I applied for except for one. Still, it was enough to cover more than half my tuition. Bill was sad to see me leave the diner, but he also wished me all the best and gave me a parting bonus. It wasn’t much, but I knew it was all he could afford. Liam insisted on paying the part of my tuition that wasn’t covered. It was my plan to take a student loan, but he wasn’t hearing of it.
Being back in school felt good. I loved my classes and appreciated everything more this time around. I moved Crew to a new school close to NYU, and he thrived. When I told Patty about my engagement, I was worried about her reaction. She’s Crew’s godmother, but she’s been so much more for him. I knew he was going to miss her terribly, but Patty surprised us and said she agreed to take a job working for the Rangers as a physical therapist for the team and was planning to move closer to the arena. She was still in the market for an apartment when we spoke earlier today.
My cell rings as I walk across campus.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hi, baby.” Liam’s warm voice sends shivers down my spine, probably because the memory of our lovemaking is still fresh on my mind from this morning.
Crew and I moved into Liam’s place in the spring. We both love it there, but Liam wanted to buy a townhouse for us so Crew could have a yard. “What’s up?”
“I’m just between classes. Walking across campus,” I say as the warm sun beats down on me.
The Rangers had made it to the playoffs last season, but they didn’t take the cup. Liam was out for the rest of the season after Carter beat him to a pulp, so he spent most of his time healing and then training. I felt terrible about him missing the rest of the season, but he assured me he had no regrets.
The only thing he wanted was for us to tie the knot, but we were waiting for Crew’s adoption papers to come through first.
“The real estate agent called. Said there was a gorgeous brownstone close to Central Park. Do you want to meet me later to see it?” he asks.
“I’d love to,” I reply. “But I have classes until four, then I need to pick up Crew.”
“How about I get Crew and give him dinner, then we go see the brownstone together after he’s asleep. Patty said she wanted to come by to be with him tonight. Remember?”
“Oh, right,” I say. My schedule has been so crazy busy since I’ve been back at school I sometimes find it hard to keep up. Patty has been so good about having regular visits with Crew, which has been great because Crew adores her. “That would definitely work. Thank you.”
“Okay, so I’ll tell the real estate agent we’ll be there at seven,” Liam says. “I have a good feeling about this place.”
“I’m excited to see it. I just got to my class. I better hang up. Love you.”
“Love you too,” Liam says.
We end the call, and I head to classes. It feels weird to be older than most people here, but I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity that I don’t let it bother me. By the end of the day, I head to my car. Liam bought me a Toyota Rav 4 when I moved into his place. He didn’t give me much choice. His exact words were, “It’s a present. Don’t ask me to take it back. Just say thank you.” He was so pleased with himself that I simply said thank you, and now I have my own car. When I look back at my life and remember my rough start and the sheer destiny of landing as Liam’s next-door neighbor, I know there were greater forces at work.
I head home to meet Liam. When I walk into the apartment, he’s sitting on the couch with Crew and Patty. Crew’s hair is wet.
