Page 47 of Red Zone

Fiona tapped her nails on the cracked vinyl of the booth seat, her sharp gaze never leaving mine. “Don’t deflect. You’re acting weird.” She tilted her head, her ponytail swinging, and she pinned me with the look that had intimidated me since I was twelve. “Does this have anything to do with Skye?”

My fingers curled into the edge of the menu, my stomach tightening at the inevitable conversation I’d been avoiding. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this—admitting it out loud made it all the more real.

I exhaled slowly, setting the menu down.“Yeah… it does.”

Fiona tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face.“Okay… and?”

I hesitated, rubbing the back of my neck before forcing myself to meet her gaze.“She has a daughter, Fio.”

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but she didn’t jump to conclusions. Instead, she waited, giving me space to continue.

“A little girl.”The words felt heavy as I said them out loud.“She’s… she’s about two, maybe three.”

“Oh my God. Holy shit,” she whispered, leaning back in her seat like the realization had knocked her over. Her expression softened, the initial shock giving way to something else—understanding, maybe even something protective.“Liam…”

I swallowed hard.“She’s mine. She didn’t tell me. I had no fucking idea.”My hands fisted on the table as the memory of Lily’s bright green eyes hit me again.“Fio… she looks just like me.”

Silence stretched between us, the weight of my confession settling like a stone. Fiona reached across the table, squeezing my wrist.She didn’t let go, her grip grounding me in a way I desperately needed.“Jesus, Liam. That’s a lot.”

I let out a shaky breath, nodding.“Yeah. It is.”

I let my head fall back against the booth, staring at the ceiling like it had the answers I couldn’t seem to find. My hand tightened around the menu.How many times had I played this scenario out in my head?Telling my sister, explaining it, owning it. But now that it was real, its weight settled on my chest like lead. There was no point in lying, not when Fiona’s bullshit detector was as finely tuned as a scout’s stopwatch.

“When did you find out?”

“Not until a couple of days ago.” I pushed a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up again. “Skye didn’t tell me when she found out she was pregnant. She had her reasons, and honestly, I get it. But it’s not any easier to swallow.”

“Okay, I’ll trust you on that one. Just for the record—I’m not happy you didn’t know.” Fiona’s expression softened, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “And now? What’s going on with you two?”

I laughed, short and humorless, slouching back in the booth. “I’m trying to figure it out. I want to be there for Lily, for both ofthem, but it’s complicated. Skye doesn’t fully trust me—neither of us trusts the other, actually. But I don’t blame her. Back then, I wasn’t exactly someone you could count on.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about Dad. About the way he used to sit in that recliner, the TV blaring, a beer clutched in his hand like it was the only thing tethering him to reality. I didn’t want that for Lily. I wanted to be the dad who showed up, who stayed. But wanting wasn’t the same as knowing how.

She gave me a long, hard look before reaching for her water and taking a slow sip. “So, what are you doing about it?”

“I’m trying,” I said, my voice quiet, deep-seated fear rearing its deranged head despite the decision, the determination to be there for them. If I could confide in anyone about my worries, it would be my sister. She had the same emotional scars. “But, Fiona… I don’t know if I can pull this off. Considering where we came from—how Dad was, how Mom bailed—I don’t have a great blueprint for being a parent.”

Fiona winced, her fingers tightening around her glass. “Yeah, we didn’t hit the jackpot with role models, did we? Mom left us like we were trash, and Dad…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “He hasn’t been Dad for years. Just a bottle with legs.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Exactly. So, what makes me think I can do this? That I can be enough for Lily? For Skye?”

She leaned forward, her voice soft but firm. “Because you’re not Dad, Liam. You’re not Mom either. You care. You’re trying. You’re someone your friends have been able to count on in any situation. That’s already a hell of a lot more than they ever did for us.”

Her words hit me square in the chest, and I stared at the table. “It doesn’t feel like enough.”

Fiona’s hand covered mine, grounding me. “It’s enough. And even if you’re not sure, I am. You’re brave for even taking thisleap. I’m not sure I could do it. But you? You’re already halfway there.”

I shook my head, but her grip tightened. “That’s a lie. You could do it. You’ve been there for me.”

“That’s easy. I’ll always be there for you. But relationships?” A humorless laugh spilled from her lips. “But I’m not the one we need to focus on. It’s you—and, Liam, I mean it. You’ve got me in your corner, okay? Whatever you need, whatevertheyneed—I’ll be there. You’re not alone.”

I swallowed hard, her words breaking through some of the doubt wrapping around me like chains. “Thanks, Fio. That means more than you know.”

“And Skye?” Fiona asked, her gaze piercing. “What’s your plan there? I’ve gotta tell you, I’m not thrilled she kept her pregnancy—Lily—from you. With that said, let’s move forward. Do you want to be with her? Because if you do, you’ve got to show her—and not just with Lily. She needs to know you’re all in.”

Her words acted like a visceral map I didn’t know I needed. “You’re right. I need to show Skye I want her and that I’ll be there for her too.

She smiled and leaned back. “Good. Now, let’s order before I start gnawing on this table.”

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