Page 59 of Liam

Right now … I was going to soak him up.

Chapter Twelve | Jamal

Liam had snuck out before the household awoke. We had agreed I needed to have a conversation with my family about our new relationship status before he became a regular fixture in my bed. Meera had surmised where we were at. Which meant David knew too.

No one was around to help me up the stairs. I had to disassemble my wheelchair and take it up in pieces. I was cooking some scrambled eggs when Mamma came into the kitchen.

She set her hand on my shoulder. "Did Liam enjoy his birthday?"

"I think it meant more to him than he let on."

"He's such a sweet man." She patted my shoulder. "I bet he drives the women crazy."

My eyebrows dipped. This was the perfect opportunity to say something. "He's gay."

"Is he? Did you meet him through Noah?"

"Sort of."

"I've never heard you speak about him before we met him."

"I was aware of him, but I didn't get talking to him until Noah's wedding."

"You've become good friends."

I exhaled. "No, Mamma. Liam isn't my friend. He's my boyfriend."

Mamma crossed her arms. "Oh, Jamal … do you think that's a good idea."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"With his looks … he's bound to attract a lot of men's attention."

I crunched up my eyebrows hard. "Do you think he's going to cheat on me?"

Mamma frowned and sighed. "Jamal … you're in a wheelchair."

My jaw clenched so tight; my teeth ached.

I flicked off the heat on the stove, lifted the frying pan, and threw the whole lot in the sink with a clatter. "You said it yourself, Mamma. Liam is a sweet man. He would never hurt me."

This is outrageous.

"Look what happened with Richard."

"What happened with Richard? I drove Richard away, remember? I won't do that with Liam. I've accepted the change in my life. I've made peace with it. I feel blessed I didn't die."

"Well, of course, Jamal, but I'm worried Liam doesn't know what he's signing up for."

I gripped the armrests of my chair. "And what would that be? Having to deal with a cripple?"

"Don't use that word. You know what I mean. He might feel he's missing out over time."

"I am perfectly capable of satisfying him in every way."

Mamma flicked her hand in the air. "I don't want to know about that."

"It's different than with Richard. Liam has never known me without the chair. We're discovering each other from a place unique to us. And he's all in."

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