Page 50 of Liam

He had kept the last part of that statement light and tried to be cheeky about it, but I knew he struggled hour by hour every single day with those things.

"Liam." I grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles. "It doesn't work both ways. Believe the first one, the confidence, because that's what I see when I look at you. A man confident in his kindness, sticky sweetness, humour, and love for his friends. That's the man I see."

Liam grinned at me. "And breathtaking?"

I laughed. "Yes, you're pretty to look at too."

We started moving again. We had another three blocks to go until we could treat ourselves to a couple of coffees and some of Ethan's baked goods.

"Your sister always been like that?" Liam asked.

"A pain in my ass? Yes."

"Younger?"

"By three years. She just turned thirty."

"You're younger than me. I'll be turning the big three-seven next."

"Mm … I've found myself a sugar daddy."

Liam laughed. "Hardly. I barely scrape by with my bartender wages."

"You told my dad you might consider going back to school."

"I don't know. I wouldn't be able to attend for more than two years. Working and going to school would be brutal for longer than that. Even with a suitable degree, it might be better hours … but it would be the same pay as I make now. Doesn't seem worth it."

"You might enjoy it more. You could work with kids."

"That's the only thing that could sway me. I love hanging with my noodles."

"Noodles?"

"Rowan and Quinn."

That's adorable.

"You like being their guncle." That was a statement, not a question.

"Makes me wonder about life."

"Kids?"

Liam looked over at me. "Do you ever think about it?"

There were a couple of truths that pertained to that question. "Richard and I were going to have children. Two. Genetically from each of us. But then the accident happened."

"You had to shelve the dream."

I nodded. "Our focus was on my rehabilitation."

"And now?"

The second truth. "I'm scared to raise kids from the confines of a wheelchair."

"You don't think you're capable? I think you'd make an amazing dad … pappa."

"I'd need the right partner." I punched the wheelchair button to open the door of the coffee shop and rolled inside. As we waited in line, Liam stood behind me and kept his gentlehands on my shoulders as if I might disappear if he broke contact with me. He caressed them as we ordered.

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