“You know my dad thinks I can’t handle shit. Which is crazy since he’s never given me the chance to properly process anything that mattered by telling mebeforehandinstead of waiting untilaftershit has hit the fan. Then he blames me for my reactions and uses them to perpetuate the belief that I’ll fly off the handle when something bad or stressful happens.”
“I’m really fucking sorry, Liam. I was selfish, and like your dad, I didn’t want you to be mad at me. I put off having the hard conversation so we could at least have a couple of decent days here together first, but that didn’t really work out, either.”
I nudge him in the chest with my foot.
“It’s okay. At least you finally told me. I need to think on it a little longer, but it sounds like eventually I’ll have to have a conversation about this with my dad…and I probably owe Tay an apology. Jesus, I didn’t even go see him in the hospital.”
Damon gives me the first real smile he’s given me on this entire trip. Unease still lingers in his eyes, like the storm hasn’t totally passed, but for now, I’ll take the smile he’s offering.
“Tay has a heart of gold, just like you. He’ll forgive you, but your dad’s another story.”
Yeah, that’s fair.
“Since we’ve made up, is now a good time to ask if I can have another Coke?” I ask, grinning back at him.
He runs the knuckle of his index finger up the bottom of my foot, knowing I hate the way it feels, and I pull my knees to my chest.
Laughing, he stands. “Of course, you can. How kind of you to move so I can get up to serve you.”
I flip him the bird as he takes my trash.
While he’s in the kitchen, I flip around so that when he sits back down, I can lie with my head in his lap. Damon gives thebestscalp massages. He doesn’t even question the move when he sits. He just holds his arms up so I can get comfortable before driving his fingers in my hair and tugging on my roots.
“Fuck, that feels good, D.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon watching movies on the couch, but my mind keeps wandering back to our conversation about his brother and my dad. I still have so many questions, but they can wait for another time. Right now, I’m just glad I have Damon back, and everything is out in the open.
No more secrets.
Chapter 11
Damon
Ithought I’d feel immense relief after coming clean about Liam’s dad, but even though it went arguably well, I remain nauseated because of all the things I still haven’t told him.
The next day, we sleep in with plans to hit the slopes later, but it only takes Liam bending forward to try to put his boots on to realize he still isn’t feeling one hundred percent.
“I can totally suck it up, man,” he says, the guilt in his voice obvious. “I mean, we came out here to ski. You shouldn’tnotski just because I still feel like ass.”
Laughing, I stop working on the straps of my boots. “Li, I came here to hang out with you. I don’t care if we ski or not.”
His face splits into a grin.
“Really?”
“Really,” I confirm.
“Oh, thank God, because I was gonna be miserable out there.” He laughs. “I was thinking maybe we could do that snowshoe tour that leaves from the base around two? That should be nice and easy.”
“That’s still a physical activity,” I remind him. “You sure you’re up for that?”
He nods, trying—and failing—to get his boot off. Without asking if he needs help, I slide to the floor, place one hand at his heel, and the other over his toe, pulling until he can slip his foot out.
“Yeah. I think moving would help me feel better. I just don’t think hauling ass down a mountain while I’m still a little weak and wobbly is a good idea.”
“That’s probably a good call,” I confirm. “I’ll go make the reservation.”
Liam is affectionate on a normal day, but when he doesn’t feel well, he is clingier than cat hair. And today is no exception.
