Strong (Book 2 in the No Control series)

**29 Weeks**

It’s our last day at the villa for awhile. Liam and I take a walk, winding up at the dock at the lake. We sit side by side on the end of the dock. Liam has taken my hand, entwining our fingers, resting them in his lap.
I feel a smile growing on my face, as I think about our future.
“What’s that grin for?” Liam asks.
“I’m just picturing us bringing our child here. I can imagine you sitting here, teaching them how to skip rocks across the lake.”
Liam smiles, the image in his mind now as well.
“And teaching him or her how to play football in that field right there.”
Liam nods.
“And if it’s a boy, catching frogs right over there at the edge of the lake. Then bringing them back to the house to scare me.”
Liam laughs. “And if it’s a girl, I’ll have tea parties with her in the gazebo.” He says.
I smile. “Am I invited?”
Liam looks up as though thinking, then rubbing my belly. “We’ll think about it.”
I laugh. “Gee, thanks.”
“Well you have to remember, Love, you will be the only one out of the three of us that speaks funny.”
I try not to laugh. “Liam Payne, I’m going to throw you in this lake.”
“No, no, Love. You can join us.”
“Thank you.”
“You do speak funny though.” He winks.
I roll my eyes.

“Let’s see. I imagine that Uncle Niall will come and teach them how to golf.”
“Yes, I’m sure. And Uncle Louis?”
I laugh. “I can only imagine the kind of mischief that Uncle Louis will teach them.”
Liam laughs. “And Uncle Harry?”
I smile. “Probably teach them how to be kind to everyone. Maybe how to be a Scrabble champion?”
Liam smiles. “And he’ll make sure they don’t eat too much junk food.”
I laugh.
We sit quietly for a few moments before Liam asks me.
“Liz, are you sure you don’t ever wish our relationship began differently?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like with going on dates. You know a bit more “normal” than “friends with benefits.”
Using my other hand, I rub his hand that’s entwined with mine. “Liam, I wouldn’t change one thing about it. I love all of it, because it brought us to this point. It may not have been conventional, but obviously it was meant to be. It’s our perfect love story.”
I lay my hand alongside Liam’s face, gently rubbing my thumb over his lips. “I love you, Handsome.”
Liam kisses my forehead. “I love you more, Beautiful.”

Notes