Page 41

SKYE

One year later…

T he late-summer sun painted the house in a golden glow as I stepped onto the back porch, my phone in hand.

Not long after Liam joined the Kansas City Chiefs, I’d applied for a PR position, and based on my success with the Fall Lake University Falcon’s social media, I’d been hired as an assistant.

I loved my job, and working at the same facility where Liam was made it even better.

The Chiefs’ Instagram needed fresh content, and I’d quickly learned that nothing fired up fans like action shots and behind-the-scenes glimpses.

I snapped a quick photo of Liam’s cleats and helmet resting on the back porch steps, covered with grass stains from practice.

It was the kind of detail that told its own story—a grind-it-out day that fans loved.

I added it to my drafts, brainstorming a caption to get the comments rolling.

My gaze drifted to the backyard, where Lily twirled in the grass, her laughter carrying on the warm breeze. Her “Big Sister” T-shirt stood out like a beacon, the pink letters bold against the white fabric. I couldn’t stop staring at it.

“Lily,” I called, my voice soft but steady, “it’s almost time to meet Daddy for dinner.”

She skipped over, her little hand slipping into mine, warm and familiar. I glanced down at the sparkling diamond on my finger, the sunlight making it dance. That ring wasn’t just a symbol—it was a promise that Liam and I had fought so hard to keep.

Inside, the sound of the game replay filled the house.

Liam’s name rang out, the announcer’s voice full of excitement.

“Let’s talk about Liam Cartwright,” the commentator’s voice boomed.

“He’s been nothing short of spectacular this season.

Another stellar performance on Sunday—two hundred fifty yards, two touchdowns, and a clutch scramble to seal the win.

The Chief’s starter is proving he’s the real deal, and the league is noticing. ”

I couldn’t help but smile, pride blooming in my chest. Witnessing Liam step into his own on the field was everything I’d known he was capable of—and more. He’d earned every bit of that praise.

“And it’s not just Cartwright making waves,” the second commentator added.

“It’s worth noting that he’s part of a rare trio of standouts from the same college team.

Kylian Wilder, now Miami’s starting quarterback, has been electrifying the league with his precision passes and clutch plays.

Meanwhile, Ares Bellingham has become a household name as San Francisco’s star tight end, dominating the red zone with a physicality that’s almost impossible to defend against.”

“Three NFL stars from one university,” the first commentator chimed in. “It’s a testament to the kind of talent Fall Lake University can produce. They didn’t just play together—they thrived together. You don’t see that kind of chemistry and competitive fire come out of one program very often.”

My heart swelled at the mention of Liam’s closest friends.

It wasn’t just his journey that had come full circle—it was all of theirs.

From their college years at Fall Lake to making their mark in the pros, they’d fought side by side for everything they had.

Knowing they were still part of each other’s lives, even as they carved out their individual legacies, made their success more meaningful.

I grabbed my bag and ushered Lily out the door, driving the short distance to the Italian restaurant we’d made our go-to since moving to Kansas. As we walked in, I spotted Liam instantly. His shirt clung to him, his hair damp and messy, and his signature grin lit up the room when he saw us.

“Hey, there’s my girls.” He scooped Lily into his arms.

“Daddy!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He kissed her cheek then leaned over to kiss me. “You two are my favorite part of the day.”

“Guess what, Liam?” I tried to keep my voice casual, though my heart practically pounded out of my chest.

“What’s up?” He looked between me and Lily, his brow furrowing.

Lily grinned, pointing at her shirt. “I’m gonna be the best big sister ever!”

For a split second, he froze, his eyes locked on the words. Then, his head snapped up, his gaze finding mine. “Are you serious?”

“Yep.” I nodded, tears blurring my vision as I smiled. “We’re doing it all together this time.”

He set Lily down carefully, his hands shaking as he reached for me. The look in his eyes—pure joy, disbelief, love—was everything. He pulled me into his embrace, his voice a whisper against my ear. “I can’t wait, Skye. For all of it. With you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing him in, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart against mine. This was it. This was everything. “Good thing we’re getting married in two weeks, or my dress would need to be altered.”

“If you’d given in to me, we would already be married,” he teased.

I shivered, remembering all the ways he’d tried to persuade me to move up the wedding, claiming he wanted the world to know I was his forever.

These had been the best hours—months—of my life, and they’d resulted in the gift we would be welcoming in about seven months.

My hand smoothed over my still-flat abdomen as happiness bloomed inside all over again.

Lily tugged on Liam’s hand, breaking the moment. “You happy, Daddy?”

He crouched down, scooping her up again. “Happy doesn’t even come close, butterfly.”

And as we stood there, the three of us—and the promise of one more on the way—I couldn’t help but think how right it all felt. We were building something unshakable together—a life and family, one step at a time.

Thanks so much for reading my work.