Liam

 

For a minute there, I thought she knew. For a moment, I stood there frozen, thinking she somehow found out about the pocket full of pills I was walking around with.

I didn’t want her to know—or anyone for that matter. God knew what she would think. The last thing Bellamy needed was the stress of a relapse in her life.

Even knowing that, it wasn’t enough to make me empty my pocket. I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I wasn’t sure why. I just knew having them there made me feel a little more in control.

As we walked through the general store to get her vitamins and whatever else she put in the basket, I thought of those pills more and more.

People approached us—every fucking person who looked in our direction.

If I had to listen to another “I’m sorry” or “my condolences,” I was going to fucking snap. A couple ballsy people even asked about the “break-in” and the rogue guest-turned-criminal who ultimately killed my father.

This led me to think of Perry Crone and the letter he sent. The way he was almost proud of killing my father.

“Maybe it was too soon to come into town,” Bellamy said, her voice subdued. I glanced down immediately, noting her pale cheeks and wide eyes.

I stopped in the center of the aisle and rotated so I was facing her and nothing else. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“It’s hard on you.”

A lot of the tension coiled inside me fell back. My eyes softened on hers as she looked at me with concern. “Nothing a little sugar from my girl can’t fix.”

She leaned up instantly, teetering on tiptoes to kiss me. I slipped my arms around her and lifted, taking her mouth the way I wanted.

It was probably too hungry of a kiss for the center of a public store, but I didn’t give a damn. If people could walk up and ask me about my dad’s murder, then I could make them watch me get some sugar.

When I was done, I set her down, and her eyes were wide. Blinking, she asked, “Better?”

I smirked. “For now.”

“Hold my hand,” she instructed, holding hers out.

“Yes, ma’am.” I agreed, linking them together.

When we stepped up in line to pick up the prescription and pay for our items, the pharmacist came out with her white bag of meds. “Liam,” he said.

I braced myself for more nosy business. I loved Caribou, but it had a small-town mentality despite the huge number of tourists that came through.

“Hi, Mr. Wagner,” Bellamy said, drawing his attention. “Thank you so much for getting that ready.”

The pharmacist glanced at my girl and smiled. “It was a pleasure.”

“I’m sure you saw what they were for.” She goaded.

“A man in my profession never comments on a patient's, uh, condition.”

“Of course.” She conspired. “But I give you permission this one time.”

He smiled widely and held out a hand to me. “Then I guess congratulations are in order.”

I admit I relaxed a little when he smiled because that look of sadness was no longer on his face. “Thank you.” I grinned.

“If you all need anything, you just let me know.”

“Thank you so much,” Bellamy said, quickly handing over some cash to the cashier and then picking up the bag.

“I got that,” I said, taking it out of her hand.

She gave everyone standing around a wave and tugged me out of the store.

“How’d you know?” I asked outside on the sidewalk. She glanced up. “You know, that everyone was getting to me.”

“I could just tell.”

“Word’s gonna spread like wildfire now.” I warned her.

Her mouth formed a little O. “Did you want to keep it to ourselves a little longer?”

I barked a laugh. “I don’t give a fuck who knows.” To prove my point, I glanced at some stranger walking by and pointed to her stomach. “That’s my kid in there.”

The man smiled. “Congratulations.”

Bellamy smacked me. “Stop it.”

“We’re gonna have to stop by and tell Alex on the way home. If he hears it from someone else, he’s gonna be pissed.”

As if just saying his name conjured him up, he stepped out of a shop up the sidewalk.

“Yo!” I called out.

“Yo!” he yelled back before he even turned around to see us.

Putting a hand on the small of Bells’s back, I ushered her down the sidewalk to meet Alex halfway. “Visiting your parents?” I asked, gesturing toward The Confectionary.

He nodded. “Figured I’d spend a little extra time with them.”

A pang of hurt stabbed me, worse than the pain that seemed to continuously wave through me. The death of my dad sure had a way of reminding people how little time we actually have and how uncertain it all is. “Good call,” I said because I didn’t trust my voice to say anything else.

Internally, I focused on the weight of the pills in my pocket. It would be easy to slip into the bathroom and toss them back.

“We were just talking about you,” Bellamy said, drawing my attention.

“I make a good conversation,” Alex cracked.

Bellamy rolled her eyes. “We have something to tell you.”

“Charlie finally get the shits after all the food you feed him?” He glanced at me. “Seriously, Liam. You need to put a limit on your girl.”

Bellamy gave him a light shove, but when she pulled back, her boot slipped on some ice on the sidewalk. I caught her easily, but not before she took about twenty years off my life.

“Jesus, Bells,” I swore.

She grimaced. “Sorry.”

I anchored her into my side and kept my arm firmly around her.

Alex stared between us. “So everything cool between you two or what?”

I nodded. “We’re straight.”

“What’s going on, then?” He pressed, all jokes aside.

Putting my free hand on her stomach, I told him, “Bellamy’s pregnant.”

Alex’s icy eyes widened so much we could see the entire blue orbs. “No shit?”

I enjoyed seeing him speechless. It happened so little. I nodded.

“Oh my God!” he burst out. “You dog!” He cackled and leaned in to one-arm hug me. When he pulled back he went for Bellamy, pulling her right out of my hold.

“Is that what all that puking was about?” he asked, lifting her to his eye level.

“You heard that!” She gasped.

“Mm-hmm,” he drawled and then hugged her. Bellamy squeaked.

“Be careful!” I snapped.

“Uh-oh,” Alex cracked, pulling her back. “Now he’s gonna be even grouchier.”

She giggled.

I stepped up. “Give me my girl.”

Alex passed her to me, her feet just hanging over the ground.

“Put me down.” Bellamy insisted.

“I was just going to,” Alex said. Then he set her down right in my arms.

“You two are ridiculous,” she muttered, trying to squirm away. I held her a little tighter.

“Uncle Alex,” he mused. “It has a certain ring to it.” He held out his fist between us. “Congrats, man.”

“Thanks.”

Bellamy made a small sound and glanced down.

“What?”

“Look,” she murmured, pointing to the store we just happened to be standing in front of. It was a baby shop, blankets and clothes in the window.

“I had a blanket just like that when I was a baby,” she murmured. “Mom had saved it in case I ever had kids.” Her eyes averted. “She probably doesn’t have it anymore.”

I set her down and took her hand. “Come on,” I said, tugging her toward the store.

“Really?” she asked. “Isn’t it kinda soon?”

I scoffed. “No.”

I held the door open for Bells, but she turned before going inside. “Aren’t you coming?”

Alex looked like a deer caught in headlights. It was funny as shit. “Me?” he stuttered. “Uh, I don’t do babies.”

“Why not?” she demanded.

“That ain’t my kid!” He pointed. “Baby shopping is where I draw the line.” He shook his head and muttered, “Brother husbands.”

“It’s your nephew.” Bellamy insisted.

His eyes flew to me. “It’s a boy?”

I nodded.

“Well, shit. We gotta get some shit in blue.” He came forward and ushered her inside.

She went ahead, already drawn to all the tiny clothes, but Alex hung back. “Dude,” he murmured for my ears. “Is this a happy accident?”

I grabbed him by the shirt. “Don’t you call my son an accident again,” I growled.

His eyebrows rose. “You planned this?”

I let go of him. “Not exactly.”

“So…?” He coaxed.

“I want this baby,” I told him. “A lot.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” He nodded. “I guess I could get used to a baby being around.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m so relieved.”

“Put him on a little pair of skis.”

“Snowboard.” I corrected.

“Now why you gotta be like that?”

“‘Cause it’s my kid,” I pointed out.

“Look,” Bellamy said, inserting herself right between us as if we weren’t just standing there having a debate.

We both looked down at the same time as she held up a white blanket with a yellow duck in the corner.

“They got it in blue?” Alex asked. “I’m gonna go see.” Off he went in search of a blue blanket.

Bellamy glanced up, her smile soft as she rubbed her hand over the soft white fabric.

I put my hand on her belly and leaned down, kissing her forehead. “We definitely have to buy it.”

“I miss my mom,” she said in a quiet rush of emotion.

“I know, sweetheart,” I murmured, pulling her close.

“Look at this!” Alex yelled through the store. We both glanced over to him holding up a giant diaper bag with the BearPaw logo on it. “You can carry your diapers around in it, L.”

I gave him the finger.

Bellamy yelled at me because we were in a baby store.

“Come on,” I said, pulling her along. “Pick out some more stuff.”

“Well, I did see a little hat.” She sniffled.

I chuckled. “Go get it.”

She left my side to find said hat, and seconds later, someone sidled up to my side. Without looking, I put my arm around her and instantly stiffened, knowing it wasn’t my girl.

I pulled back, looking beside me.

“Kelsey,” I said, surprised.

“Here I thought you were excited to see me,” she quipped, smiling.

“I thought you were someone else,” I deadpanned and took a step back.

“I’m glad I ran into you,” she said. “I was hoping I’d get the chance to see you before I left town again.”

“What are you doing in a baby store?” I asked. Was she following us?

She held up a few items in her hand. “A friend of mine is pregnant.” Her brow wrinkled. “What are you doing in a baby store?”

“We’re shopping,” Bellamy said, coming out of nowhere. “For our baby.”

Kelsey slid a cool glance at Bells. Bellamy was already shooting her a flat-out icy look.

Da-yum.

“Bellamy,” she said, polite. “I had no idea you were back in town.”

“Funny. You looked right at me at the reception yesterday.”

“I didn’t recognize you. It’s been a long time, and you look tired.”

Bellamy sucked in a breath.

I stepped forward, angling in front of her. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Kelsey.”

“I’m not—”

I cut her off. “I think we both know you are.”

She sniffed, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. “Well, I’d say it was nice seeing you,” she said, glancing at Bellamy.

“It wasn’t.” Bells finished.

Kelsey turned away from her completely. “Bye, Liam.”

I gave her a gesture with my chin, then turned away toward Bellamy and lifted an eyebrow.

“Don’t you give me that look,” she intoned, then lifted her chin. “And I could have handled that.”

“I know.” But Kelsey hurt her once before. Years ago. I didn’t do anything about it then, and I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

Besides, it was my job to protect her. Even from jealous bitches.

“Are we done yet?” Alex whined, appearing out of one of the racks. “I’m starving.”

“Tacos,” I said.

“Tacoooos.” Alex agreed.

We both turned to Bellamy. She nodded. “Tacos.”

Alex and I high-fived.

Bellamy laughed beneath her breath. “I’ll go pay.”

I made a sound and plucked the items out of her hands. “I’m paying.” Looking down at the blanket and hat, I frowned. “This is all you want?”

She shrugged. “It’s still early. Besides, the company in this place leaves a lot to be desired.”

I felt bad. What could have been a fun thing was sort of tainted by Kelsey and the fact that all this stuff reminded her of the relationship she was missing with her mother.

I went to pay, pulling Alex along with me. “So, hey, there’s something I’m gonna need you to do,” I whispered, keeping an eye on Bells.

I told him what I was thinking.

Alex glanced behind him at Bellamy, and a slow smile spread over the lower half of his face. “I got this.”