Chapter 20
TWENTY
All I can do is stare at Liam, asleep beside me, in my bed. The early morning light casts a soft glow on his features as he sleeps peacefully, absent of the usual tension he carries. As I let my eyes trace his face, and I listen to his soft breaths, I can’t help but once again replay our conversation from yesterday morning. We didn’t talk about it anymore as we worked on the sunroom, instead just falling into a peaceful quiet as we tore out the old drywall and installed new panels I already had in the workshop. His mood lifted as the day went on, but I know he’ll continue to carry those feelings for a long time. This is just the beginning for him, and if he wants me to, I’ll be here through it all. As long as it takes.
Miss Bobber lets out a soft meow when she notices I’m awake and starts her little journey from her spot at our feet, climbing the hills and valleys created by our bodies under the blankets. Liam stirs as she climbs his legs, and he looks down at her as she makes an adorable leap into the space between us.
His dark hair falls over his face, and I smile as he brushes it aside, revealing his bright eyes in the dim light. He glances at my lips before a small, sleepy smile tugs at his own.
“Your bed is comfier than mine,” he mumbles groggily.
I chuckle, running my hand over Miss Bobber’s head as she purrs and nuzzles into my palm. “Well, yeah. Why the hell would I take the less comfortable bed?”
He rolls his eyes, letting out a soft huff before turning onto his back to gaze up at the skylight, as the sky slowly brightens with a new day.
We lie here for a bit, Miss Bobber’s purrs the only sound filling the space between us as she climbs onto my chest. But my thoughts are stuck on him. Liam Fraser… this random guy I invited into my house just over a month ago. And he’s in my bed. Just by coming into my life, he put so much into perspective, and gave me the answers to questions I was too afraid to even ask. And he barely even had to say a word.
Even after everything we’ve done together over the past two days, I still can’t believe this is real.
“Thank you,” he says quietly, breaking the silence.
I turn my head to look at him, tracing the lines of his face with my eyes as he continues to look up at the sky. I know he’s referring to yesterday, for pulling him out of the spiral he was in. I don’t think he’s had anyone to do that for him. Until now.
“Anytime,” I reply softly.
I let my eyes linger on him for a moment longer, noticing that he does seem lighter today.
Like his storm might be passing.
“What jobs do you have today?” he asks, turning to meet my gaze.
I think for a moment, running through the never-ending list that’s been piling up. Now that the rain and wind has passed, my phone will probably be blowing up with calls for help with various tasks. I’d like to get as much done as possible before dinner at Mom’s tonight.
I rub a hand over my face. “Probably just working around town on storm cleanup. There are a few elderly people a little ways out of town that I like to check in on after bad weather. Make sure their yards are clear and that everything's alright.”
A soft smile spreads across Liam’s face, his eyes warm as they meet mine. “I’ll help.”
I chuckle with a smile of my own. “You want to work on your time off?”
He lets out a quiet laugh, turning back to gaze up at the skylight. “I’ve been working on your house pretty much every day, and you’re more than capable. Better use of my time to help someone who isn’t just trying to get free work from a roommate.”
I laugh, jostling Miss Bobber where she lies on my chest. “Asshole.”
He turns back to me with a smile. But it slowly fades as he looks into my eyes, and the sparkle in his is replaced with desperation. “But… it’s an outlet,” he says quietly.
I nod, lifting my hand to run my fingers along his jaw. “Let’s go to work then.”
I pull into Mom’s driveway just as Mason comes around the corner of the house, dragging a large bucket with a rope slung over his shoulder, heading towards the tree in the front yard.
“What…” Liam starts, watching Mason as he surveys the tree before him.
I put the truck in park and shake my head. “Who knows.”
As we climb out of my truck, Mason immediately drops the bucket and rope, grabs a toy truck, and runs over to us with wide eyes and excitement. “Liam! You work on a metal island?? Does it sink? Do you sleep underwater?”
I wince, glancing at Liam, who looks at me with amused confusion.
“I did my best to explain the rig to him, but…” I shrug. He’s five with a wild imagination and a short attention span. I did the best I could.
Liam chuckles and turns back to Mason. “It’s held up over the water by big poles that go all the way into the ocean floor.”
Mason’s eyes widen even more as he processes this, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his head. He looks like he’s on the verge of a mental overload.
“So… how do they get the poles out there? Does the metal island float all the way to the middle of the ocean? Does a submarine carry it? Or does a plane bring it there? How deep is the ocean?”
Liam and I share a glance, and I wonder how deep we should try to go into this explanation. I gesture for Liam to take the lead, and he rolls his eyes at me with a smirk.
“Those are good questions,” Liam says, nodding at Mason. “I’ll ask, and let you know.”
Mason nods in approval, then proudly holds up his toy truck, filled with dirt. And probably worms. “I got bait, Uncle Theo.”
I bite back a laugh and nod. “Awesome, bud. Keep up the good work.”
“Oh, I will,” he says seriously, then turns and drops back into the dirt with his trucks, apparently forgetting about his rope and bucket adventure.
I wonder if Heather has any idea what he’s up to…
As we turn to head inside, my heart rate picks up. The idea of being around my family with Liam, after everything that’s changed between us, has been building in the back of my mind all day. And now that we’re here, it’s hitting me hard. I have to try to play it cool, like I didn’t have my lips wrapped around his cock yesterday morning.
I push the door open, stepping inside as Liam trails behind me. We didn’t actually talk about how each of us are feeling about coming to spend an evening with my family after what we’ve been up to the past couple days. But I can feel the apprehension in him. He’s still getting to know my family, and now… well. We’re dealing with a whole new dynamic that only we know about.
A fire crackles in the wood stove as we enter the living room, the cozy warmth of the room mixing with the comforting smell of supper in the air. Grandpa is sitting on one of the couches with Isla reading a book, and Mom, Heather, and Chris are in the kitchen.
“Hey,” I say, and all eyes land on us.
And my heart thunders.
Fuck. I hate that I feel nervous and on edge in front of my own family. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid by ignoring my own needs and pushing everything down. The fear that they won’t accept me, and that I’ll never be able to be myself around them if they knew I was gay.
Even though I know that’s not true, and I know that won’t happen. But I can’t stop those thoughts from creeping in, whispering what if . What if I lose everything I love?
“Hi!” Mom greets us brightly, placing rolls into a basket. “You’re just in time. Dinner’s almost ready. Busy day?”
“Yeah,” I say, trying to shake off those feelings as I sit on the couch across from Grandpa and Isla. “Just some storm cleanup around town.”
Liam sits beside me, his posture stiff as he nods a greeting at Grandpa.
“I was talking to Marie today,” Grandpa says, his gaze flicking between Liam and me. “She mentioned you two were out there clearing that old dead tree that fell on her fence. The wind really did a number on it.” He smirks at Liam. “Theo’s putting you to work now, eh?”
I scoff, shaking my head, while Liam chuckles softly. “He offered,” I say.
Grandpa smiles and winks at Liam. “Good man.”
Heather looks up from the salad she’s making in the kitchen. “Mason still outside?”
“Yeah,” I say, glancing out the window at him as he fills his bucket with dirt. “Hope you brought extra clothes.”
She sighs loudly. “Always,” she mutters.
Chris appears before us, handing us each a beer.
“How was the rig?” he asks Liam.
Liam takes the bottle and looks up at him. “It was good. A lot of work.”
“I bet,” Chris says, sitting down on the couch next to Isla. “You must do a lot of gas tungsten arc welding out there.”
Liam perks up and eyes him curiously. “Yeah, I do. Are you…?”
Chris chuckles. “Not a welder, no. My uncle is, though. He’s retired now, but he worked in the mines. He’s a talker, so while I don’t know much, I’ve picked up more about welding than any accountant probably should.”
Liam smiles, his tension immediately easing. “Welding in the mines, that’s quite a job.”
Chris nods and takes a sip of his beer, relaxing into the couch as Isla dramatically flips the page in her book. She gives him a pointed look and they share a silent exchange before he sighs, shifting further down the couch.
“Yeah,” Chris continues, nodding at Liam. “He’s got some crazy stories. I don't think I could ever work underground.” He pauses, eyeing Liam with a smirk. “Or underwater.”
Liam chuckles. “Luckily I don’t have to dive too often.”
Chris cocks an eyebrow at him. “Once would be too many times for me.”
I sit back, letting them settle into their conversation about welding, feeling a quiet relief as Liam visibly relaxes. He looks comfortable and at ease talking with Chris, and Grandpa whenever Isla allows him to take a break from their reading.
Eventually, I slip away to the kitchen to join Mom and Heather as they begin setting the table.
Mom smiles as I grab a stack of plates. “Did you manage to get everything done today?”
I shrug. “Kind of. I have a lot of jobs piled up that I need to get to. But I got to everyone that needed help today.”
She reaches out and squeezes my arm. “Thanks for doing that. I know they all appreciate it.”
I grab a cherry tomato off the counter and pop it into my mouth. “They better.”
She chuckles and swats me with her dish towel, pulling a laugh out of me as well.
As I bring the plates to the table, I glance over at Liam. Isla is now sitting beside him, and he’s still comfortably talking to Chris and Grandpa.
Heather sets the salad down on the table and follows my gaze. “It’s nice to have him back. You two seem to be getting along really well.”
Warmth flows through me as I watch Liam laugh at something Grandpa said, and he patiently holds his arm still while he lets Isla colour in his tattoos with a marker.
You have no idea…