Page 60 of Liam

"I don't want you to get hurt and I think Liam has the ability to hurt you badly."

"I thought you liked him."

"As your friend."

I frowned. "So, what … now you don't like him?"

"I'll be more wary around him."

Fuck.

Liam was going to be crushed. I could tell he loved feeling like he belonged somewhere, with a family who cared about him. He hadn't had much of that in his life.

I couldn't tell him what Mamma had said.

And I had nothing more to say to her.

Thankfully, I ran into Zahir at the top of the stairs, and he carried my wheelchair down for me. I didn't want to talk to anyone else about Liam. I wanted to talk to Liam.

I slammed my bedroom door closed.

He answered after two rings. He was breathing heavily.

"Are you out for a run?" I asked.

"Just finishing the last kilometre. What's up?"

"Talked to my mom about us."

"How did that go?"

"She's convinced you're too good for me."

"She said that?"

"Not in so many words. But the implication was there." Maybe Mamma was right, and I was setting myself up for heartache. I sucked in a ragged breath as tears ran down my cheeks.

Despite putting up a good fight, I wasn't even sure anymore. Maybe my life would be too different for Liam to exist in. My mind turned into a fuzzy fury of uncertainty. I grabbed a pillow off my bed and hugged it to my chest as more tears escaped my shuddering body.

"Hey, Jamal … are you crying?"

I sniffed. "Are you sure you want to be with me?" I needed to know the truth.

"God, yes. Of course, I do."

"Doesn't the wheelchair scare you?"

"Not going to lie, it's foreign to me, but it's your mind and heart I'm interested in." Liam chuckled. "Although … your body is pretty banging too."

I huffed out a laugh. He'd certainly enjoyed exploring my upper body. He'd paid attention to parts of me I had no idea would turn me on so much. He'd adapted for me.

I breathed in a long settling breath and wiped my damp face with my sleeve.

Liam was special.

Specially made for me.

"I'll see you at the centre later?" he asked.

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