The memory clicked immediately.
Jiya had mentioned that she needed to go to the city the day I stopped by her place for breakfast.
“If she hadn’t told me about everything you’ve been through, I would never have realized how wrong I was for treating you the way I did over the phone,” Liam said. He paused before continuing. “I am truly sorry, and I would like us to start over.”
I sat there quietly for a moment, realizing just how much I owed Jiya without even knowing it. She had saved me from myself and my addiction. She had reconnected me with my brother. She had helped me rebuild my life piece by piece.
“How about we order some food?” Liam said, breaking the silence. “Your favourite… steak and potatoes?”
“That would be perfect.”
After we placed our order, Liam leaned forward again, curiosity lighting his eyes.
“Now tell me more about this girl, Jiya.”
I laughed softly and told him how she had entered my life with her son, how she and Jack owned and ran the restaurant—without realizing it was mine—and how our friendship had grown over time.
“She sounds like a special one,” Liam said thoughtfully. “Are you guys planning to date?”
“No!” I said quickly. “No, it’s not like that.” My cheeks grew warm. “We’re just good friends.”
Liam watched me carefully, as if trying to determine whether I was telling the truth.
“Hmm,” he murmured before cutting into his steak. “I heard about your photography gigs. How is that going?”
“It’s keeping me busy,” I said, chewing on a potato. “I picked it up when I was in rehab, and Jiya created a website for me that has been bringing in work.”
Liam leaned back in his chair, clearly thinking about something.“In that case,” he said slowly, “why don’t you become a photographer for the company? You already have an office there, which, by the way, is still waiting for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what,” he said with a smile, “let’s discuss this over the weekend when you come home and see the family. We can talk more about it then. For now, let’s catch up.”
He spent the next few minutes updating me on everything that had happened in his life.
“By the way,” he added casually, “you’ve become an uncle again. Jess and I had a daughter a year ago.”
“That’s fantastic,” I said sincerely. “I’m so happy for you.”
And I truly was.
I only wished we had reconciled sooner.Better late than never, though. Right?
After lunch, I hugged Liam again and told him I would see him over the weekend.
During the drive back to the village, my thoughts drifted to Jiya.
Her smile.
Her eyes.
Her dimples.
Her lips.
I waited for the familiar wave of guilt to follow those thoughts, the kind that had haunted me whenever I allowed myself to think about another woman after Eva.
But it never came.
