Page 54 of Worth the Risk

“I know but I want to.”

“Then I’d love to listen.” I nod, shifting on the bed to sit up against the pillows that rest in front of the headboard. Emilia puts everything back in the box, then does the same, placing the uncovered box between us. She sits facing me, grabbing my hands and threading her fingers through mine. Even her smallest touches give me strength.

“When I was young my parents said I could do anything I wanted, try any sport or club but I knew it had to be baseball. I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps. He dreamed of making it to the majors but after his injury he needed surgery. He was a pitcher and that injury ended his career.” Emi keeps her eyes on me the whole time and I’m grateful for just sitting here and listening. I don’t think I even realized how much I wanted to talk about him until now, here with her.

“His career ended right around the time I started tee-ball.” I continue, “I remember telling him not to worry that I would make it to the major leagues for the both of us.” A laugh startles out of me at the memory. “From the moment he gave me my first glove and I picked up my first bat at that game I was determined to make it happen. I guess the only difference between how I imagined it and reality is that I thought he’d be here to see it.” Tears form in the corners of my eyes again, Emi squeezes my hand. A sign that she’s here but also that I can stop if I need to.

“He died when I was nine. It was sudden, or so I thought.” I see the puzzled look in her eyes. “He was sick, cancer. He found out about a year before he passed, and it wasn’t treatable. Mom knew because he couldn’t hide anything from her, she read him like a book.”

One stray tear trickles down Emi’s cheek, so I reach to brush it away. “I’m sorry.” There’s a double meaning behind those two words.

“Don’t be, baby.” She has nothing to be sorry for, my emotional girl, I love that she feels so deeply. “Dad didn’t want Eli and I to know, he didn’t want us to be scared in our last moments with him. Instead, he wanted to live them to the fullest. Looking back we definitely did more that year than any other year. Ice cream after every game, missing school for vacations. Anyways, he passed one night, peacefully as he slept next to mom.”

“Oh, Liam.” Emi launches herself into my arms, engulfing me in a crushing hug. My own tears have silently spilled over, she pushes back lightly, using her hoodie sleeve to wipe them away.

“I remember mom coming downstairs, asking me to make myself and Eli a bowl of cereal and to sit on the back patio until she came to get us, her eyes red rimmed. I didn’t question her, just did as she asked. We ate and then played on the swing set until my mom came out a little later, bringing us both inside and explaining what had happened. He was my hero, I was devastated. My dream to play in the major leagues was amplified then and that’s what I’ve been working for ever since.”

Emilia nods in understanding, pulling back from the hug and cuddling up to my side. Her eyes look up, locking on mine. “Is that still your dream?” The question I dreaded anyone ever asking me. A question I’m still not sure I have the answer for but it has to be. I’ve committed to this, for me and dad.

“Yes.” Her eyes search mine looking for something behind that statement. I can tell she’s not convinced and I swallow the lump in my throat. Instead of calling me out she lets it be.

“You’re an amazing man Liam. Your dad would be so proud of you.” I hope she’s right. I like to think she is.

“Thank you, baby.” I plant a kiss on her cheek.

“Thank you for sharing him with me.”

Chapter 36

Emilia

I wake up cocooned in Liam’s arms, the warmth of his body washing over me. After he shared the story of his dad with me, we changed into our pajamas, put on New Girl and cuddled until we both fell asleep. I feel thankful to know more about Liam’s past, that he trusts me with these pieces of his life. However, I could tell something else was going on when I asked him if baseball was still his dream. His words said yes but his eyes, man those eyes, they looked more unsure.

I stare at the man next to me, hoping his secrets will speak to me, tell me how he really feels. In time, I know he will. He’s been nothing but patient with me since the moment I met him so in return I can be more than patient with him, wait until he’s ready to tell me everything that scares him and what he truly dreams of. Liam’s eyes flutter open a smile spreading across his face as he takes me in. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning.” My cheeks heat at the compliment.

“I love that.”

“What?”

“Putting that color on your face.” His morning voice, with its light rasp, does things to me. I lean into him, pressing my lips to his which he gratefully returns. Caught in a haze of each other, he pulls me on top of him while we continue to kiss. A slight moan escapes my lips as I feel his body beneath mine. The blaring noise of an alarm interrupts us which causes us both to groan. He places one last kiss on my lips before reaching over to his phone to shut off the annoying noise.

“Car day.” Liam smiles up at me, his dimples popping.

“Car day.” My lips turn up, I swear his smiles are contagious. Today we’re going car shopping for my new, well new to me, car. I’m pretty sure Liam would have insisted on going with me even if we were still friends but he said it was his ‘boyfriend duty’ now to come with me and make sure I got the best deal along with a safe vehicle.

“Croissants?” He asks me with a smirk.

“You know the way to my heart.” I start to roll off of him, but he catches my waist keeping me in place.

“I’ve been studying the way for months.” I lean down to place a soft kiss on his lips at his words. The soft kiss turns into a more passionate one, his hands running up and down my back underneath the shirt of his I’m wearing. Instinctively my hips move, grinding on his body earning a small groan from him.

“We better get up now or we’re never gonna make it.” I giggle, I love knowing how I affect him.

On the way to the dealership we stop and get chocolate croissants, as well as an egg sandwich for Liam, from The Blue Bean. We eat them in the car, listening to music and chatting about life. He tells me stories about his dad and I cherish every moment.

We’ve been at the dealership for ten minutes now and Liam has nixed a handful of cars that I thought looked cute but apparently didn’t have all wheel drive or great safety features. I’ll be honest I didn’t do much research besides looking at cars in my price range that I thought would last me at least through the next year. Liam however has done extensive research. He even came prepared with a list of questions on his phone for the salesman who he is currently grilling.

---