Page 81 of Liam

He'd gone on. At 2.5 metres high and weighing close to 1000 pounds, the markers depicted spindle whorls that were traditionally used by Coast Salish women to spin wool and were considered to be the foundation of a Coast Salish family.

Family.

I increasingly yearned for it. Noah andhisfamily represented everything I wanted in my life now. But only if Jamal was in it. I loved that man with every element of my soul.

I wrapped my arms around my chest and leaned forward, closing my eyes. The ambience in the room made it possibleto think. If Erik hadn't threatened Jamal, would he have told me?

That was the only variable still causing me to remain undecided. Maybe Noah was right. Jamal hadn't needed to tell me after he broke up with me. The fact he had as part of his bid to get me back was telling. He needed me to know. He didn't want to go forward without me knowing.

Maybe he did love me.

I checked the time on my phone. The museum was about to close. I would have enough time to have a shower and make dinner before theSalish Sea Societymeeting tonight.

Alesia wasn't going to be home. She was out on a date with a woman she met on one of the dating apps. She was hopeful. She'd spend a lot of time texting with this one beforehand.

Once I was at the pub, I poured myself a glass of sparkling water, added a lime slice, and tucked into my regular spot at our table. The other three wandered in and took their seats. The joyful exuberance in the snug emanating from them made me feel like melting into my seat and disappearing. I didn't stand to hug anyone. I probably shouldn't have come tonight.

For once, it wasn't Ethan who said he had news. He nudged Owen instead.

"Owen has something to share," Ethan said.

Owen groaned and rolled his eyes. "It's nothing."

"Did you find some husband material?" Noah asked.

"No," Owen replied. "Nothing like that." He spun his glass in place—stalling. "We had our annual office Christmas party last week, and I found myself alone in the washroom with Skylar."

"Who's Skylar?" I asked.

"Chad's husband."

"The one you didn't notice … like … at all," I teased.

"Believe me, I noticed. Never thought I was into femme guys, but—" Owen picked at the edge of his drink coaster. "We were in the washroom together and he came on to me—hard."

Okay, that snapped me out of my head for a moment.

"Like how?"

"Like pressed me into a bathroom stall and got all up on me."

"And?" I wanted to hear the rest ofthisstory.

"Pressed his long black skirt-covered, thickening cock against my very shocked one and whispered a kiss onto the side of my neck."

"Not the best part," Ethan said.

"Don't tell me you dropped down on your knees for him," Noah added.

Owen finished the sip of beer he'd been taking. "God, no. But when we emerged from the washroom, Skylar and Chad had a visual exchange. Chad knew what Skylar had done to me. It's like they'd planned it. I'm positive it was another one of Chad's asshole moves to get to me."

"Or … Skylar is into you and Chad's all right with it," I suggested.

Owen shook his head. "Not a chance. They were working together to unhinge me."

"And are you?" Noah asked while smirking at Owen. "Unhinged?"

Owen sighed. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about Skylar. The guy is sexy as fuck."

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