Page 28

LIAM

“ W hat are you going to do?” Aurora leaned into Kylian’s side, where they sat together on the other couch.

I shrugged, still working to process what had happened yesterday.

It was late, and we’d just finished a huge meal that Aurora had made.

Kylian and Ares rallied around me, forcing me to return to our place after weightlifting rather than spending hours reviewing film like I’d planned.

I knew our competition, as I’d poured over the footage for hours the past few days.

They were right; I needed a break to think things through rather than avoid the issue.

“You like Lily, though,” Ares said, pulling Brielle into his lap.

She looped her arm around his neck and leaned against him on the opposite end of the couch from where I sat.

“Don’t you want to work things out with Skye?” he pressed. “Be a part of your daughter’s life?”

“Yeah, of course I do.” I scowled as a wave of possessiveness swept through me. “Knowing I’m Lily’s dad changes things—it ties us together—and I would never abandon my kid.”

“What about the NFL?” Brielle tucked a honey-blond strand behind her ear.

I raked my hand through my hair for the hundredth time. “I don’t want to give it up, but maybe I can convince Skye to move to wherever I’m drafted so I can be a part of Lily’s life?—”

“And Skye’s,” Aurora interjected forcefully. “I know you’re mad at her—and rightly so—but you’re totally into her. There’s no denying it.” She rushed the words out when I opened my mouth to argue. “Can’t you work past this?”

“I don’t know.” I forced a measured breath, working through things mentally before speaking.

“I mean, yeah, I’m attracted to her, but I don’t trust her.

Not after she left me the way she did and withheld the news that I would be a father.

” I held up my hand when Brielle opened her mouth to counter.

“I get it. I’m sure she was scared, but keep in mind, she had two-plus fucking years to come clean. I lost all that time with Lily.”

“She shouldn’t have kept this from you,” Ares growled. “No matter what, remember we’re on your side.”

“We get that you’re upset. Hell, I would be too,” Kylian said. “But too much is at stake to let your feelings fester. Work things out with Skye.”

“Every day you delay talking it out with her is another one you lose with Lily,” Aurora chimed in. “We want the best for you, and I know you care about them.”

I nodded. She was right. They all were, but I was just so damn mad at Skye. The worst of the shock had worn off, and I could think a little clearer. I could grudgingly understand why she hadn’t told me. I was a dick about her wanting more of a commitment from me.

Honestly, even back then, I would have given it to her.

Deep down, I knew she was the one for me, and it had scared the hell out of me, which was why I’d pushed her away.

That was on me, and I would own that. She was right about Coach.

Part of me still worried that when he found out, it would affect my future, but I had to risk it.

I couldn’t bear to lose Skye and Lily all over again.

Kylian was still talking, but I wasn’t listening anymore. My thoughts were stuck on Skye—and Lily. I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to clear the memories clawing their way forward. It was no use.

Freshman year, the night we’d snuck onto the football field. Skye had been laughing, her head tipped back under the glow of the stadium lights. I’d been showing off, juggling the football like an idiot, and I remember how she’d stopped mid-laugh to look at me—really look at me.

“You know you’re going to be unstoppable, right?” she’d said, her voice so certain it made my chest tighten.

I’d laughed it off, called her a dreamer, but the truth was, I’d needed to hear it. No one else had ever looked at me like that—like I could be more than just the next big NFL hopeful. Like I was already enough.

The memory hit harder now, knowing what I’d lost. She’d believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and I’d thrown it all away.

Kylian’s voice cut through my haze. “So, what are you going to do, man?”

I straightened, forcing myself back into the present. “I’m going to talk to her.”

“We’re here for you,” Ares said.

“No matter what,” Kylian reiterated as the girls got up and hugged me.

Goddamn, I loved them—they were my family. The three of us had already been through more than most would in a lifetime, and it’d bonded us. I was just so grateful for Ares and Kylian.

It was just past nine at night, but I couldn’t wait any longer, now that I’d decided.

I grabbed my phone from where I’d tossed it on the coffee table next to the game controllers and thumbed off a message asking if we could talk.

A few minutes later, Skye texted that she was at my sister’s and I could meet her there.

I didn’t take long to get to Fiona’s and let myself into her townhome. Dad was passed out in the recliner. Good. With my emotions all over the place, things would not go well if I had to deal with him.

I locked onto Skye as she sat across from Fio, hands wrapped around a coffee mug. I caught a little of their conversation before my impatience got the best of me, and I interrupted them. “Hey, sis. I need to talk to Skye for a minute.”

“Ah, no.” Fiona leveled me with her older sister’s death stare. “Skye popped over to share info I need for the case. We’ll be done in five.” She waved me away. “Go. There’s leftover lasagna in the fridge.”

I hesitated, but my stomach won out. I loved Fio’s lasagna.

I forced myself to go into the kitchen and reheat food without stomping or slamming things—no need to wake Dad and have him be a part of, well, anything.

When the microwave dinged, I took out the plate, leaned a hip against the counter, and dug in while eavesdropping on their discussion.

Professor White’s name was mentioned, and my interest piqued.

They had a lead on Jackson’s death? Skye told Fio about his schedule, demeanor, and what she knew he was working on.

They were wrapping up when I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher.

I wanted to ignore what I’d heard, but I couldn’t.

Besides, Skye wasn’t getting out of talking to me.

“Why are you looking into the science department?” Broader questions rather than specific names could help me get an answer from Fio.

With a snap, Fiona shut her laptop and swiveled toward me from her spot at the table. “Just fleshing out the case. Jackson’s blood work showed traces of something that didn’t likely have anything to do with his heart condition.”

“Unless he didn’t know anything was wrong with his heart. Or did Coach say it was documented in the athletic portal?”

“It wasn’t.” Fio frowned. “It’s possible he didn’t want to share a condition that could limit his field time. Anyway”—shoving her chair back, she stood—“thanks for your help, Skye. If I need anything else, I’ll be in touch.”

Yeah, not so fast. I caught Skye’s arm as she rounded the table to leave. “We need to talk first. I’m using your room, Fio.” I didn’t allow my sister to reply before dragging Skye through the family room and down the hallway to Fio’s bedroom. With a firm click, I shut the door after we were inside.

I ignored the lavender bedspread haphazardly pulled up in Fio’s attempt at making her bed or the pile of romance books on the nightstand that looked like they were about to topple over. It was so at odds with her hard-ass demeanor, but this was her inner sanctuary.

Back to the door, I crossed my arms over my chest, willing my voice to remain calm while Skye stared at me with wide, wary eyes.

“We can make it work.” There, I got it out and didn’t sound like I was about to tear her a new one.

“We can make what work?” Skye mimicked me by crossing her arms. “I’ve been doing fine with my aunt and uncle’s help.

Lily loves having them in her life. She has a stable and secure home.

I don’t want to rock the boat with you complicating things.

” She flung her hands out. “Then, when you get into the NFL, what then? You leave and never look back? I won’t put my daughter through that kind of abandonment. ”

“ Our daughter. And that’s your MO, not mine.”

She clamped her lips tight, her eyes briefly closing before she seemed to lose most of the fight.

Her shoulders dropped about an inch before she nodded.

“Yeah, okay. You’re right. I didn’t handle things well back then.

You don’t understand, Liam,” she said, her voice breaking.

“I’ve spent every day of the last two years wondering if I made the wrong decision.

But I was alone, scared, and had to think about Lily first. I can’t risk turning her world upside down now, not when she’s happy and safe.

Can you honestly say you would have welcomed the news that you were about to be a father when you only wanted to focus on your path to the NFL? ”

“Yes!” I shouted then took a few seconds, willing my temper to calm the fuck down.

“I would never have abandoned either of you had I known. I gave you a stupid fucking answer because I’d had a shitty meeting with my coach about being distracted and messing up, and I panicked. And look at what that cost me.”

Skye shoved her hands through her long brown hair, pulling it away from her face. “We were both young, and I was so scared. I—I should have told you. I’m sorry.” She whirled around and paced the small length of the room to the window and back to where I stood by the door.

“I want to spend time with Lily and get to know my daughter better.”

“Of course. But—” She worried her full bottom lip with her teeth before releasing it. “I don’t think we should tell her you’re her dad yet. You need to get through the season and the combine. If my uncle?—”

“I don’t care about your uncle finding out.”

Skye’s humorless laugh filled the space between us. “You should. He’s going to lose his mind when he finds out one of his star football players knocked me up and didn’t stand by me.”

“You didn’t give me that choice. And I know my sister would want to be involved in Lily’s life too.” Fiona always had my back, even when Dad didn’t. She would want to know Lily to make up for all the things Dad screwed up for us growing up. But would Skye let her in?

“And your dad?” Skye’s brows rose. “I didn’t meet him, but I saw him passed out on the chair when I came in.”

“My dad is better left out of the picture.”

Skye studied me a little too closely before nodding.

My blood pressure eased when I realized she let it go. “I want to tell Lily I’m her dad.”

“Yes.” She nodded slowly, drawing out the word. “But not yet. We’ll spend time together with Lily, but I’m going to stay firm on not telling her until after the combine or when you know for sure you’re getting picked up by a team.”

“I don’t c?—”

“I do care,” Skye snapped. “I won’t block you from seeing Lily, but we will do this my way.”

I clenched my fists, my body vibrating with frustration.

How could I agree to this? To wait when every instinct screamed that Lily deserves the truth?

But then I looked at Skye, the tension in her body, the fear she was trying so hard to mask.

She wasn’t just protecting herself—she was protecting Lily.

And I couldn’t be the one to rip that safety net away.

I recognized the stubborn set to her shoulders and the defiant chin tilt.

I wouldn’t risk pushing her. I didn’t want her to disappear again.

It was a fear I couldn’t quite shake. I studied her, my anger fading into something else—something quieter, heavier.

She was fighting for Lily the same way I wanted to.

Maybe we weren’t as different as I thought.

“Fine,” I said, my voice low but firm. “We’ll do things your way. But I’m not going anywhere, Skye. I’m here to stay.”

Her shoulders eased just a little, and for the first time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—this wasn’t completely broken.