Page 54 of Anteros' Return

“Alright, I was watching him leave.”

“Why would you do that?” I asked, sitting down beside him on the ottoman under the window.

He scooted over onto my lap, his glassy eyes meeting mine.

“Because I need to get used to him leaving since he’ll be doing it soon for real.” A couple of tears trickled down his cheeks, and I hated seeing him this way.

“Oh, baby.” He rested his head on my shoulder as he snuggled into me. “We knew he’d have to leave. I’m sure he’ll be back to visit, don’t you worry.” I didn’t know how true that was, and as well as trying to convince Liam, I was also trying to convince myself.

“It’s fine. He’s just your friend, right?”

“Right,” I lied.

“So, what does it matter then?” He wrapped his arms around me as he spoke quieter this time.

“Liam…” I started, not knowing if now was the time to tell him or not.

“Where’s my favourite nephew?” Harry bellowed from the bottom of the stairs.

“Uncle Harry!” Liam jumped off of my lap and darted for the staircase, Beckett now at the back of his mind by the sound and looks of it.

I glanced out of the window before heading out of the room. I didn’t even know why I looked, he was long gone… Just like he was once before, and like he would be again.

“Em, you coming down?” Harry called.

“Yeah.”

I met Harry downstairs in the kitchen, who was already demolishing one of the cupcakes on the counter. Liam had one of his own and quickly pulled off the paper case so he could sink his teeth into the moist cake.

“Hey, save one of those for me, please.” I laughed.

“For you, Mummy?” Liam asked before shoving the cake as far in his mouth as possible.

“Yeah, who else?”

“So, rate the match out of ten.” Harry smiled, sitting Liam on the stool beside him.

“Ten! Most definitely a ten!” He turned to give his uncle his full attention. “I met the players and everything!” There was no doubt that he enjoyed every second of his day. It was just Beckett’s impending departure that robbed him of that last little bit.

“So, how come your face doesn’t show a ten then?” Harry asked.

“It does. See?” He plastered on a beaming smile, but it was clear it was fake.

“That’s better!” Harry leaned into Liam a little more as if to whisper a secret. “Are you ready for next weekend?”

Liam was staying over at Harry’s next weekend so I could enjoy a night out with Kayla. I hadn’t been out in so long and after everything that had happened recently, I needed it.

“I cannot wait! Are we still having a movie night?” Liam asked before shoving the last part of his cake into his mouth.

“You bet! We’ll order pizza and eat so many sweets and popcorn!” Harry loved having Liam around. He tended to have him stay over once a month to also give me a little time to myself. “How about we go for a kick about in the garden?”

“Don’t be long, though. I’m about to sort dinner,” I called after them.

I could practically hear the groans from the pair of them. Alright, I knew my cooking wasn’t the best there was, but my baking was top class.

I grabbed my phone, quickly typing out a message to Beckett before I pulled what I needed out of the fridge.

Liam had a wonderful time. He rated it 10/10.

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