Page 67 of Liam

The memory took me back to the sensation that had caused me to drift off. The next morning, I was awake too early to leave for the restaurant, but I knew Jamal would be up.

Me: Good morning, beautiful.

Jamal: Miss hearing those words in person. How's surfing?

Me: We got a couple of hours in yesterday. When can I stay over again?

Jamal: On a night when you're not working until two in the morning.

Me: Not many of those.

Jamal: Plan to stay every night you're not working.

Me: I can do that. I'm meeting my birth father for breakfast.

Jamal: How did that happen?

Me: Ran into him last night. He's here with his real son.

Jamal: Don't do that. You're just as much his son as the one he's there with.

Me: You obviously don't know Erik.

Jamal: I don't need to. I know you. And you are worth knowing. His loss.

Me: You're biased. You're my boyfriend.

Jamal: I love it when you call me that.

Me: I'll add it to the list of words I whisper in your ear when we're fucking around.

Jamal:

Me: I'll come to see you at the centre on Thursday as soon as I'm back.

Jamal: I'll be prepared to lock my office door when you do.

Me:

Jamal:

I ran my fingers across my lips. I loved when we kissed. The give and take between us felt destined. As if I would never be satisfied with kissing anyone else ever again.

I looked at my phone. It was time to go.

On the bed, Ethan was breathing softly. Fast asleep. I'd be back before he even woke up. We weren't crack of dawn surfers. Eight would be early enough to get moving.

I jogged down the street to Rosie's, the best breakfast place in town. It had been there as long as we'd been coming to Tofino. Erik was waiting in a booth for me.

He checked the time on his phone as I slid into my seat.

I was early by a few minutes.

"Do you know what you want?" he asked. "We need to order quickly."

It felt like my lungs deflated a little. I only saw my birth father a couple of times a year. And here we were with an opportunity to spend time together, and he wanted to rush it.

I looked out the window. It was still partially dark out.

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