Chapter 23
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Alie
The week went by in a blur, but I talked to Liam every day, and he ate lunch with Sera and me on the days he was at the facility.
My parents had to take a quick trip to Florida, so it’s been easier to quietly navigate this situation without feeling like we’re under a microscope. But I’ll need to tell them when they get back. Liam wants them to know, and I know it’s time.
Yesterday, Liam asked if we could do something as a family so he could spend some more time with her—or I guess … us. So, we planned to go to Central Park today.
I overthink every little thing while we wait for him to come get us.
What should Sera wear?
What if a sudden cold snap comes through?
How many snacks should I bring?
Is this too soon?
Is this too much?
Is this the moment that makes everything work or crack?
By the time Liam knocks on my door, I’ve rearranged Sera’s backpack three times and changed my own outfit twice.
Sera beats me to the door, her tiny sneakers tapping excitedly on the floor. “Liam here?” She asks.
My heart does this strange, fragile twist that’s one part hope and the other … fear.
“Let’s see,” I say, opening the door.
Liam stands there, looking confident and sure. And holding a small stuffed horse.
“For Sera,” he says, bending down to present it to her.
“I wuv howses!” She snatches it out of his hand.
“Sera, what do you say?”
“Thank you, Liam.” She beams up at him.
“That’s a special horse for a special girl. It came from Oklahoma, from where I used to play football. It’s a Walker Stallion.”
“I wuv it!” She bounces.
“You’ll give it lots of hugs?” he asks her.
“Lots.” She squeezes it to her.
Warmth fills me, and all the nerves I was feeling fade away when I watch them together.
“Ready for the park?” he asks her, then looks at me.
She nods excitedly. “Park! Slides! Ducks!”
I grab her backpack and take one last look inside, making sure I have everything we might need.
“Let’s leave your horse here so it doesn’t get lost at the park.” I take it from her and set it on the table near the door.
“You sure Central Park isn’t too crowded today?” he asks, unsure.
I shrug. “It’s New York. Everywhere is crowded outside, especially when the weather is nice like this.”
“Okay then.”
“We’ll stick to the quieter side if we can.”
“Sounds good to me.” He reaches for the backpack. “Let me take this.”
I’m not gonna argue, so I hand it over to him. “Thanks.”
We walk out, and I lock the door.
When we get into the elevator, Sera stands between us and takes both of our hands. I look over at Liam, and from the way he’s smiling, you would think Sera just hung the moon.
This all feels too easy. Too comfortable.
Like this is how it always should have been.
And a rush of regret hits me because I wish more than anything that it had been this way from the beginning.
Central Park is indeed alive today. Kids laughing and running around. Dogs barking. Musicians playing. The smell of pretzels and nuts drift in the air.
Sera’s eyes go wide the second we step on the path leading to the playground.
Liam crouches beside her. “You want to race to the swings?”
“Yes!”
“Should we let Mommy get a head start?”
“Hey.” I put my hands on my hips.
Sera giggles, and Liam winks.
“Ready … set … go!” he yells.
She toddles forward, determined, and he jogs beside her, cheering like she’s winning an actual race.
I follow behind them, watching the way he adjusts his stride to hers. Then the way he claps when we reach the playground. And the way he looks at her like she’s the most important thing in the world.
Sera makes a beeline for the slide.
“Up!” She points to the stairs.
Liam looks at me. “You good with this?”
I laugh softly. “I think she’s safe.”
“Okay,” he says, lifting her and setting her on his shoulder. “Let’s do this.”
He climbs up the stairs with her, then sets her at the top of the slide.
“You good?” he asks her.
She looks back at him, huge smile on her face. “Watch me go!”
“I’m watching,” he says, smiling.
She slides down, squealing.
I’m waiting at the bottom to catch her. Again. And again.
By the fourth time, he’s laughing. Then by the sixth time, he’s completely wrapped around her finger. And by the eighth time, I realize I’m smiling so much that my cheeks hurt.
Eventually, we make our way to the pond, and Sera runs off to terrorize some ducks.
Liam and I sit on a nearby bench, close enough to watch her, but far enough that she can’t hear our words.
“She’s fearless,” he says with pride.
“That she is.”
“I think she gets that from me.” He winks at me.
“Oh, yeah?” I smile.
“Definitely.” He nods.
We watch Sera chase ducks, giggling when they waddle close to her.
“She’s pretty amazing,” Liam admits quietly.
“Yeah, she is.”
“I hate that I missed so much.”
“I really am sorry,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “I’m not saying that to make you feel bad. It is what it is, but I don’t want to miss anything else, you know?”
Emotions swell in my chest. “You won’t. If you want to be here, you can be.”
“I do want to be here.” He looks at me, gaze firm and steady. “For her and also for us.”
His words hang between us. And of course, I want this too.
I reach over and take his hand. “Me too.”
Seraphina runs back over to us, her cheeks pink, her smile wide. “Mommy! Liam! Ducks funny!”
“They are funny,” Liam agrees.
She climbs right onto his lap like it’s the most natural thing.
He looks at me, surprised, but also completely at ease.
“Snack time?” she asks.
Liam rubs his belly. “I could use a snack too.” He looks at me. “Whatcha got in there?” He nods to the backpack.
I unzip it and pull a few things out. “We have some apples, pretzels, and some juice. What do you want, Sera?”
“Pwetzels and juice.” She holds out her little hand, then leans against Liam while she eats.
I’m trying not to react in a way that would alarm her, but it’s hard not to fight back a few tears as I watch them together. And good Lord, do they look alike.
This outing today makes me feel like we could be … that we are … a real family. And when Liam meets my gaze, I think he feels it too.
As soon as she’s done with her snack and juice, she’s ready to move again. So, we make our way down the path again. She’s holding both of our hands again, swinging them as we walk.
She trips slightly, and both of us react instantly to steady her. Our hands brush when we do, and we freeze for a half second, the moment lingering. Liam’s fingers close gently around mine instead of pulling away, and I let him.
We walk together like that for a few minutes, until Sera reaches for our hands again. Then she spots an ice cream vendor.
“Ice cream!” She points dramatically.
“You want some ice cream, Sera?” Liam asks.
I’m sure he’ll never deny her anything. Even if that means she’s bouncing up and down with a sugar high.
She nods. “Yes!”
“What do you think, Alie? Want some?” He gives me a sexy little smirk.
I clear my throat. “Um, yes. That’s fine. Ice cream.”
Liam lets her order, and she gets a vanilla cone with colorful sprinkles. Then she proceeds to smear some all over Liam’s shirt.
“Oh no,” I say, smothering a laugh.
He looks down at the glob of ice cream on his shirt.
“Eh, worth it.” He tickles her, making her laugh.
I take her hands and wipe them with a napkin, then hand him one to clean up with.
“I think we should take a selfie, don’t you, Sera?” I pull out my phone.
“Yes!” she claps.
I look at Liam and he smiles softly, pulling her in a little tighter, despite the ice cream that’s still dripping all over both of them now. Then I lean in, hold up my arm, and capture our first family picture.
Sera doesn’t know it, but we do. And when I lower my phone, he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Thank you,” he whispers in my ear.
“The first of many.” I nudge his shoulder.
By the time she’s done with her ice cream, the sun starts to dip lower in the sky, and the park grows quieter.
She starts to get tired, so Liam carries her, like it’s second nature, back toward the park’s exit. Her head is resting on his shoulder, and by the time we exit, she’s asleep.
“She’s out,” I whisper.
He nods, careful not to wake her.
“She feels comfortable with you.” I stroke my finger down her cheek.
“I hope so. I want her to know, without a doubt, that I will also protect her and be here for her.” He places a soft kiss on her head. “I'll spend my whole life trying to be worthy of her.”
Tears prick my eyes.
“And you too, Alie.”
My breath hitches. And if he wasn’t holding our daughter right now, I’d show him just how much I want him too.
When we get back to my place, he’s still carrying her, and she’s still sleeping. So, I lead him to her room, where I take off her shoes and he lays her in her bed. He brushes her wavy hair off her face and leans down to kiss her gently on the cheek.
Is there anything sexier than a dad with his daughter? Seriously. Liam is a very gorgeous man, but he’s never looked more irresistible to me than he does right now.
“Today was good,” he says when we walk out of the room.
“It was,” I agree.
I follow him to the door, not quite ready for him to leave.
We stand there for a moment, something unspoken settling between us.
He reaches for my hands and pulls me into him. “Can we do this again?”
“Yes.” I smile.
“Can I kiss you?”
I lick my bottom lip, and I see his eyes move to watch it.
“Yeah, you can kiss me,” I say as I edge closer to him.
He leans in slowly and kisses my cheek first, then places kisses in a path to my mouth. And these soft kisses feel meaningful.
When our lips finally meet, it’s the kind of kiss that makes you forget your own name. I feel it from my mouth all the way through to my core.
This is a kiss filled with promise. Of building something. Moving forward together.
Our tongues swirl around each other. Neither of us tries to rush it. If anything, I want to drag him to my room and keep going.
His hands slide under the hem of my shirt, making me shiver, but he just runs his fingers up and down my spine reverently. Then deepens our kiss.
We stay like this, kissing, touching … connecting, until he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine.
“I’d better go, before I can’t.”
“You don’t have to go,” I say, a little breathless.
He kisses me again. “I really do.”
“Okay,” I say, no doubt sounding disappointed.
“Can I call you later?”
“Yeah, you can call me.” This time, I kiss him and let it linger for a minute before pulling away. “Bye, Liam. Thanks for today. She had a lot of fun. And you’re … a real natural with her.”
“Thanks. I hope so.” He pulls away and starts walking backward out the door. “Talk to you soon, Alie Grant.”
“Bye,” I say, smiling, “Liam Pitz.”
And when I go to bed, after talking to him for an hour on the phone, I go to sleep, thinking of him.