I know that isn’t fair, it was technically me who told him to leave. It was my boundary to split before he was drafted. But a part of me always wondered about what would have happened if he turned up on my doorstep one day, saying he chose our relationship over hockey, and I couldn’t protest the decision.

“Ellis—” Before he can talk, I interrupt him.

“It’s just been me and Jack for so long I’m scared that if I give us a chance and you get bored I will have to mend his broken heart as well as mine and I don’t think I could survive it.” I know I couldn’t survive it.

Liam takes a second to himself before he takes a deep breath.

“I wasn’t going to tell you this,” he says lowly, clearly unsure about what he is going to say next.

“Tell me what?” I usher him.

“Jack asked for a talk with me a few weeks ago.” My body freezes.

“When?” I choke out, Jack is so introspective for a kid that he could have told Liam anything and a million different conversations filter through my head.

“Last month, the day I took him to the park and for ice cream after school.”

I remember that, I woke up from a nap and the house was eerily quiet because I was there alone. I called Liam to make sure they were okay and neither of them told me anything had happened, they just asked what flavour ice cream I wanted.

“What did he say?” I ask. I’m scared to know the answer but the morbid desire to know is seeping into my bones.

“He told me that he likes having me around because I make you happy.” I look up at him and find Liam looking at me as though he sees the planets in my eyes, taking a second to admire me, he holds my jaw lightly. “He asked if I was going to abandon the baby like his dad did. He made me promise that I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Liam you shouldn’t have promised that.” I try to keep the tears at bay. This just highlights even more of my fears; Jack would be broken if Liam goes back on his promise. Besides, I’m pregnant and that means I am allowed to be overly emotional.

“I’ll tell you what I told him, it’s the easiest promise I’ve ever made. Ellis, I love you, I love your son and I love our daughter already. You’re stuck with me forever so you better start getting used to it.”

Then the tears flow. I couldn’t hold them back if I tried.