"It was supposed to be about sex. That's it. Just two guys fucking."
I cleared my throat. Why had Liam come to me with this? Surely Noah or one of the other guys would have been a better choice. Maybe he'd spoken to them already.
"I was convinced we hated each other," he continued. "The sex was so angry."
I wasn't sure what angry meant when it came to sex. Was Liam into that? I didn't feel comfortable asking him. Not yet. "But that's not how Charlie felt?"
"Apparently not. He lied to me when he said he didn't want to be my boyfriend."
"And you hadn't developed those same feelings?"
"No. Charlie was fun but I didn't want more from him."
Noah had been right. Liam didn't sound like he was even interested in trying to be in a romantic relationship. No matter what I felt, I was going to have to keep Liam in the friend zone.
"So, what happens now? Back to hookups?"
Liam sighed. "No. I've got stuff going on. I don't want to do the hookup thing."
Hearing him say that he wasn't going to be with other men warmed my core. He wouldn't be mine, but it made me happy that he wasn't racing out to fuck a load of men.
"Do you want to do something tonight?" I asked.
I needed to see him.
"Sure."
"Are you brave enough to come to my house and have dinner with my family?" It was a safe place to be with him. Plus, I wanted my family to meet him.
"Is that going to be alright at such short notice?"
"My mamma and dadi make so much food, it'll be fine. I'd let them know you're coming."
"Then I'm looking forward to it. What time?"
I told Liam to come at 6 pm and gave him our address. Mamma was excited I was bringing a friend home for dinner. She and my dadi pivoted and decided to make butter chicken with rice.
I was waiting in my home's front entry for Liam when he rang the doorbell. Damned if he didn't come into my house with a sexy smile directed right at me.
Liam looked around the large foyer with a curved staircase. "Thanks so much for inviting me." His gaze fell on my chairlift. "I'm looking forward to a family dinner."
"You don't have many of those?" I still didn't know about his family.
"I don't haveanyof those other than with the guys. I've been working out. I'm starving."
Again … family. A topic for another time.
"Well, let's head upstairs. Do you mind carrying my wheelchair up?"
"Sure. Whatever you need."
I rolled to the chairlift and transferred onto it. Liam's technique was awkward, but he got the wheelchair up the stairs. Back in my chair, we headed to the dining room. There was a flurry of activity as food was brought to the table one dish at a time, and everyone poured themselves a glass of water and found their seat. They all looked up as we approached.
"Family, this is Liam."
My mamma smiled and clapped her hands together. "My, aren't you handsome."
"Mamma." I looked at Liam. "Sorry."