I laugh. “It was neither!”
Liam raises a brow. “I have deduced that it was both.”
I take a bite of the sandwich and nod since I’m not going to win any part of that conversation. “This is good.”
“Thanks, I showed him how to properly season and make it. Let’s see if he does an adequate job.” Liam takes a bite and then proceeds to scrutinize the sandwich for far too long before giving a slight nod. “I will allow it.”
“You’re ridiculous! You want nothing to do with the diner, yet you sure don’t mind criticizing them.”
“That is correct. Gabriel, you know me so well.”
“I do,” I say as I peel off a tiny bite of chicken for Lucille and then Butter while Liam judges this action but says nothing about it. “Do you want to come to my parents’ for Christmas? I know Thanksgiving was a bit much for you, so you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“If you’d like me there, I will grudgingly go. Will your cousin who bullied you be there? We still have many words to exchange.”
“He will be, but don’t cause too much drama… my grandma doesn’t like it.”
“Noted.”
“I’m not sure it was actually noted, but we’ll pretend,” I say.
“Do I have to make all of the food again just to manipulate your mom into loving me?”
“No, no you don’t. My mom already loves you.”
“Debatable.”
“It’s not,” I say, pressing a fry against his mouth in the hope of getting rid of his ridiculous ideas.
“Liam?”
“Hm?” he asks as I lean against him on the couch.
“We have a problem.”
Liam doesn’t even waste a moment thinking about this. “We have too many cats? I will willingly give up mine. I bet Matthew will take him if I threaten him enough.”
“No! It’s that I’m too tired to walk to bed.”
“Oh. Then you can sleep here tonight,” he says.
I stare at my one true love in shock. You know… the true love who has declared that he will burn down the world for me but is just going to leave me here on the couch.
He stands up and looks around for something before picking up a rug. I’m not quite sure what he’s doing with the rug until he tosses it over me like it’s a blanket.
“Good night. Sweet dreams,” he says as he starts off for bed without me.
“You are a monster.” I lift up the rug I’m currently wallowing under to emphasize this.
He gives me the sweetest smile that almost tricks me into forgiving him. “Thank you, love.”
“Fine, I will sleep out here. You enjoy that big bed all alone,” I say.
“I will.” He offers me two thumbs up and walks off! Liam, of all people, just…walks off.
“Liam, come back here. Carry me. My legs are tired.”
He peeks his head out around the corner. “Are you talking to me?”
