Page 75 of Game On

I laughed and walked into my bedroom. I changed for bed, but then I peeked into Liam’s room. He was curled up in his bed, with his arms wrapped around his stuffed plushie of the Bulldogs mascot, Bruiser.

Seeing him safe in bed was all I needed to know. Liam was safe and loved, and I’d never make him feel afraid like I had been when I was a kid. I still wondered how much he saw between Rose and her dickhead husband, but the thought of knowing he was in a dangerous situation broke my heart. I was glad he was out and I could protect him. Even if it made my life complicated.

He stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. “Uncle Logan?”

I pulled the blanket over him and tucked him back in. “Shush. Go back to sleep, bud.”

“Not tired,” he insisted and screwed up his little face in annoyance.

I bent down and kissed his forehead. “Yes, you are. Sleep, little man, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow before I leave. You’ll pick out my tie for me.”

“Otay,” he murmured. “I miss baby.”

“Rosie?”

He nodded.

“You’ll see her later, okay?”

He shook his head.

“Yes, little man.”

He shook his head again, and I felt a cranky tantrum coming on.

I smoothed down his hair. “Go back to sleep. You’re cranky.”

“Sleep with you?” he asked and held his arms out toward me.

I should have been firm and told him to sleep in his bed, but when he looked at me with that sad little face, I caved. I was a pushover, but one day, he wouldn’t want to cuddle beside me.

I picked him up and brought him into my room, where he settled down once I had us in my bed. Little man had me wrapped around his finger, and he knew it. I put the sports channel on and watched highlights with the volume on low.

I realized I’d never texted Lily back, so I chanced it even if it was late.

ME: I totally get it. Hope you had fun.

I snapped a picture of Liam cuddling up beside me, holding his Bulldog plushie, and sent it to her.

ME: This one’s attached to Rosie already and misses her.

I saw the three dots come up on my screen and then a text from her. A smile broke out across my face when she sent a photo of her in a mirror position with Rosie against her chest as she lay in bed. Rosie had a similar Bulldogs plushie.

LILY: Um, this one too.

ME: Aw. She’s got a little Bruiser.

LILY: ??

ME: Our mascot.

LILY: Oooh. She cheered you on with it tonight.

I shouldn’t like that. Definitely should not.

Another text came through from her, this time another photo. It was of her holding Rosie and Liam in her lap. Mari must have taken it at the game. I couldn’t help but notice how Lily held Liam like he was her own.

I shook the thought away. Lily was just a mom. It didn’t mean anything else.