Chapter 22

Chapter 22 — Meeting At The Parking Lot

Liam wakes with a start and squints at the unfamiliarity of his surroundings before it hits him at once. He is at Jason's.

After having one too many drinks the previous night, Liam didn't think that he was in any state to drive back and he would have booked a cab back but Jason insisted that he stayed and Liam didn't quite feel like leaving just yet either — it also helped that his mother was staying over at his sister's on that particular day and he didn't quite have to worry about the kids.

They talked quite a deal the previous night. Liam learnt that Jason too has an elder sister. His father passed away when he was still young and his mother is currently living with her new partner. Liam also learnt that Jason is originally from Michigan which is about four hours away and where his family still lives. He moved away for college and decided to stay since he managed to find a good job here.

Afterwards when they still couldn't fall asleep, they decided to watch a movie. Jason chose an indie film which didn't really make any sense to Liam at all but he didn't mind because it gave him time and unrestricted access to look at the man beside him. And that is the last thing Liam remembers about the previous night. He guesses he must have fallen asleep like that.

He frowns at the blanket on top of him; he doesn't remember having that before.

"Good morning," he hears from above him and he twists his head upwards and looks at an upside down Jason smiling down at him with two mugs in his hand.

"Hey," Liam drawls out, stretching his arms above before sitting up.

"Here," he hands him a mug, "I wasn't sure how you take your coffee, so I put a little bit of milk and sugar in it,"

He nods, and takes a small sip of it, "This is good. Thank you," and takes a look around, particularly at the sunlight streaming in, "Ah shit. What time is it?"

"7, I think,"

"Dammit," he takes a big gulp of the coffee and immediately regrets it, the heat burning his tongue. He stands up and looks around for his keys and wallet, "I have to go,"

"We don't have to be in until nine,"

"Yeah, I know. But I still have to go check on my sister's kids, remember. Uh, where are my keys and wallet?"

"Oh, right," he stands up and walks towards the shelf by the door and picks up his things from the bowl, "Do you need me to come with you? I can help,"

Liam's lips curve into a smile just from the offer and he shakes his head. He holds him by his shoulders, "No, I'm good," he reaches up and kisses his lips, "I'll see you later, okay,"

Jason doesn't let him go until he can kiss him once again, "Okay, bye,"

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Liam silently thanks him mom as he pulls into the driveway, seeing that her car is still there. He quickly heads in, apologising loudly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm here. I'm here,"

"We're in the kitchen," he hears his mom's voice calling back to him and he heads towards there and has to blink twice to make sure that he's not imagining what he is seeing before him.

His mom is actually sat at the dining table overlooking the kitchen with the kids while Rylee, his sister, is the one at the kitchen cooking up something.

"Look who has finally returned," his mom beams at him and his niece runs up to him and hugs his leg.

"Uncle. Where were you? I was looking for you,"

He bends down and picks her up, balancing her on his waist, "I was at my friend's little one,"

"Aunt Kay's?"

"Uh, no. A new friend,"

He catches his mom and his sister exchanging a secret look and snickering softly. He was only gone for one night, wasn't he? He cannot believe what he is seeing before his eyes.

He is happy to see Rylee up and about, but he would be lying if he said he isn't surprised about it. Even the day before, before he left for work, she was in her bed and hadn't eaten. This is an abrupt and total changeover.

"So, what's the occasion here?"

"Nothing. Just a simple morning breakfast. You want to maybe go freshen up first?" Rylee says to him with a smile.

He returns her smile albeit a little warily, "Do you need any help though?"

"No, I got it,"

"She's fine, Liam," his mom inserts, "Aren't you getting late for work though?" she raises her eyebrows at him with a small nod, silently assuring him.

"Right," he puts down his niece, "So, I'm just gonna go get ready," and he exits the kitchen, still not entirely convinced of what he just saw.

About half an hour later, he ventures into the kitchen again and although he did see his sister there before, he is surprised yet again to find her still there. She is packing her kids' lunchboxes now and smiles up at Liam once she sees him.

"Hey, there's bacon, eggs, and toast," she informs him.

"Wow, thanks," he gets himself a plate and joins his mom at the table and the kids. He ruffles his nephew, Claude's hair playfully who looks especially happy and he knows the reason why. Although he won't say it out loud, Claude really missed his mom; Tania, his niece is young to comprehend her mother's absence but the boy caught everything well enough. And seeing his mother back in action has to be the definite cause of the uproar in his mood today.

"This is really delicious, Ry. Thank you,"

"I actually didn't realise how much I missed cooking until today," she replies and then clasping her hands together, "Okay, kids. You ready to go to school?"

"Wait, are you gonna drop us?" Claude is the one to first respond and when he sees his mother nodding with a big grin, he whoops, "Cool. Let's go,"

"Ry–" Liam starts to say, unsure of the whole idea, but Anne places a hand on his arm and mouths It's okay to him and so he doesn't say anything. He trusts that his mom would know the best.

"Are you really sure it's a good idea?" he turns to his mom as soon as they were out the door.

"Yes. She's doing fine. Stop worrying," leaning back on her chair, she fixes her gaze on her son and lifts the corner of her mouth into a small smirk, "So, anything I should know going on in your life?"

"Hmm," he looks away — he knows what she's hinting at, but still, he feigns ignorance, "Nothing new,"

"Really?"

He nods, and checks the time. It's not too early. He can leave for work, escape from his mom's impending interrogation.

Liam is not ready yet to share anything about his new... relationship. He thinks he can call it that. It's still new, and he has just started to feel comfortable with Jason. He doesn't want to jinx anything about it by telling anyone about it, even though it's his own mother.

"So, where were you last night?" his mom asks before he can make his escape.

"At a friend's,"

"A new friend,"

"Yeah. We work together,"

"So, you're telling that you stayed over because of work?"

"No," he stands up — it's either he leaves now, or confesses everything to Anne, "I'm not telling you anything. And I have to go. Bye,"

"Liam," she stops him and rolls her eyes, smiling, "I'm not going to grill you. I'm just happy for you,"

"Okay. Thank you. I still gotta go though,"

She nods, "Bye. See you later,"

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Liam pulls into the parking lot with a big smile but as soon as he gets out of the car, his smile vanishes. Not far away from where he was parked away, he sees Jason and that should make him happy. But the man is standing with none other than Aaron and that confuses him.

Both of them seemed to be rather engrossed in whatever they were talking about and they are standing too close than Liam would have liked. For some reason, he's not bothered by it; he's just confused what they are talking about so intently. Jason assured him that he has nothing to do with Aaron anymore but now he's talking with him and Liam actually feels... relieved about that?

Why the fuck is he relieved?

He continues to watch them from a distance, and suddenly Aaron steps closer to Jason, but Jason puts a hand between them and gently pushes him away. He can see his lips moving but cannot make out what he is saying. Aaron seems to be saying something too but Jason just shakes his head, and Aaron with a small smile brushes a hand over his cheek. Jason doesn't move away but he doesn't look at him either, his head bowed down. And then Aaron leaves, and Liam quickly crouches down, not wanting to be caught looking at them. He peeks lightly and sees Aaron leaving first, and Jason taking out his phone, tapping on the screen. A few seconds later, his own buzzes and he sees that it's a text from the man himself.

JASON:–

hey, where are you?

LIAM:–

omw

miss me already ?

Liam sends the last text as a joke of course, and maybe he wants to know after seeing him talking to their boss.

JASON:–

actually yes.

can you be here already?

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