“Bossy!” Liam said but he smiled. “I’ll put up with it if there’s more of this delicious lemonade. Is it homemade? I haven’t had homemade lemonade in years.”
“Yes, it’s homemade,” Jude answered. “Sit there.” He pointed toward the chair the most under the cover. “You can have more.”
Liam drained the glass before handing it over.
Jude exchanged the glass for the book he carried. He placed the lounge chair against the railing. “I’ll get you more.” He turned to stare inside Liam’s house. What was up with that big blob? Did it ever move from that spot? That couldn’t be healthy. Maybe Liam should start walking his cat or something. “Your cat is growling at me.”
“You called him fat!” Liam defended his baby.
“Because he is,” Jude replied. And it obviously bothered Liam when Jude said that so he would keep it up. The boydeserved some payback for making Jude feel things that he so did not want to feel.
Shaking his head, Jude returned his attention to Liam. “Lemonade. I’m going to get you some more.” He had a purpose here. And lunch. After being out in the sun, Liam needed some food too.
“Awesome! It really is that good.”
Jude grunted and walked away.
* * * * *
Liam
Talk about mixed signals.
Hanging out with Jude was a head-spinning, confusing adventure but Liam liked the time he spent with his neighbor. Jude had not only returned with a pitcher of lemonade—he’d also brought chicken salad sandwiches and vegetable sticks for both of them.
Jude claimed it was time for lunch and nothing else had been said about the matter. At least not out loud. Liam had a running commentary in his head though.
For at least thirty minutes, Liam had been making up ridiculous stories about the people in their view that would have even been too much for a book. Jude would look up every so often to squint in the direction Liam waved before grunting or making a sarcastic comment.
His neighbor was a funny guy. Well, when he wasn’t being grumpy. And he was grumpy a lot, but he was also attentive, protective, and kind of sweet. Sure, probably no one else wouldnotice, but Liam did like to watch people. Jude was awesome. Like making sure Liam got the thickest sandwich. When Jude figured out that Liam would only eat the carrots and celery sticks and not the other veggies, Liam’s plate had more of the two he liked. Anytime Liam’s lemonade was low, Jude was filling his glass.
Jude would scowl like he hadn’t meant to do any of that. Leading back to the confusing mixed signals.
Eventually, Liam had to push the plate away before he ended up with more food. He was stuffed. He mostly just grabbed some food that he could warm up quickly in the microwave. Liam could cook—he just didn’t like to. It was much easier nuking a burrito or frozen pizza.
“Thank you for lunch and all the lemonade and rescuing me from the sun.” Even if Liam didn’t think he’d needed the rescue.
“I’d give it a few hours before you go back out there, if you’re going to,” Jude said.
Liam nodded. “I really had just planned to read and get some sun before the beach got crowded. I was up all night writing. My new book is really flowing and I learned to take advantage of that when it happens.”
“Sleep is important too,” Jude commented. Because of course he did.
Liam nodded anyway. “I know. I don’t go without sleep. I had planned on a nap. It just turned out to be outside instead of my nice bed or the couch.”
“Is—” Jude cleared his throat. “Is your bed put together. Do you need help?”
Yeah, having Jude in his bedroom would not help with all the feelings Liam had for his neighbor. “No, it was done by the movers. I’m practically finished with everything anyway.”
Jude glanced away quickly.
Huh, that was kind of weird.
Oh well. Liam had no room to judge. He was currently writing a book where one guy had three lovers that couldn’t get enough of him. The sex scenes in his newest manuscript were hot! Not that he could see Jude sitting down and reading about a little who had a Daddy, Papa, and bubbie as lovers. Liam loved the dynamic, but it wasn’t for everyone. Some might call him weird.
Jude suddenly pushed back from the deck table. “I have things to do.”
“Let me help you carry—” Liam started to rise.
