Page 79 of Anteros' Return

“Can I have the fettucini alfredo, please?” I handed him my menu as he turned to Beckett, who ordered the same.

He stood there for a moment, looking at Beckett with his head cocked to the side.

“Forgive me, but are you Beckett Ashmore? You play number nine for Sevilla Sols, right?”

“That’s me.” Beckett smiled as did the waiter.

“You scored the winning goal against one of my favourite teams, the Valencia Thunderhawks. I was devastated, but the goal was magnificent. A real banger!”A wide grin crept across hislips, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. He shifted his weight from foot to foot.

“Thanks, that means a lot! It was a great game. They’re a fantastic team.” Beckett was so humble and polite as he signed the pad the waiter held out to him.

“Grazie, grazie!” He shook Beckett’s hand before hurrying off to the kitchen to put our order in.

“So, what’s the plan for Liam’s birthday?” Gone was professional Beckett and back was the one I knew and adored so much.

“Well, I’m baking his favourite cake, and we usually order from the diner since it’s his favourite place, but I guess this year we’ll be ordering for three instead of two.”

“Thanks for including me. It means more to me than you know.”

“I’d never keep you away.” And that was the truth. “If you want to come straight over after school, you can do presents with him and then just spend the evening together.”

“And what about when our son has gone to bed? Do we get to spend the rest of the evening together?”

“Yes, we do.” I blushed, and despite the dim lighting, he saw it.

“I might have to head back to Spain for a quick physical to see how I’m doing after Liam’s birthday. It’ll only be a couple of days, though. I reckon I’ll be out for the rest of the season.”

“Alright.” His news hit me like a steam train. He was heading back already, and who knew if those days would turn into weeks or even longer. I was happy for him. He loved playing and being injured broke his heart more than he let on. I would support him just as I always did. I wouldn’t show him my heart was breaking at the thought yet again.

“Em, I’ll be back after a couple of days.” He assured me before kissing the back of my hand. “I’ll be counting the hours until I get to be with you and Liam again.”

“As will we.”

28

It was the day before Liam’s birthday, and he was more excited than I think I remembered being as a kid. I’d picked Liam up from school so Emily could get the bits done that she needed to.

“So, on a scale of one to ten, how excited are you, mate?”

“Beck, you have no idea how excited I am!” He paused for a second before continuing. “And this year will be even better.”

“Why’s that?” I questioned as we turned to walk the long road home.

“Because you’re spending it with us.” He looked up at me with those huge emerald eyes and the cutest smile I’d ever seen.

I was about to reply when he stopped suddenly, looking to his left. “Oh, no! I think it’s being sold.” His head hung a little, and it was clear he was upset as he saw construction workers going in and out of the front entrance of the building.

“What’s up, mate?”

“Mum wanted to buy that. She wanted to open her own bakery.” He sighed. “She was just trying to afford it all.”

“Wow. She never said that was something she wanted to do.” I was shocked. I knew she loved baking, and she was superb at it, but she never mentioned she wanted to open a shop of her own.

“Beckett, can I tell you something? But you have to promise to keep it a secret.” He turned to face me, his usual cheeky face was now deadly serious.

“You have my word.” I held out my pinky as he wrapped his around it, sealing my word with a promise.

“I think Mum put her dreams on hold because of me.”

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