Page 240 of Off the Pitch

“Your insides are goo.”

“Don’t be a dick.” I shoved him. “What else do you wanna know?”

“Is the sex good?”

“What the fuck? Why would you ask that?”

“Because I wanna make sure he makes you happy. Sex can be important.”

“Do you want me to ask Ali if you make her happy in bed?”

“I mean, I don’t think she’d have any complaints.”

“You’re so weird.”

“And you’re being unnecessarily touchy,” Liam said, raising an eyebrow. His next question totally blindsided me. “Do you love him?”

“What?”

“Do you love him?” Liam fixed me with a curious look. It was the same one he always wore when he’d already figured out the answer but just wanted confirmation. For someone who could be a real dumbass sometimes, Liam could also be really astute when he wanted to be.

“I… um, yeah, yeah I think I do.” I nodded my head, rubbing my hands over my short curls. I really needed to shave my head again before my hair got to that annoying, fluffy, itchy stage. “I just, I never thought I’d feel like this. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love. It just kinda happened. I mean, I think it’s love. Whenever I’m around him I just feel… amazing. He makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world, and I mean, he drives me nuts sometimes, but I know I’m just as bad. Every time I see him, it’s like I can’t imagine ever being with anyone else. I mean, that’s gotta be love, right?”

“Sounds about right,” Liam said, giving me a knowing smile. “You feel like you can’t fucking breathe, and they just… they make you want to give them everything because they’re one of the best things in your life. And you know if things get bad, they’ll be there.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I still can’t believe Félix abandoned his trip just because I came home.”

“That’s love for you.”

“You think he loves me?” I asked, my heart making a funny blip in my chest at the thought.

“Sounds like it,” Liam said. “Only one way to find out though.”

“Yeah, we’ll get to that later.” I shook my head, wondering how I could get Félix to bring it up first. “Man, I’m only twenty-three, like, what the fuck? I wasn’t supposed to fall in love yet. Not like this. Like, this is it. I don’t think I’ll ever want anyone else.”

“I mean, I’m only twenty-six, and I’m gonna be a dad if that helps,” Liam said. My mouth hit the floor, my thoughts cut short.

“You’re what? Holy shit, really?”

“Yeah,” Liam said, his face turning pink. “Ali’s seven weeks. I only found out the other day. Came home and she gave me this little box with the positive test in it. I’m gonna be a dad.” His voice was stretched in disbelief, and I grabbed him in a fierce hug.

“That’s fucking amazing! Congratulations!”

“Yeah. I’m fucking bricking it though, man. Like, shit, I’m gonna be a parent. I don’t know how to do that.”

“I don’t think anyone does. You’ve just gotta try your best,” I said. “Anyway, I’m sure Ali will have you reading a million parenting books.”

“Oh, I already started,” Liam said, giving me an embarrassed look. “Ali doesn’t know, but I bought a ton of them for my Kindle. I’ve already read two of them. And I already started working out which room in the house could be the nursery, but I’m gonna wait a couple of months till I talk to a designer. And I gotta put Ali’s scan in my calendar ’cos I’m not missing it.”

“See, you’re gonna be an amazing dad. And we’ll help you. I’m not bad with kids. I mean, Mia likes me. And tons of the guys at the club have kids. I bet they can give you pointers. I’m sure someone will let you babysit if you want practice. And Toby’s girlfriend just had a baby, so you can ask him.”

Liam nodded and rubbed his face. “Thanks. I’m not sure how I’d do this without you.”

“Mate, how would you do anything without me?” I gave him a little nudge with my shoulder, and Liam chuckled, exhaling deeply.

“So, you gonna tell him then?”

“Maybe. I’m terrified though. I don’t know how to tell him. It’s a big deal, and I don’t want to mess it up.”

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