Page 27 of Anteros' Return

“Mike said you had moved on. My parents said it too.”

What the fuck?!

“And you believed him? You believed Mike over the girl who was planning a future with you? You believed what we had meant that little to me?” I jumped off the sofa, pacing the living room, my blood boiling.

“Em, I?—”

“So what, he told you I moved on and that was it? You forgot about me just like that?” I seethed, anger and upset bubbling beneath the surface.

“No! But he was persuasive, and by then you had already blocked me. I didn’t know what to think.” He tried to stand from the sofa, but the pain must have been too much because he gave up right away. “He told my parents…” He let out a shaky breathas if he were trying to calm himself down. “He told my parents he was the father of your baby.”

A sudden queasiness crept over me, twisting my insides and making the room spin. I thought he was a friend. I thought he had Liam’s best interests at heart, but he didn’t. He just wanted Beckett out of the picture and he did whatever he had to do to arrange that.

“But I told him I was pregnant with your baby. I was confused. I didn’t know what to do. I called you, but he answered your phone on his visit to Spain with the boys to see you.” I held onto the bookcase, steadying myself from sinking. From falling into the mistakes of the past. “He seemed so genuine, so worried at why I was upset, that I just blurted it out. I’m so sorry…”

“Stop that, you don’t need to apologise.” He was so calm, despite all the shit we were finding out. “What happened after that?”

“He told me he’d speak to you, and you’d call me. But he was the one who called me back…” I let a tear escape my eye. “He said you didn’t want a kid. That you outgrew me and were onto better things. He said you were already moving on…” I stifled a sob, bringing my hand to my mouth. “I should have known. I shouldn’t have listened, but I had never felt so broken, so alone.”

“He never said a word to me.” He struggled but managed to stand, grabbing his crutches, and making his way to where I stood. “I promise you that.”

My lip trembled as I sobbed, unable to hold it in any longer. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around me, holding me the way he used to, only this time we were two different people. We were no longer those teenagers in love.

I stayed there for a moment, breathing in his scent. It was comforting until I realised we couldn’t do this. I stepped away, wiping my tears.

My voice trembled as I spoke. “Tell me what it is that you want.”

“A relationship with my son.” His hopeful eyes searched mine.

“I wouldn’t deprive you of that, but I have my conditions.”

“Name them,” he replied quickly, and I did what I should have done years ago, I trusted him. Trusted he was telling the truth and Mike had played everyone.

“You will be introduced as a family friend. You cannot just waltz into his life and blurt out that you’re his father. He will be told when the time is right.”

“Deal. I’ll follow your lead. I just want a relationship with him, Em… I lost so many years, ones I’ll never get back.”

“I know.” I glanced up at his broken face that still somehow held so much hope. “Over time, you’ll build that relationship together regardless of whether you’re here or back in Spain.”

I knew he’d end up going back eventually.

“Come back tomorrow. I’ll introduce you then properly. I’ll do what I can with Liam for him to accept you.”

As I finished my sentence, I heard the front door open and close.

“Hey, Em, I just came to drop off that—” Harry froze on the spot, his relaxed expression morphed into a thunderous one when he spotted Beckett and noticed that my face was wet from tears.

“What the fuck did I tell you, you piece of shit?” He seethed through gritted teeth, dropping the bag he was carrying onto the floor and making a beeline for Beckett.

“Harry, stop, please,” I pleaded, my heart hammering against my ribcage as I stepped between them, my hands firmly planted on Harry’s chest.

“After everything, after all these years, you’re stepping in the way?” He was livid at the sight of Beckett more than anything else. “Why? What makes him so fucking special?!”

“Because he didn’t know…” I sobbed. “He didn’t know I was pregnant, Harry!”

“And you believe that bullshit?” He laughed.

“Yes.” I stood my ground. It was my decision to believe him, and after everything came to light, it made sense. It still hurt, of course it did, but I believed him.

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