Page 83 of Anteros' Return

“Because I know you and Emily.” She grinned. “This injury brought you home, and as heartbreaking as that was, it brought you back to Emily and your son.”

“You’re right.” And I knew she bloody well was. She always was.

“Oh, and for the record, you’re making the right decision.” Hearing my parent’s support was all the confirmation I needed.

I sat beside Emily on the sofa as Liam tore open his presents, wrapping paper flying everywhere and anywhere.

“NO WAY! You got me new boots!” Liam admired them as he could barely wipe the smile off of his face. “Mum, can I try them out in the garden?” he begged, knowing those puppy dog eyes worked all too well.

“Alright, but only for thirty minutes. We’re having dinner soon.”

He was already out the door before he heard the last half of her sentence. He’d taken his new ball and boots and was in his element.

“I class that as a success, don’t you?” I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her onto my lap.

“I think you might just be right.” She tilted her head up to face me, her lips inches away from mine. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“For making his birthday special.” She quickly pecked my lips before her own turned up into a subtle smile.

“I plan on making every single one special from now on.”

That earned me another quick kiss. Her mouth on mine was something I could get used to.

“I’m going to check on our little birthday boy outside.” She dragged herself away from me, and I groaned in annoyance. “Oh, stop that, you act as though I’m sending you home.”

I grabbed her waist, spinning her back between my legs, my face level with her stomach. “Too right you’re not sending me home.” I gently kissed the sliver of bare skin that her top didn’t cover.

She let out a soft moan as my kisses decorated her stomach. Her fingers found my hair, and they raked slowly across my scalp. “Yeah, you’re most definitely staying tonight.” She wriggled out of my hold, already slipping on her trainers before I even had time to complain. “Join us?”

“Alright, I’ll get the plates and everything ready.”

“Okay.” My heart melted the second her lips split into a smile.

Emily pulled me up from the sofa, as I followed her through to the kitchen, catching a glimpse of Liam through the window.

“He seems incredibly happy with his new boots.” I chuckled.

“He does, doesn’t he?” She playfully blew me a kiss before disappearing out the back door.

Just as I had finished setting the kitchen table for the three of us, and pouring Emily a glass of wine, there was a knock at the door.

Bloody hell, that was early.

Reaching the door, there was another knock, this time louder than the first. I unlocked the door, pulling it open to reveal the last person I wanted to see on an evening like tonight—or any night, for that matter.

“Beckett?! What the fuck are you doing here?” Mike scoffed, a disgusted tone to his voice.

“I think the real question is, what the fuck are you doing here?” I kept my hand firmly on the door frame, stopping him from entering Emily’s house.

“I came to see Emily and Liam.” He held what seemed to be a present for Liam in his hand. “I came straight from the airport to see them.”

“You mean, to see my son and the woman I love?” I narrowed my eyes as my blood boiled. “I don’t think so.”

“You can’t keep me away from them. I’m more of a dad to Liam than you are.” He shoved past me with a smug look on that smarmy face of his.

“And whose fault is that?!” I slammed the door in a fury of rage, pictures rattling on their hangings on the wall. “Because it ain’t fucking mine!”

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