Page 29 of Liam

"Well, it's not my first choice of career," Liam replied. "I took my Bachelor of Arts degree right after high school. Majored in psychology and gender studies, but I can't do muchwith it unless I go back to school. I might still do that … but for now, I'm happy at the pub."

"And that's the most important thing," Mamma said. "Happiness. Jamal loves his job."

"He does great work with those kids," Liam replied. "They're lucky to have him. I think about all the time and effort he puts in with them and … I admire him for it."

Not going to lie. I blushed a little bit.

Okay—a lot.

"What do you do, Meera?" Liam asked.

"I'm a pediatrician," she answered. "So is my husband. Continued the family tradition to a degree. Pappa is a renowned child psychologist. Mamma works with autistic children. David and I met in high school and kept following each other in our choice of studies."

"Yeah," I said. "Those two are sickening, they're so cute together."

"I like it." Liam smiled. "A family who supports youth."

"We're very proud of them all," Dadi said.

"And you, Zahir?" Liam asked.

"So boring. I'm an accountant. No youth in sight."

"Still an important job."

The conversation turned to a recounting of each of our days, including Liam. It felt good to see Liam smiling and laughing, so at ease with my family. He'd fit in well here.

My family would be asking me to invite Liam over often.

I was more than fine with that.

Liam leapt up to help clear the table once we were done eating and had our chai tea. Carrying a stack of plates to the kitchen, he gained bonus points with Mamma.

He was in the kitchen for a while. I could hear Meera laughing at something he said. When he emerged, he stood beside my chair and put his hand on my shoulder.

The weight felt amazing.

I looked up at him. "Do you want to hang in my room for a while?"

Please.

"Sure. Back downstairs?"

"Yeah, I'm on the ground floor. Easier for me to go in and out."

We said our goodbyes to my family and headed for the stairs. I didn't need to ask him. Liam carried my wheelchair down them as I used the lift.

He waited for me to transfer into it, and then followed me into my bedroom. It was a large room with an attached bathroom. I kept both rooms neat so I could get around in them with ease.

I rolled over to my bed; the only seating in the room and transferred onto it. As I shuffled myself to lean against the headboard, hauling my legs along, self-conscious of what it looked like the whole time, Liam went to the other side of the bed and lifted himself onto the mattress.

We were soon seated beside each other. I flicked on the television.

"What do you want to watch?" I asked.

"Do you mind if we talk instead?"

"Don't mind at all." I turned off the television. "What's on your mind?"

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