Now that’s out of the window. Since the scene with Michael was so public, videos of our argument and Liam defending me have been making the rounds online. So here I am, effectively sat outside of the head teacher’s office, except the head is Cassie, PR manager for the Seattle Spears. Last time I was here, I begged her to let us keep our relationship to ourselves. I don’t owe the world anything, but now I don’t have that choice. She warned me that it wouldn’t last forever. It was bound to come out; that’s why I was at the game in the first place. I thought I was ready for the public to know that Liam has someone in his life, but that isn’t the story any more. Michael ruined that.

“Ellis, talk to me.” Liam has been trying, but I just don’t know what to say. He woke up after sleeping on my couch with a bunch of messages from Cassie demanding we come to her office asap. He wanted us to be able to walk in that office with our heads held high and a plan to fix the PR disaster of a pregnant woman getting into a spat with her ex in the staff parking lot. I just don’t have the energy. I want to go back to sleep, for it all to have been a bad dream. It’s what I get for thinking I could be happy. For being delusional enough to think the other shoe wouldn’t eventually drop. I never get that lucky.

“His middle name is Thomas.” Liam breaks the silence turning in his chair to face me.

“What?” My jaw is hinged open. He takes a deep breath before he speaks again.

“Jack, his middle name is Thomas.” He coughs and takes both of my hands in his. “He wears size four shoes and his teacher is Mr Bowman, but I don’t know his first word. I have been trying to remember if you told me, but I can’t.” Liam looks into my eyes and I hear everything he isn’t saying. It’s proof that Jack doesn’t need Michael. There are people in his life who already love him, who know him. They’re right under my nose.

“I’m sorry,” Liam says, his voice low and dejected when I stare at him speechless.

“You have nothing to apologise for, this is on me,” I tell him, my voice is steady and sure because it’s the truth. My stupidity and need to seem strong against Michael is going to have a negative effect on Liam. I never wanted that. I was so busy wanting to feel strong that I let him down.