Page 4 of Liam

Jamal blinked and his eyebrows raised. "Our cell numbers?"

I laughed. "I don't have any other kind of numbers."

"Right." Jamal nodded. "Right." He swallowed, unlocked his phone, and handed it to me. "Did you know the first cell phone was made on April 3, 1973?"

I grinned as I passed my phone to him. "No, I didnotknow that."

"The first SMS text message ever saidMerry Christmas."

I entered my number into his cell. "I hope it was Christmas time."

Jamal frowned as we passed our phones back. "I don't know the answer to that."

"Something to look up."

Jamal held up his phone. "So … do you want me to text you about stopping by the centre?"

Yeah, that had to be confusing, why I'd asked for his number. Not sure I know why I did other than I felt a desperate need to figure out a way to see and spend time with Jamal. "I thought we could hang out sometime. We have Noah in common. Might be fun."

A smile lit up Jamal's face, sending waves of addictive ripples through my skin.

His was an expression of pure joy.

"He wouldn't be there to defend himself," he said, straightening his back.

"We could be ruthless."

"Thatdoessound like fun."

"He's easy to pick on," I said.

Jamal's shoulders relaxed. "You've known him for a long time."

"Since the start of junior high school."

"You love him."

I chuffed out a laugh. "Guilty. Noah is the best friend a guy could ever have."

"I like that the four of you are so close. It speaks well of you all."

"Are you talking about us?" Noah sat beside me. I was in Brody's chair. He stood behind me and waited silently. Iwrapped my arm around Noah's shoulders and kissed the side of his head.

"All good stuff," Jamal replied and wheeled himself backward and away from the table. For the past few minutes, I'd forgotten he was in a wheelchair. "Nice talking to you, Liam."

"You too, Jamal."

Noah smiled at me. "He's been wanting to dothatfor a while."

"What?"

"Talk to you. He's been hearing about you for years from me."

"Not much to talk about when it comes to me."

Noel laughed. "He's developed an appreciation."

What was I supposed to say to that? Me too? I went with, "Seems like a nice guy."

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