Page 83 of Backup Plan

I melt right there into the seat of the rental car.

We pull into the hotel, and my stomach growls.

He must hear it, because he asks, “Do you want to get something to eat?”

As much as I’d rather have him make a meal out of me, I probably could use some sustenance before we get down to business. “Please.”

We walk toward the lobby of the hotel from the parking garage, where he drops my bags with the concierge. We head to one of the restaurants next, and we get a table right away. He sits beside me, close enough that I can smell him, building the anticipation between us after a week away.

“We haven’t had much time to really talk about how you’re feeling about things,” I say quietly after we place our orders.

He nods. “Yeah. It’s been…a lot. Izzy said she needed money, and it makes me wonder if she did all this on purpose.” He lifts a shoulder. “I don’t know. I don’t honestly remember our time together. I usually use a condom, but I guess they’re not always effective. Sometimes it’s hard being a Bradley.”

I twist my lips. “And then I made the joke about manifesting someone to pay for my dinner. I’m so sorry, Liam. I’ll pick up the tab here.”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve been friends with my sister for years. It’s not like you’re taking handouts from her. I know how hard you work, and I guess I’ve just been thinking about everything.” He glances away from me, and I get the sense that he feels a certain way about what he’s about to say. “I don’t want to burden you with my new situation. You’ve got enough going on.”

“Hey,” I say softly, and he glances up at me. “The whole idea of a relationship is shouldering those burdens together. And on that note, I actually have something for you.” I pull out a list from my bag and slide it across the table to him.

He glances at it and reads the title aloud. “Things Liam needs to get.” He proceeds to read down the list of all the baby items he’ll need for his place here in San Diego.

“I actually created an Amazon wishlist in your name so you can pick off what you need, or if you want to share it with your family, they can send you stuff.” I lift a shoulder. “It’s sort of just the basics, the things that’ll get you through the first few months. It’s not much.”

He blinks as he tilts his head and stares at me. “It’s not much? Penny, this is everything.” He shakes his head a little. “It was so kind of you to put this together.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Really.”

He closes his eyes and sighs. “See? This. This stuff right here. This is why I need you here, but I’m so torn between asking you to be here with me and wanting to leave you alone because you have your own shit you’re going through.”

“Liam. Stop. Like I just said, we shoulder this together.”

“So we’re in a relationship?” he asks, his eyes shining with what feels like hope.

I let out a small laugh as I nod. “Afraid so.”

“Thank fuck,” he says, and he leans over to press his lips to mine.

I guess all of this begs the very important question…if we are in a relationship, then we should be together. Right?

What if he gets his chance here? What if Tanner retires or gets hurt and the backup becomes the starter, and Liam decides he wants to set down roots here?

I can’t be the reason he’s tied to Chicago, but I’m also not in any way prepared to just drop everything and move my life here.

It’s a lot of heavy stuff to think about, but I relegate it to the backburner for now so I can enjoy my weekend with Liam.

And we do. We make love. We take walks on the beach. We sit by the pool. He takes me into town. He shows me where his practice facility is and where the stadium is. We look at gorgeous houses up in the hills, ones with bedrooms for each of the boys and the baby on the way plus extras for guests or whatever the future might hold.

He doesn’t pressure me to move here with him, but instead seems to hold space for me and my situation for the times I might be able to travel here with the boys. It feels less like I’m being used for my motherly services and more like he wants a true partnership.

In short, it feels like one perfect weekend.

But all good things must come to an end…even perfect weekends.

CHAPTER 25: Liam Bradley

Kitchen Counter

Her flight leaves in a few hours, and we need to head to the airport soon.