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T he hall was filled with Maggie’s family and friends, all wanting to celebrate her birthday. She could barely contain her excitement as everyone sang happy birthday to her.

Liam and Ashton cheered as she blew out her candles.

“Happy birthday, Maggie!” I grinned.

“Oh, Emily, it’s beautiful! You didn’t need to go to any trouble for me.” She reached up and softly patted my cheek with her hand.

“Don’t be silly. I loved baking this for you.”

“Yeah, Maggie, happy birthday!” Liam beamed, flopping down onto the chair beside her. The way he stared at the cake told me he couldn’t wait to get a slice of it.

“Thank you, my boy. Let me guess, you want some of my cake, don’t you?” She slid the knife into the sponge, cutting him a slice before handing him the plate.

“Thank you, Maggie.” He beamed as he accepted his slice.

Maggie was Mike's grandmother. She was hoping with all she had left in her that I’d go on a date with him, but she was going to continue being incredibly disappointed.

“Oh, darling, you’ve got more around your mouth than in your belly.” My mum laughed as she wiped away the remnants of icing from Liam’s lip.

“You outdone yourself on that cake, sorry I didn’t have a chance to tell you before it was cut.” Mike appeared as if on cue.

“You would have been able to tell her if you weren’t late.” Maggie scolded.

“I’m sorry, gran, you know how things can be at the office.” He apologised before placing a kiss on her cheek.

“You’re forgiven, my boy.” She giggled.

“Sarah, do you mind if I steal your daughter away?” he asked my mum.

“Not at all.” Mum practically shooed me away with him as he couldn’t hide his smile.

He led me outside the social club hall, the cool evening sending goosebumps over my skin.

“Thanks for making her birthday cake. Not many would have on short notice, let alone for no charge.”

“It was my pleasure. She’s been a big part of Liam’s life. It was from him too.”

“How’s he doing? He was complaining to me about the match on Saturday.” He stepped closer to me. “Do you think it was Beckett’s doing?”

“Care to expand on that?” I asked.

“I just mean, do you think Beckett asked Daniel to bench Liam?” He rubbed at the back of his neck as he spoke.

“No, Mike, I don’t. I think Liam grew a smartass attitude and decided to use it on the newest target. It has nothing to do with Beckett.” I placed my hand on the door handle, not needing to be reminded of Beckett every bloody five minutes.

The discomfort of being here lingered like an ache in my chest, a feeling I couldn’t shake no matter how many times I’d tried. Wherever I looked I was reminded of Beckett, and if I reminisced hard enough, I could still hear his laughter as he dragged me here late at night. I squeezed my eyes shut, keeping my back to Mike.

Ten years ago…

“Come on, Emily.” Beckett laughed, squeezing my hand as we walked behind the social club in the dark.

“We’re going to get into trouble, Beckett.” I whimpered, worried about someone catching us sneaking around.

“Don’t worry about it. Nobody will catch us out here.”

The back of the social club hall late at night was a peaceful, secretive place, tucked away from the rest of the world. The air felt cool, carrying a faint scent of damp earth and moss, mixing with the soft fragrance of greenery that surrounded the space. The hall itself, a large, old building with its weathered brick walls, stood quiet in the dark, its shadow stretching long across the grass.

He lifted me effortlessly onto his back as I wrapped my legs around his waist. The scent of his aftershave invaded my senses when the wind blew. He stepped onto the wooden decking as it creaked gently under his feet.

“Why are we here anyway?” I asked.

“I just wanted to see you.” He beamed, causing my heart to race.

He placed me down, his eyes meeting mine the second he spun around.

“But you see me at school?” It came out as more of a question than anything. The thought caused a heat of blush to cover my cheeks. I prayed he couldn’t see it in the darkness of the night.

“Not in the way I’d like to see you, though. I can’t look at you like this.” He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “I can’t be as close to you as this.”

“Beckett…”

Present day…

“Em, are you okay? You kind of zoned out for a second.” Mike asked, his brows knitting together in confusion.

“I’m fine. I was just thinking that’s all.” I pulled the door back open, not wanting to stay outside much longer. It only brought back memories I didn’t want to see or think of.

“About him?” Mike questioned, that knowing expression on his face that I was all too familiar with. I hated when he looked at me like that.

“Why the fuck does everything have to involve Beck?!” I snapped. I was sick of people always bringing him into the conversation when it had been nearly nine years.

“Beck?” Mike raised his brow, noticing right away how I used Beckett’s nickname.

“It was a slip of the tongue. Does it matter?!” I gave him no time to answer. I was pissed off to the point of being ready to leave. “He left me pregnant and alone, yet everyone brings him up at any opportunity they get. If I’m upset, happy, or annoyed—or any other emotion, for that matter—everyone thinks it’s about him!”

“I didn’t mean?—”

“I’m going to get Liam, and I’m leaving. Maybe next time I see you, you’ll be able to keep his name out of your mouth for once.”

I swung the door open, deflation skimming my spine at how a nice evening had turned into a shit show.

“Liam, baby. Let’s go,” I called across the hall.

“Okay, Mum.” There was no protest as he grabbed his jacket and ran over to me with speed in his step. “You okay?”

“I’m good, sweetie. I just want to get home before it gets too late. You have school tomorrow.” He slipped his hand into mine as we left the venue quickly while going unnoticed. I didn’t want to engage in any more pointless conversations.

Later that evening, I lie in bed with Liam curled up beside me, Beckett’s words still ringing in my head as clear as they did all those years ago.

“I like you, Em.”

I snuggled down beside Liam, turning off the light and blanketing us in complete darkness.

“I love you, Mum.” Liam muttered sleepily. In a matter of minutes, he’d be completely out.

“I love you too, angel.” I ran my fingers through his hair as he closed his eyes and started to drift off.

Why weren’t we enough for you?

Why did you throw us and what we had away?

That was the last thought I had that evening as I dozed off holding my son in my arms.

Ten years ago…

“What have you been drawing?” Beckett asked from beside me in the car.

“Cakes.” I smiled.

“Cakes?” He questioned.

“Yeah, I love to bake and design extravagant cake ideas. Whether or not I ever make them is a different story.”

“Do you need a taster?” he asked genuinely, unable to hide his stomach flipping smile.

“Maybe. Are you offering?” I teased.

“Of course I am. As long as I’m the only one, that is.” He grinned.

“That could be arranged.”

Present Day…

“Do you have everything you need?” I asked and Liam pulled on his coat.

“I do. I’ve already got my lunch.” He held up his favourite football team’s lunchbox with a smile.

“Good boy.”

“Do you think Coach will let me play tomorrow, Mum?”

“You know what you have to do if you want to play.” I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him gently. “Maybe next week can be a fresh start for you, but you have to keep the attitude to an absolute minimum for starters.”

“Okay, Mum.” I knew he was upset, but he also had to learn that we couldn’t always get our own way. “I’ll see you after school.”

He kissed me on the cheek before running off towards Kayla’s car. Ashton sat in the backseat, waving frantically as Liam approached. I met Kayla on the first day of Reception. We hit it off and luckily so did our boys. She’d become my best friend, the only one outside of my family who knew who Liam’s dad was.

I waved them off before collecting my hair and pulling it up into a messy bun. I wanted to make Liam’s favourite cupcakes —rainbow sprinkle sponge with homemade vanilla icing—-as a surprise for after school. He’d finish every single one if I’d let him.

A smile played on my lips as I thought of my little boy. The one who had made me a mother. The one who, no matter the day I was having—good or bad—could bring a smile to my face and endless love in my heart.

I mixed the ingredients for the cake and baked it. After they cooled down, I began piping the icing onto the first cupcake. When there was a soft knock at the front door, I mindlessly went to answer it.

“Coming! One second,” I called, hurrying into the hallway.

Pulling the front door open, I never expected to see the man who left me. But there he was, as if no time had passed.

With no air left in my lungs, I just about managed to mutter one word.

“Beckett?”