One year later

The streets of Rome were crowded with a sea of pedestrians rushing here and there, their fast-paced lifestyle contrasting with the old buildings that made Rome one of the most beautiful and breathtaking cities in the world. I couldn’t stop taking photos, in awe of the intricate design and beauty of the architecture that withstood centuries, which portrayed this city’s rich history.

Liam and I were standing next to the Trevi Fountain, right in the middle of a crowd of tourists that had flocked together to toss a coin into the fountain and make a wish.

I knew what mine would be. I wanted Liam and I to be as happy as we had been so far. Actually, happy didn’t cut it, because the last year with Liam was more than extraordinary.

We were on our honeymoon, on a ten-day visit to various places around Italy, and the trip brought back some nice memories. I used to spend my high school summers in Italy, hanging around with my cousins and making new friends.

This was my third time to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, but it could never get old. The first time I did it, I wished to get into a good college, which came true. The second time, I wished to be able to have a successful career, and I got that with Pathways. With a smile, I tossed the coin into the fountain, imagining a bright future with Liam.

I was truly happy. Liam had a great year because his team was achieving the greatest results in the last ten years. It was simply mind-blowing. As a new coach, he rose above everyone’s expectations, building an even stronger team in just a year, becoming a star coach.

Everybody praised him and claimed he would go a long way, and the media loved him, calling him a young coaching star. This paved the road for him, giving his career a huge boost, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

On top of that, I was happy as Manchester United’s sports therapist. I loved working with the team and that I was able to be next to Liam. I had great colleagues and I managed to expand my business connections in my field. And more importantly, I grew as a therapist, working next to other professionals who had taught me a lot. I was fulfilled, self-accomplished, and on the right track.

I missed my friends and Pathways a lot. Even after a year, I had moments filled with nostalgia and longing, but God bless the person who had invented Skype. Despite the big time difference between our places, Claire, Marissa, and I managed to find the time to catch up on the latest news and chit-chat. Pathways was going well, and they had been able to find a substitute sports therapist, who had taken my clients. I had heard from some old clients, who had congratulated me on my new job and wished me all the best for the future, and it was touching, to say the least.

I’d adjusted to the life in England quickly, and Liam was extremely helpful. We were living together in an apartment his club was renting for him, but since we were newlyweds now, we were going to buy a house soon, and I was super excited about it. Actually, that wasn’t the only thing that made me super excited, but I had yet to tell Liam the news…

“What are you thinking about?” Liam asked me, wrapping his arms around my waist to bring me next to him.

I watched the shiny surface of the water in the fountain, his words pulling me out of my deep thoughts.

“I’ll tell you that later. First, let’s go and eat something. I’m starving and my legs are killing me.”

We found a nearby restaurant with the tables and chairs on a cobblestone pavement next to the road. The place was almost completely full, the tourists and locals having their lunch, and the atmosphere was more than inviting. I loved Rome and everything about it.

The waiter brought our orders, and my mouth began watering at the sight of my chicken parmesan. It looked delicious.

Liam raised his glass with wine. “To many more happy years with you.”

“To many more. Cheers.”

I sipped my juice. I couldn’t drink, but Liam wasn’t suspicious about it in the slightest.

“How are you enjoying the trip so far?”

“And what do you think? It’s awesome. No matter how many times I come here, I keep falling in love with the country.”

His affectionate smile stole my breath away. Just like the first day we met, I couldn’t stop admiring this man. He was beautiful.

“If you keep looking at me like that, you’ll make me blush,” I said.

“You never blush.” His smile turned cheeky. “Unless we’re entangled in the sheets and I’m giving you the most intense orgasm—”

“Keep talking and we might end up in the hotel earlier than we thought.”

“Aww. No hand sneaking under the table this time?”

This time my cheeks actually turned red, and I took a huge swallow of my juice. He was referring to that time in the restaurant one month ago when I seduced him with sex talk during dinner and moved my hand under the table to jerk him off. But we were in a secluded area. That was different.

“Maybe next time. When we’re not surrounded by so many people in the middle of the street.”

“Remember what you said. I might take you at your word.”

His smile matched mine. I had heard so many times that the quality of one’s sex life changed drastically after marriage. I heard it could fall into a routine, become something unmemorable, but sex with Liam was great just like the first time. Our sexual appetite for each other was never satiated, both of us unable to contain our urges to possess each other over and over again. I liked bragging about it to Marissa and Claire often.

“Where should we go next? Milan?” he asked me.

“How about Naples to visit my family?” I couldn’t wait to share the news with them too. They would be over the moon when they heard it, and I was sure they were going to throw a party and gather our family from all around Italy to celebrate.

“That is a great idea. I would love to finally meet your granny Angela and the rest of your family.”

“Eh, you say that now, but when you see how crazy we all are… They can be pretty intimidating for someone who hasn’t experienced having more than thirty family members in one place—all yelling and talking at the same time. Plus, they’ll want to know everything about you, so you will have to be prepared to be interrogated about every single thing… You’ll run away before you know it.”

“Thanks for the heads-up, but I think I’ll survive.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He placed his hand on my cheek, curling his lips into a grin. “I managed to survive one Rossi. What’s thirty-something more?”

He motioned with his head to my juice. “What’s up with the juice?” So he noticed.

“Yes, well…” My heart started beating faster, and the flutters appeared in the pit of my belly. “I can’t drink alcohol.”

“Really? Since when?”

“Since today.”

Yesterday I figured out that my period was too late. So I went to the pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test while Liam was in the shower. I didn’t want to tell him anything before I confirmed if it was a false alarm or not, but this morning I did the test and found out that it wasn’t a false alarm.

“Why?”

I licked my lips, beside myself with nervousness. Okay, here it goes.

“Because I’m pregnant.”

“W-What?”

I wished I had my camera on the table so I could just grab it and take a shot of Liam’s shocked face before it was gone. It was hands down one of his most hilarious expressions.

“Close your mouth before a fly gets in,” I teased him.

“You’re pregnant?”

“Are you deaf? Yes, I’m pregnant. My period is late, so I did a pregnancy test this morning and it’s positive.” My grin stretched all over my face. “We’re going to have a baby!”

“We’re going to have a baby,” he mumbled, shock still fixed on his face. “We’re going to have a baby…” Taking me by surprise, he jumped up to his feet and fist-bumped the air.

“Fuck yes!” he shouted, drawing the attention of the people all around us, but he didn’t care about the curious glances at all, moving around the small table and pulling me into his embrace.

His laughter rang through the air, and his joy permeated through me. “That is wonderful! I love you!” He grabbed my face. “I love you so much.”

He kissed me, his lips parting mine delicately. It felt like he was kissing me for the first time—so sweet and heart-felt—and happy tears prickled my eyes. We held each other in a tight hug, our mouths making love in a never-ending moment.

I was head over heels for this man.

“You have no idea how happy I am right now, Alison. This… This was all I ever wanted.”

“Thank you for everything so far, Liam. My life has taken a turn for better since I’ve met you. Before you, I almost gave up on love—I gave up on men, believing they were all obnoxious and not worth my time—and I thought I would never find the right one for me. But I’ve changed my mind after I met you.”

“So I am the right one for you?”

“Absolutely. Two hundred percent.”

He turned toward the people who were still looking at us, all of them looking with expectation at us.

“My wife is pregnant,” he said aloud in surprisingly fluent Italian. “I’m going to become a father!”

The shouts of joy erupted around us, all the customers of the restaurant rushing to their feet to clap their hands and congratulate us, and it was dreamlike. I was the happiest woman alive.

And the greatest things were yet to come.