Liam's POV
After arriving at their apartment, Matt—Ken's brother, whose name I only faintly recalled through my foggy thoughts—helped carry my luggage inside. Ken led me to the living room, where I took in their home. It wasn't massive, but it was elegant and inviting, a space clearly cared for.
My mind drifted back to the car ride. Ken had taken off his hoodie and handed it to me when he saw me shivering, insisting I wear it. Even now, I clutched it tighter around myself, finding a surprising comfort in its warmth.
Ken disappeared into a room, mumbling something about getting a comforter, while Matt headed into the kitchen. Left alone, I debated whether to tell them the truth about why I was stranded or make up some excuse. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized they deserved honesty, considering how much they'd already done for me.
When they returned, Ken draped the comforter over my shoulders, and Matt handed me a steaming mug of tea. I murmured my thanks, taking small sips to soothe my frozen body. They both sat down across from me, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
Matt was the first to break the silence. "Alright, Liam. Now that you're settled, do you mind telling us what happened?"
"Yes," Ken added, his voice softer. "When I left the café earlier today, you seemed fine. What happened between then and now?"
Matt looked between us, raising an eyebrow. "Café?"
Ken nodded. "Yeah, we met earlier today at the café where he works. I helped him with something. That's how we know each other."
"Oh, I see," Matt replied, leaning back. "Well, Liam? Your call. You can tell us now or rest first if you need time."
I shook my head, inhaling deeply to steady myself. "I'll tell you now," I sniffled, my voice shaky. "It's really not much of a story—more pathetic than concerning."
"Liam," Ken interrupted, scooting closer to me. "Don't say that. None of this is your fault. Just take your time and tell us."
I nodded, tears prickling my eyes as I began. "The people in my apartment building complained to my landlady about me being... gay. They said they weren't comfortable living near me." My voice cracked, but I forced myself to continue. "She told me to move out immediately. She promised to refund my rent, but she hasn't yet. That was the money I was going to use to stay at a hotel until I found another place."
I paused, gripping the mug tightly in my hands. "I thought about calling my mom for help, but I didn't want to burden her or my brothers. My only friend is out of town, so I had nowhere to go. I was heading to the park when the rain started. I slipped, my suitcase broke open, and... well, that's how you found me."
When I finished, the tears I'd been holding back finally fell.
Matt's POV
"The fuck!" I exploded, standing abruptly.
"Matt, calm down," Ken said, placing a hand on my arm.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" I snapped. "What happened to Liam is barbaric and disgusting! Who the hell treats someone like that just because of their sexuality?!"
Ken frowned but didn't respond. I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my temper. "Imagine if it were me, Ken," I continued, my voice softer now. "Would you tell me to calm down if I was the one kicked out?"
Ken sighed. "No, I wouldn't."
I looked over at Liam, who was watching us with wide eyes, as if unsure how to react. Something about his quiet resilience broke my heart. He didn't deserve any of this.
That's when I decided—I was going to help him. No matter what it took, I wouldn't let him go through this alone.
Liam's POV
Matt's outburst startled me, but beneath his anger, I could see a deep care. Ken had mentioned before that one of his siblings was also gay. Now, I realized it was Matt.
As Matt sat back down, Ken turned to me, his eyes full of concern. "Are you sure you're okay? Not just physically, but... are you okay, Liam? I can't imagine how hard this must be for you."
His words touched something deep inside me, and I felt my resolve crumble. "I'm trying," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it's hard."
Ken placed a comforting arm around my shoulders. "It will pass, Liam. You're not alone anymore. You have me now. I'll help you in any way I can."
The sincerity in his voice nearly undid me. "Thank you," I whispered. "I can't express how much this means to me."
Before I could say more, Matt spoke up. "Liam, since you don't have anywhere to stay right now, why don't you stay here until you find a new place?"
"Yes, you should," Ken agreed immediately.
"No, I can't burden you like that," I protested, shaking my head.
"It's not a burden if we're offering," Matt said firmly. "Make yourself at home."
"You can have my room," Ken added. "I'll stay with Matt. I'll put your suitcases there now."
I sat there, stunned by their generosity. As Ken walked off with my luggage, I turned to Matt. "Thank you. Really."
Matt waved me off. "It's no problem. Just focus on resting and don't overthink it, okay?"
Ken returned a moment later. "Your stuff's in my room. Take a shower and get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."
"Thank you, Ken," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you, but I will."
"Don't worry about that," he said with a soft smile. "Just rest. Goodnight."
As they walked into their shared room, I sat alone, overwhelmed by gratitude and a cautious sense of hope. For the first time in a long while, I felt like things might actually get better.