Page 83 of Liam

I left the kitchen and contemplated my next move. I'd seen Noah coming in for his volunteer shift. I checked the gym first, but he wasn't there, so I headed for the library.

He was sitting on the floor beside Kyle, leaning against the wall. They were both absorbed in their books. I rolled closer to them and Noah looked up at me.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked him, gathering my nerve. I needed to know.

"Sure." He set his book aside and rose to his feet. He followed me to the other side of the library where we could talk in private. "What's up?"

My heart thudded around like a caged badger. "Can you tell me what's going on with Liam?"

I knew I was asking a lot of Noah. Liam was his best friend. Noah might want to protect him and what he was going through. If it was none of my business, Noah would say so.

"Honestly … he's suffering. He doesn't know what to do with what you told him."

"Did he tell you?"

"What you told him? Not really. But he's pretty torn up about the whole thing."

"Is he working toward any conclusions?"

"Not yet. He's having trouble getting over the fact you didn't come to him sooner."

"I was scared."

"He's figured that out, but I think you bruised the image of what you two had together."

"He's special. I've never connected to someone as much as I have with Liam."

Noah folded his arms. "I'm telling you this in confidence. It's not like Liam to havebigfeelingsfor someone … but he has them for you."

My heart thudded even harder.

Does he love me?

Noah put his hand on my shoulder. "Give him time. I think he'll come around." Then he left me to immerse myself in the stunning possibility Liam might come back to me.

I needed to be patient.

After rolling out of the library, I went to my office. I wanted to write a list of supplies so the kids could make postersfor an upcoming winter dance we were planning. Avery was sitting on the chair in front of my desk waiting for me to return.

"What can I help you with?" I asked them.

Avery looked down at their hands. "Things aren't great at home."

"What's going on?"

"I came out to my parents as enby. They'd never even heard the word before." They looked up at me. "I had to explain it to them. They were silent at first … then they exploded."

I furrowed my brow. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"No, just a whole lot of yelling at me." Tears rimmed Avery's eyes. "They've threatened to kick me out of the house if Idon't stop this nonsense. I don't know what to do."

Fuck.

We had a few kids who lived on the streets. It was a hard and dangerous place to be for a young person. They were often exploited and sold their bodies for money for food.

Avery wouldn't last long out there before they turned to drugs to lessen the anguish and feelings of abandonment. They were a tender soul. I wouldn't let it come to that.

"Come straight to me if they kick you out. I'm working on permission to operate a youth shelter. You could stay here. I've ordered all the bunkbeds already. It won't be long."

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