Page 12 of A Forgotten Mistake

“I want to know,” I say stubbornly. “I’m… I’m capable of knowing. I can handle it.”

Liam hesitates before responding. “I’m afraid that I’m going to push you until you’re unable to handle any more. I’ve already pushed you to your limits more than once.”

“I’m… different than before,” I say. “Tobias made me different.”

“How about you think about it?” Liam suggests. “You think about whether or not you’d truly want to know.”

“There’s nothing to think about. Don’t you think I’ve already thought about it enough? All I do is think and think…”

“I’m afraid I’m going to ruin you,” he says. “I’m not good for someone like you.”

I was about to pull away from a stop sign but end up hitting the brakes as I look over at him. “Why would you say that? Liam, why the fuck do you put me up on this pedestal like I’m this breakable, holy thing, and seem convinced you’re bad for me?”

“Your sweet selflessness is just one of the many things that makes you so special, and I’m afraid the longer you’re around me, the more your innocence will drain away.”

“Don’t piss me off.”

Liam looks surprised. “How am I pissing you off?”

“By saying something so stupid. If I’m capable of loving you throughall of this shit,do you not think I’m capable of loving you through anything? Don’t be foolish and annoy me.”

“I’m sorry. Can I buy you something to make up for it?”

“No, I don’t need anything.”

“Anything you want, I’ll buy you. Would you like a diner?”

I glance over at him. “Have you still not checked on your diner?”

“I kind of did. I like peeked in because I was peckish, told them all that they were doing adequate jobs running the whole thing while I was gone, and left.”

“Dear god. What if they’re like… stealing your money and running off with it?”

“I’d say it’d be really fucking risky to steal money from me.”

“They don’t know that!” I sigh, positive that whatever I say really doesn’t matter. This man is going to do his own thing.“Liam, I want to know and that’s that. And dear god, you’re not tainting me. I hope you know me well enough to know that I’m really fucking stubborn. I know how to take care of myself, I promise.”

“Okay.”

“So go back to trying to con me into moving in with you. But my house is in a better location… Yours is nice but it’s so far from some of the stores, you know? Though yours is bigger and roomier.”

“So the house is the issue,” he says.

“No, it’s that we have to decide what’s best. Location or space.”

“So you want a big house in an ideal location?”

“That’s the dream, huh? With a little catio?—”

“What the fuck is a catio? And like… I can use my brain to answer that question, but I really hope my answer is wrong.”

“Cat patio.”

“Dammit,” he says.

“Lucille would love it!”

“Are you going to be in the catio?”

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