Page 79 of Had To Be You

He kisses me and it tastes like forever. What starts out as a chaste kiss turns into more because it’s always more with Liam. I kiss him back harder, taking his jaw in my hand, then break the kiss remembering my need to eat.

“I can definitely agree to that,” he says, moving off of me and helping me from our bed.

And that’s exactly what we do.

* * *

The next few days are a whirlwind of pregnancy announcements and phone calls. We tell Liam’s family over dinner at Catch 21 and from their reaction, you would think we hung the moon. Tears immediately filled his mom’s gray eyes - eyes the colour of her son’s. She jumped from her chair, her hand on her heart, squeezing us both in her arms. “This baby is a gift. Our family is beyond blessed,” she said, dabbing at her eyes. His dad’s eyes went glossy, and he too joined in on the hugs. I will always be grateful for the Bennetts and the love they continuously show me. Liam also devoted an entire afternoon to finding us a suitable obstetrician and booking an appointment to begin monitoring the baby. In other news, I’ve been napping daily after work, utter exhaustion being a side effect of pregnancy that has hit me the hardest.

A few days after telling Liam’s parents, we headed to Vancouver to visit Miles. Parker and Olivia joined us, jumping at the chance to stay with Miles in a gorgeous west coast home right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

I stand at the water’s edge and take in the view, soaking in Vancouver’s perfect balance of nature and city. It’s picture perfect - the mountains in the distance, the salty scent of the ocean, the sun a fiery ball in the sky. “I can see why people love it here,” I say to Liam, as we stroll along the seawall, which winds along the coast, around Stanley Park and the aquarium. We wait for Parker and Olivia, who are a few feet behind us, having stopped to take a selfie. Our plan is to wander, eat lunch at a hot spot Miles recommended, and then meet him back at the house once he’s done filming for the day.

“You realize it rains here? I’m not sure you could handle it.” Liam’s expression is dubious when he turns to face me.

“You don’t think I could handle a little liquid sunshine?”

“I’m not sure. You tell me,” he says, looping his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. He rests his palm against my belly. “How’s my little dude today, by the way?”

“Liam, I’m not sure how many times I need to remind you. We have no clue what the gender of our baby is.”

“I know it’s a boy. Your mother’s psychic also agrees this baby has an X and a Y chromosome. Therefore, it’s a boy.”

I shake my head as a breeze picks up from the ocean, blowing my hair across my face. Liam reaches for the wild strands, pinning them behind my ear. He does have a point. The psychic did predict I would get married this year. Then she predicted my pregnancy, making her two-for-two. “And if it’s a girl? What then?”

“Then, I’ll be wrapped around her finger. But there’s no need to worry about that, Ells. It’s a boy.”

A laugh bursts out of me as I watch his gaze turn to the ocean, and the tide crashing against the stone wall below us. Truth be told, I’d be happy with a boy or a girl, as long as it’s healthy. It might be cliché, but it’s true. But the idea of a miniature Liam with his dreamy eyes and dark hair running around makes my heart thump in my chest.

Seconds later, Parker and Olivia catch up with us. Olivia asks again about my pregnancy and we get lost in baby chat while the boys stroll ahead of us. My heart fills to the brim then spills over, watching Liam and his younger brother who have this incredible bond. They’ve been there for each other for their entire lives. Miles and Jules too.

“It’s ridiculously cute how you can’t stop smiling around Liam,” Olivia says.

“Seems I do that a lot,” I admit. I let my eyes linger on him for a few seconds longer, enjoying my view. Faded jeans show off the curve of his ass perfectly, a dark gray Henley hugs his firm chest and shoulders, and a pair of Ray-Bans that I swear he wears to slay me. His hair is perfectly messed up from the wind moving in from the ocean. I take him in - chiseled jaw, cocky grin - and he’s everything I love in the world. He’s the reason for my happiness, the piece of the puzzle that makes my life whole. He’s my forever, my one true love and the fierce protector of my heart.

“I’m not sure what you are doing to that man, but I’ve never seen Liam so relaxed.”

I laugh. “I doubt that’s a word that’s ever been used to describe Liam.”

Olivia laughs too, because it’s true. Although Liam has learned to find balance in his life, he’s definitely still the wound-tight, intensely focused control freak he’s always been. That, I’m sure, will never change. It’s who Liam is and always has been, and I liked him that way from the moment I met him.

“Are you still happy in Cape May?” I ask Olivia, checking in with her. Their move was always only temporary with their plans being to return home to Reed Point once Parker had the newest Seaside Hotel up and running smoothly.

“I am because I have Parker, but I miss Reed Point and all of you,” she says a little wistfully.

“Any idea of when you two will move back?” I ask as we walk past a family of four on bikes. There’s a woman too, pushing a stroller, and I can’t help but think how that will be me one day soon. My heart does a back handspring in my chest at the thought.

“Parker thinks November. I refuse to get my hopes up.”

I do the math in my head. That’s only two months away. “Seriously? That’s just around the corner.”

Olivia laughs. “Sort of, I guess. two months feels like an eternity, especially now that you are pregnant. I don’t want to miss a thing. I’m beyond excited that it’s you, Ells, who is going to make me an aunt.” Olivia pulls me into her side, and I rest my head upon her shoulder. I sigh in agreement, knowing that I don’t want her to miss a second of this pregnancy either.

We spend the rest of the day doing Canadian things, making our way back to Miles’ rental just after six. The home is incredible, overlooking the ocean with six bedrooms, a theater room and an outdoor pool and spa. Hearing voices echoing from the basement, the four of us pad downstairs where we find Miles in the games room playing pool. But he’s not alone. Across the table is a pretty brunette with golden skin and green eyes the color of emeralds. She’s a knockout to any man’s standards. Hell, I might even have a crush on her.

“Hey,” Miles greets us, rounding the pool table. His guest does the same. “Everyone this is Rylee. She’s a set PA on the movie I’m shooting. Rylee, these are my brothers Liam and Parker, Parker’s wife Olivia and Liam’s fiancé Ellie.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet y’all.” She says, holding out her hand, greeting us with a model-worthy smile and an ever so slight twang to her speech. “Miles has told me so much about all of you.”

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