Page 12 of Liam

I pocketed my phone and hauled the two laundry baskets to the laundry room. To make sure I didn't mix up their clothes, I did four loads. Lights and darks for each one separately. While the laundry was going, I went to the backyard to engage in poop patrol. I cleaned up after Bentley and then mowed and edged the lawn. It felt good to be outside, tidying up their property.

Fresh from the dryer, I folded and hung their clothes and took one last look around to make sure everything was in place, then went downstairs to make myself a protein shake. Two-fifteen rolled around quickly after I'd cleaned the kitchen of the breakfast dishes.

In the car, with two occupied teenagers in the backseat, I turned up a Billie Eilish song and annoyed the hell out of Rowan by singing the wrong words on purpose. Quinn laughed at my antics. Positive guncle points on both fronts.

After a snack, I implemented homework time. Rowan balked but eventually listened when I threatened to start singing again. Thankfully, my math skills were still present, so I was able to help them both with their algebra questions. I wasno use when it came to Chemistry. Calculus was never a strength. We had to pull up some videos on the internet to figure out those questions.

I toyed with the idea of talking to Jamal to commiserate about the schoolwork. Noah had told me sometimes the volunteer teachers weren't at the centre and Jamal had to help with homework.

I shot him a quick text.

Me: Hating chemistry.

Jamal: The subject or the phenomena?

Me: Haha. The equations are killing me.

Jamal: Joys of parenting. How's the rest of it?

Me: I'm enjoying it. Feels good to be needed.

Jamal: You're brave to take this on.

Me: Like I told Noah. I've got this.

Jamal: Loving your confidence.

Rowan glared at me and tapped the page he was working on with his pencil.

Me: Gotta go. Being summoned.

Jamal: Looking forward to Tuesday.

Me: Me too.

I hated to end the thread, but we had a few more equations to do. With their homework eventually finished, I shooed my noodles into the family room to watch television so I could make dinner. I wouldn't have any, but I made a lasagna fromscratch. I hadn't had anyone in my life who taught me to cook. I'd had to muddle through by watching Food TV and practicing. Now I enjoy cooking. My roommate, Alesia, was appreciative of my efforts.

My dinner would consist of the salad that I was making to accompany the main dish. I'd add a hard-boiled egg to a side plate for protein.

While the lasagna baked, the animals were given their second meal, including filling the hedgehog's dish with pellets and making sure the gecko was happy. It wasn't a feeding day for him. Brody's instructions were very clear on when, what, and how much food everyone was fed.

After dinner, there was more television. Later, once Rowan and Quinn were tucked in their beds, I dropped onto the couch, exhausted. It had been a good first day. I stretched and yawned.

I was tired enough to go to bed early.

After letting Bentley out and returning the parrots to their cages for the night, I succumbed to the urge to sleep and climbed into the comfy queen-sized bed I had all to myself.

I spread out, exhilarated by the fact Charlie wasn't there crowding me.

Not sure why we spent overnight together. Convenience for sex maybe. Charlie didn't like when I tried to hold him. We usually slept back-to-back, the position cold and impersonal.

I tried to analyze why on earth we continued what we were doing. Almost everything was negative. The only positive being the sex. That wasnota good foundation for anything serious.

My mind wandered back to Jamal. He'd probably like for me to hold him if we ever spent the night together. But what would that be like, cuddling with someone who couldn't move their legs?

It scared me a little to imagine it.

And that made me feel like crap about myself.

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