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“Is he Carter’s?” he asks, and I watch him swallow hard like the words taste bad. His Adam’s apple bobs.
“Yes. You don’t have to say it like it’s a bad thing,” I snap, then I instantly regret it.
He puts the ladle of food he’s holding back in the tray. There isn’t anyone lining up for food, so we have a couple of minutes of no serving. He touches my wrist. “I don’t know which emotion you just read on me, but I assure you it wasn’t anything bad. Any child of yours is a beautiful gift. I’m just sorry I screwed up so badly that Crew isn’t mine,” he discloses, and his words hit me right in the heart like an arrow reaching its mark. Damn him. He’s grown up. He’s maybe matured. I don’t know the Liam of today. What I do know is he has a sweet-talking mouth.
“That boat sailed,” I confirm. “And yes, Crew is Carter’s son, but I don’t talk about that with anyone. Carter didn’t want anything to do with the pregnancy. He’s never met Crew, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Far be it from me to mess that up. My lips are sealed, Skylar.” We get interrupted when Patty and Kevin return with refills on the food. Liam doesn’t budge from my side though, so they move down the table and continue serving. “This isn’t the time or place to talk, but I’d like to meet up some time,” he suggests, and his gaze holds mine.
Something in his eyes always called to me, but I can’t let my resolve melt so easily. “I don’t mean this in a bad way, but what would be the point? We’ve both moved on with our lives.”
“I haven’t moved on with mine. I think about you a lot,” he admits.
My heart stutters in my chest as the eighteen-year-old girl inside me remembers him walking away. The memories of wanting him to come back to me clear as day. Only Liam didn’t come back, and my heart shattered as I took refuge in Carter’s arms.
“My life is complicated as it is,” I share. “Between raising my son and working, I don’t have extra time, not even for myself.”
“Gotcha.” He nods. Then he’s serving food to a woman and her child.
The night wears on, and then we all leave the shelter. Liam tells Myles he’s going to Uber back home.
“Can I get your number?” he asks me before he leaves.
I chew my lip. I don’t want to come off bitchy, but I also can’t set myself up for any more hurt. I have a child to think about. Crew needs to come first.
“We can meet for coffee or something. Maybe I can sit beside you on a park bench when Crew is playing in the park,” he offers.
Damn you, Liam Bozeman.
“Fine,” I concede. That boy still knows how to get to me.
I give him my number, and he enters it into his phone.
“See you soon, Skylar. We head out of town for a couple of days tomorrow, but you’ll be hearing from me.”
I’m a damn puddle on the floor already.
I nod and smile because, quite frankly, I’m speechless.
Liam leaves and heads out in an Uber.
I head back to Tribeca with Patty and Kevin. Kevin is driving his mother’s Rover, and I’m sitting in the back seat.
“So that was intense,” Patty voices, turning around to look at me.
I yawn. I feel exhausted. I’m emotionally drained. I nod. “Not in my wildest dreams did I ever picture Liam saying those things to me. He was always so shut down, reserved. . .” I say to Patty.
“So maybe he’s changed. Grown up, maybe,” she says a little too excited. “Sounds like he’s still holding a torch for you.”
I look at my friend and then at Kevin. Kevin looks out at the road, but he shrugs. “This is girl talk. I’m not getting involved. Besides, I have no good advice for you.”
“My brother is such a romantic, isn’t he?” Patty jokes.
“Hey, I never claimed to be,” Kevin retorts. “Neither of you get out or have much fun.”
“Well, I’m busy with school now, Mr. NHL player,” Patty says. I like their sibling banter. It’s something I never experienced. Watching them argue in a loving way makes me think of Crew. I hope I can give him siblings one day. I always saw myself having a big family. Funny how life never turns out the way you think it will.
“Don’t pull that card on me. People in school still know how to have fun,” he replies.
