Not really

Taking a sip of her drink, she took a moment to answer. "No I don't think he could support us both if I did not have my job. Nor would I ask him to."

"So you're telling me he has a job that made him work over weekend, but still can't afford to let you follow your dreams?" Liam asked her. She opened her mouth to reply, this was actually the recent argument she had had with Tom, his job being demanding and not compensating him. She had been frustrated with him not standing up for himself.

"It's not quite that simple. Yes I have to work a job I dislike for the moment, but we are working together, building our life." Emma reasoned. Liam took a mouthful of his drink.

"It seems a bit wrong to me somehow. Sacrificing your happiness for a future that might mean you never get to pursue your passion" He sipped again "If it was my partner, I would find a way to make it happen. She should be happy, not working a job she hates. It's why I made my own company, so I could be in charge of my time."

Emma guffawed. "No offence intended Liam but you just told me you had not had a proper relationship in years because you didn't have time for one" she possibly was a bit heated in her voice she thought. Who was he to give her advice like that?

He picked up his glass and tilted it to her "Yes I did" she grinned at what she felt was a win "but what I actually said was I'd not found someone I wanted to spend that time with. A man can change for the right pair of eyes" as he said this his eyes met hers. She felt oddly stuck, before reluctantly she looked away.

"Well whoever that girl is I hope you can look after her" she reasoned, trying to ground herself.

"Yeah I reckon I could, it has been a good couple of years for my business. Not wanting to boast but... I will say things were good enough that I can support my family properly. Lucy's uni tuition I covered and she doesn't have to worry about rent" Liam said, clearly pleased with himself.

She thought he must be doing well then as that is not cheap to do. "It's nice you look after your sister."

"The people I care about should be happy, and this is one way I can help that be the case" it seemed a practiced reason. Perhaps he had had to say it a few times.

"That's very sweet. Sadly not all of us are rich roofers and have to make do" Emma spoke with a sigh. A thought lingered in her mind, unwelcome, ugly and disturbing. Why was she sacrificing her dreams because Tom would not stand up to his boss, shouldn't she have a chance to chase her passion. She tried to shake it, it was an oversimplification she knew, but she could not help but compare him to Liam who seemed to be master of his world, whereas her boyfriend was just a passenger.