Chapter 26
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Alie
Liam came upstairs to have lunch with me and Seraphina today. After, she insisted on showing him the tiny reading nook she loves. It has fairy lights and a giant beanbag chair. He listened to her like she was unveiling architectural blueprints for the next stadium.
He crouched down beside her to ask her questions. And when she pulled him down on the beanbag with her and let her read to him … I felt like my heart was going to explode.
We’re still smiling when we walk out of the nursery.
“You know, I’m kind of surprised Miss Sandy hasn’t asked about me coming in with you.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s put two and two together. Anyone who sees you and Sera next to each other can see there’s a resemblance.”
In response, he takes my hand in his, twining our fingers, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, and smiles down at me.
“I’ve got film in twenty minutes,” he says as he turns us toward the stairs leading down to the locker room.
“Right, okay.”
He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
When he starts to pull away, I curl my fingers into his shirt, keeping his lips on mine.
And then a throat clears.
We both freeze.
When we look toward the noise, we see my father standing at the end of the hallway leading to the executive offices, his arms crossed over his chest. I can’t really read his expression. It’s not angry. More like surprised, questioning.
“Hi, Dad,” I say, acting as if it were completely normal for me to be standing in the hall, kissing Liam.
“Alie,” he says evenly.
“Hello, sir,” Liam says, lifting a hand in a wave.
He looks from Liam to me. “I think you need to explain … this.”
My stomach drops.
Liam stands straighter.
“Of course. Your office,” I say in a much calmer voice than what I’m feeling.
Liam looks at me. “Can I come with you?”
I shake my head and glance at my father.
“No, it’s fine. Let me talk to him first.”
Liam studies my face.
“It’ll be fine, I promise.”
He nods, looking uncertain. “Okay, but if you need me there, just call me, and I’ll come right up.”
“Thank you.”
He squeezes my hand, then drops a kiss on my cheek.
I look at my dad, and he’s watching the whole thing.
“Sir.” Liam nods to him, then walks down the stairs.
My father watches him go, then turns back to me.
“Well,” he says calmly, “shall we?”
I nod and follow him down the hall in silence.
As soon as the door shuts behind me, the nerves kick in. I haven’t felt like this since I was a teenager and got caught sneaking in after curfew.
The stakes are infinitely higher now.
My dad takes his seat behind his desk, but I remain standing.
“Sit, Aliette.” He gestures to the seat across from him at the desk.
I sit.
“Would you like to start,” he says evenly, “with why you were just kissing my quarterback—my new quarterback—in the hallway?”
I inhale slowly. “He’s Seraphina’s father.”
The words land between us like something solid, but he doesn’t react the way I thought he would. There’s no explosion or outrage. Just a calm, assessing look.
“Hmm … I see.”
“That’s it?”
He shrugs. “Well, what can I say? The resemblance isn’t subtle. I noticed the first time I met him in person. And by your demeanor when he came into that meeting, I suspected you knew him somehow.”
I blink in surprise. “You never said anything to me.”
“It wasn’t my place to speculate.”
That alone makes my chest tighten.
“Can I ask why you never told us?”
There it is. The question I’ve been avoiding for the last two years.
“It was a one-night stand,” I say quietly. “I’ll spare you all the details, but I convinced myself that’s all it was. Then I found out I was pregnant, and he was already back in New Orleans. Aaron was there—”
My dad interrupts, frowning, “Aaron?”
“Yes, the day I found out.”
“And?”
“He told me he would reach out to Liam for me and then told me later that Liam didn’t want anything to do with the baby.”
Dad goes still. “Why would you believe that without speaking to him directly?”
“Because, at the time,” I say, my voice shaking slightly, “it made sense. I believed our night was just that—one night. And I thought he might be involved with someone else in New Orleans. Plus, Aaron said Liam wanted to focus on his career. So, I believed Aaron—you know, the guy who has been my best friend for most of my life.”
His jaw tightens.
“Alie, I still can’t believe you didn’t speak to him yourself. Something this life-altering—”
“I was embarrassed. Humiliated and hurt,” I admit. “I wasn’t going to beg someone to be involved if they didn’t want to be. It’s not like I couldn’t take care of the baby on my own.”
“You being capable of caring for the baby on your own isn’t the point, Aliette.”
“Dad, didn’t you always tell me not to trust football players? Not to get involved with them?”
“Alie, I think you had already made your bed, so to speak, by that point, no?”
I can’t help but blush.
“Aaron’s father and I are good friends, as you know.”
“I know.”
“And he told you this, with certainty?”
“Yes.”
He sighs. “I’m just surprised.”
“I was, too, but even more so now.”
His eyes sharpen. “Now?”
“Liam had no idea about the baby.”
He leans forward, elbows resting on the desk. “You’re telling me that he found out he had a daughter two years later?”
My eyes water. “Yes.”
“But you’d believed he didn’t want her?”
I nod. “He says he tried to find me and even came here to New York and met with Aaron, who told him I wanted nothing to do with him.”
“So, Aaron lied to you both, is what you’re telling me?”
“It appears so.”
He studies me.
“You brought him into this organization.” He shifts his head back and forth. “We wanted him, sure, but you handled the trade.”
My throat tightens, and I swallow. “It’s what was best for the team.”
“That’s the only reason?”
I hesitate, and he sees it.
“Alie.”
I shake my head. “I … don’t know.”
His brows lift.
“Okay, fine, if I’m being honest,” I admit, “there’s a part of me that wanted him close. To understand his reasons for why he hadn’t wanted to be involved. Maybe to see if he’d change his mind.”
He leans back in his chair again, slowly. “So, football wasn’t the only reason.”
“No,” I whisper, “I guess not.”
He studies me long and hard. “Well, by the looks of it, there’s still some chemistry there.” He chuckles lightly.
I grimace. “Right.”
“And you feel it too?”
“Yes.”
He closes his eyes, like he does when he’s trying to put his thoughts together. “Does Sera know?”
“Not yet.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Well, you came from the nursery, did you not? Who does she think he is to you?”
“A friend.”
He shakes his head and sighs.
“She likes him.”
My dad studies me. “And how do you feel about that? Her liking him?”
“It makes me happy that she likes him. And he lights up when he’s with her. It’s been really special to see.”
“You need to tell her.”
“We will.”
He leans forward again. “Have you told your mother?”
“Not yet.”
He reaches for the phone.
“Dad, wait.”
He doesn’t.
“Kate, darling, Alie has something she’d like to tell you.”
I give him an exacerbated look. “Hi, Mom.”
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Her voice is anxious.
I feel sixteen again. Caught. Cornered. About to confess something I’ve rehearsed a thousand times and never actually said out loud. I suck in a deep breath. “Liam Pitz is Sera’s father.”
The words leave my mouth, and for a split second, the world goes unnaturally quiet. Like sound itself is waiting to see what happens next.
“I’m sorry,” she says slowly, like she misheard. “What did you just say?”
“I said,” I repeat, steadier now, “Liam is Sera’s father.”
Silence.
Then a little laugh.
“I knew it!”
I blink, looking at my dad. “Wait, what? You did?”
“Mmhmm. The first day I saw him in person. When he walked into the conference room, I could see it in the eyes, and that smile … matches hers. Then, with the way you were acting strange, I had my suspicions.”
I glance at my dad, who’s looking amused because he just said the same thing.
“So, what’s happening then? Between the two of you?”
My dad laughs. “Well, I caught them kissing in the hall.”
“Ohhh,” she says, clearly entertained by all this.
I roll my eyes. “We’re spending time together. He’s been around Sera. And we’re … taking things as they come.”
“How is he with her?”
“It was,” I say, my voice softening, “love at first sight, I think. After he got past the shock.”
“Wait, what? He didn’t know about her?”
“I’ll tell you the story later, darling,” my dad says.
“Does Sera like him?” she asks.
“She does.” I think about them on the beanbag earlier and smile.
“Have you told her who he is?” she asks.
“Not yet.”
“Alie, you have to tell her if he’s going to be spending time with her.”
“I know, Mom,” I huff. “We’ll handle it.”
“No more secrets, Aliette Grant,” she says firmly.
My dad nods in agreement.
“I agree. No more secrets.”
“I have to run, but James, I expect a full report when you get home. Love you both,” she says, but doesn’t wait for us to reply before disconnecting.
“For the record”—my dad clears his throat—“I won’t make this uncomfortable or awkward for him, but I do care that he’s the father of my grandchild.”
I nod.
“And there’s more at stake here.” He pauses. “We brought him here to win.”
“You’re right. I do think he needs to be the one to tell his teammates, if that’s what you’re thinking about.”
He nods. “I agree. I think it would be best, coming from him, as their team leader.”
Then he looks at me thoughtfully.
“You know what I can’t get my head around?”
“I mean, the possibilities are endless.” I laugh sarcastically.
He smiles, but it fades quickly.
“Aaron knew the whole time. And he’s helped you with Sera quite a bit. Have you given any thought to why he would lie?”
“Yes.” I nod. “Every day.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
“He won’t answer my calls or texts.”
His expression turns cold.
“Dad, please don’t say anything to his father.”
“I won’t, but …” He pauses. “This kind of deception changes the dynamic of our relationship with him and his family. Despite all my years of friendship with his father.”
“I understand.”
“He knowingly kept my granddaughter from her father.”
The weight of that, him saying it out loud, is heavy.
“Believe me, Dad, I’m thinking about it.”
“All right, now get out of here, kid. I have work to do,” he teases.
I laugh, stand, and make my way to the door. But before I leave, I turn around.
“Dad, thank you for always being so supportive. For everything you’ve done for Seraphina and me.”
“My greatest pleasure in this life is my family, Alie. No matter what.” He winks at me, then picks up his phone.
I walk out, feeling a little lighter and anxious to see Liam.
Making my way downstairs, I find him in the gym, talking to a few of the guys, towel around his neck. Sweaty.
How can he look so good when he’s sweaty?
He sees me through the window and walks toward me, then out to the hallway.
“Hey, how did it go?”
“Well … he’s not angry.”
Relief flickers across his face. “Okay, good. And?”
I huff a laugh. “He had a suspicion. And so did my mom.”
He smiles. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, I guess the first time he met you, he could see similarities. Then, your first meeting here, they both saw it.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “These Pitz genes are strong, I guess.”
“We need to tell her, Liam.”
“I agree.” He nods without hesitation. “The sooner, the better. I want her to know I’m her dad.”
“How about dinner? Tonight?” I suggest.
He doesn’t even pause. “I’ll be there.”
Even though we’re moving in the right direction, I worry that Liam hasn’t completely gotten over the hurt of missing so much. We’ve been in a bubble of bliss, and soon, it may pop.
We’re going to have to talk about it and really see if we can move forward. I hope we can. Because now that I have him and my daughter has her father, I don’t want to let him go.