Chapter Fourteen
Jensen walked Liam back to the office before going on a quick fact-finding mission. Cade was going to the Cove to see Dara, but Hunter was staying behind in the den. Which meant Jensen would be free to accompany the group going to the city. He didn’t announce his intentions straight away though, instead going to find Ollie who was minding two of Cade and Hunter’s kids.
“Hi Lily, hey Brody.”
As soon as he stepped into the room, both toddlers made a beeline for him. He crouched down and talked to them. Lily excitedly showing him a red fire engine she was playing with while Brody seemed more interested in trying to climb Jensen like a tower.
Ollie came to his rescue just before Brody grabbed a handful of Jensen’s hair as a handhold.
“Come on, back to your lunch you two.”
“Where are the others?” Jensen asked.
“With Cade and Hunter. There’ve been some mealtime issues recently so we’re trying something new for a few days.”
Once the kids were settled back at the table, he and Ollie moved a little away, so as not to distract them.
“Liam told you he’s coming with us.”
“He did.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Ollie was watching him closely, waiting for his answer.
“I think it’s great for him. He likes his job, and it seems that he’s good at it, but his confidence…”
“…is shot through with holes. Yeah, we’ve all noticed. I want to make this a good experience for him, so that he gets to see firsthand what his gift can do.”
Jensen always liked Ollie but never more than in that moment, the omega so enthusiastic about helping make Liam’s self-worth just that bit stronger.
“That’s why I’m here. I’m free to go with you tomorrow but I wanted your opinion on whether I should. Would my being there help or hinder?”
Ollie considered that for a moment.
“What are you worried about?”
“I don’t want him scared that I’m watching over his shoulder. I don’t want to make him anxious to impress me.”
“Jensen, Liam adores you. The only thing I think we’d have to worry about is you distracting him. You’re like the sun. When you’re there, he sees no other light but you.”
“So, I shouldn’t go?”
“It’s his first time leaving the den. He’s probably going to be scared. Having you there, in the background, will reassure him, give him some confidence.”
Jensen nodded, relieved. Just the idea of letting Liam go without him had him on edge. But at the same time, he didn’t want to hold him back.
“Great. I’ll let the others know,” Ollie said. “We’re leaving first thing.”
Their conversation came to an abrupt end as Brody flung a spoonful of potatoes at Lily and Ollie rushed over to put a stop to the impending food fight.
Jensen jogged over to the office, finding Liam sitting outside eating his lunch in the sunshine.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” Liam held up half his sandwich. “Want some?”
“No, thanks. I came to ask you something. About tomorrow.”
“What’s that?”
“I was wondering if you wanted me to come with you?”
Liam set down his sandwich and stood, the expression on his face cautious. “You’re not needed here?”
“Hunter will be here. He can manage.”
“I’d like it if you were there, but I know you have more important things to do.”
“There’s nothing pressing right now,” Jensen assured him. “No injuries, no pregnancies. I’ll only be a few hours away if anything came up. And you… you’re important to me. If you’d like me there, then I’ll be there. But this might be something you want to experience on your own.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I want you there.”
“Then I guess that’s settled. Have you more work this afternoon?”
“No. Eve said to rest before tomorrow.”
“I think she has the right idea. How about we watch a movie?”
Liam hadn’t seen any films before arriving in the den. It was unusual for a pack to be so highly disconnected, but it explained a lot of Liam’s quirks.
“Can we watch one with spaceships?”
Jensen laughed. The previous week, Liam’s fascination had been dinosaurs. “Sure, there’s plenty to choose from.”
They walked back through the village together. Once he’d healed up, Liam had moved in with Ollie and Davyn. Jenson, as always, lived in his clinic. It saved time when he had patients to care for.
“Can we watch in your place?” Liam asked.
“Sure. Any particular reason?”
“Umm… Davyn?”
Jensen chuckled. “He isn’t the most relaxing person to watch a movie with.”
“He can be mean about the characters.”
“Yeah, he sure likes to criticize. But that’s part of his charm.” He was kidding, of course. Charming was not a word he’d use to describe Davyn. Grumpy and forthright were closer.
Liam had a faraway look on his face and not a happy one.
“Why does it bother you so much?”
Liam shrugged, and Jensen thought that was all the answer he was going to get.
“People used to say those kinds of things about me.”
“What kind of things?”
“Bad things.”
Jensen knew Liam was fully aware that the characters in films were just fiction, so he left that bit alone. As for the rest…
“Sometimes people use other people to make them feel better about themselves. Saying bad things about a person is one way that people do that. It’s wrong, it’s rude, and it’s hurtful. But it’s about them and what they lack, not about you.”
Liam seemed to mull that over.
“Even… even if the things they said were true?”
Jensen wrapped an arm around Liam and pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“Even if. I don’t believe they were true. But sometimes, if someone tells you something often enough, you start to believe the lie.”
“But you don’t even know what they said. How can you believe they weren’t true?”
“That,” Jensen replied, “is easy.”
He started listing off the things he’d learned about Liam since they’d met. “You’re brave, really brave, even when you’re hurting. You’re polite. You’re strong. And sweet. You’re smart and you don’t give up, even when things get tough.”
“You make me sound like a good person,” Liam said. “Like someone who matters.”
Jensen’s heart ached a little at the words. He turned Liam to face him, pressing a hand over the omega’s heart.
“You are a good person. And you do matter. You’ve always mattered. And you are the single most important person in my world. You have been since long before we ever met.”
Liam’s eyes grew wider with each word that spilled from Jensen’s lips.
“But… how… why…”
“I have waited a long time for the person who would one day be my mate. You’ve been in my heart since before I came to the den and hoping one day I would meet you is what has kept me going all these years.”
“I… I ran away because I had a dream that there was someone out there waiting for me. Someone who would see into my heart and know.”
“Know what?” Jensen used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that streaked down Liam’s face.
“Know that I was more.”