Page 85 of Liam

Meera patted me on my thigh. "You need to figure out what you're going to do with that."

"WhatcanI do? I've laid every single one of my baggage cards on the table. This is his decision. Whether my not trusting him is a deal breaker or not. All I can do is wait."

"You're too passive. If it were me, I'd go after him. Tell him I love him."

Meera had a point, but the truth was, "I'm not confident enough to put myself out there."

"You're worried he doesn't feel the same way?"

"I am." I looked out through Meera's front window. The streetlight was offering enough light to illuminate the rain drumming down. Noah had said Liam hadbig feelingsfor me.

Was I brave enough to take a chance?

To go after the man I loved.

I finished my tea, went back to my room, and drained my bladder. The old wheelchair David had retrieved from the garage for me was heavy and awkward. It made everything more difficult. My biceps were sore, and I practically bashed into the doorframe trying to get out of the bathroom.

I parked my chair near the edge of my bed and transferred onto the mattress. The bedding was thick and welcoming against the winter weather. It would soon be Christmas.

I had imagined spending it with Liam.

As I lay there, I toyed with the idea of calling my volunteers and asking them to cover for me so I could take a few days off. I wanted to hide in my bed and wait for some kind of bravery to find me. I knew I didn't have that option. The kids at the youth centre needed me.

I would have to find that bravery on my own.

The youth centre was quiet. All the kids and volunteers had left for the day, giving me the chance to hole up in my office and get some paperwork done. It seemed the bulk of my job was applying for grants from the government and private industry. Without their monetary contributions, the Rainbow Youth Centre would cease to exist. We had private donors and reduced rent on the building, but we were always one donation away from closure.

I heard the front doors slam shut. I hadn't locked them yet. It was an oversight on my part, I was so distracted. It was a safe neighbourhood, but you never knew who was going to wander in off the street. We didn't have many homeless in the area, but there were some.

My office door burst open, and my heart skipped into rapid panic. Standing in my doorway was a tall broad man I'd never seen before. He was wearing paint-splotched jeans and a thick plaid jacket. The expression on his face—pure hatred.

His lips pulled up in a sneer. "Found you, you little freak."

I swallowed and tried to collect the downpour of fear that spilled into my gut. This wasn't going to end well. I could feel it in the tips of my fingers, but I tried to diffuse the situation.

"Can I help you with something?"

"You." He thrust his pointed finger at me, his eyes wild with fury. "You and everyone here are fucking pedophiles and child butchers!" He stepped closer to me, making my pulse jump. "You've been grooming my son! Confusing him! Making him think he's a girl!"

I struggled to breathe.

He took a glance around my office. I became very aware the walls were covered in various pride flags. He surged closer and hissed in my face. "You fucking disgust me."

I gripped the armrests of my chair, knowing there was no way for me to escape. I was trapped by my wheelchair and the confines of my desk. "We're only here to support the kids."

Not sure why I was telling him this. I knew he wouldn't care. I'd dealt with angry homophobic parents before, but none had ever come at me with such menace.

Sweat broke out on my brow and upper lip.

I was terrified.

"I know exactly what you're doing," he ranted. "You lure kids in here so you can turn them into fucking queers." He shoved my wheelchair until it smashed into the wall behind me.

My lungs and heart could no longer hold a steady rhythm. I gasped, attempting to find purchase on a breath while my torso quaked and contracted and my fingers and jawline went numb. My thighs pumped jerkily, my knees kicking my calves, so my shoes banged on the footrests.

There was a shadow.

He loomed over me and put his hand around my throat.

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