Liam was so ready to get to his new house. To start the rest of his life.
At a red light, Liam stretched out his neck.
It was a long drive, but Liam didn’t regret not stopping more than necessary. Even though his forty-five-year-old body was achy and stiff and Liam was ready to get out of the vehicle, he took the time to enjoy the views of his new city.
Most of the shops down by the beach catered to the numerous tourists that filled the town every summer. Liam wasn’t a tourist any longer. He was a resident. Liam belonged there.
The light turned green, and Liam followed the directions on the GPS that would lead him home.
* * * * *
Jude
Slicing through the water with long strokes of his arms, Jude Fox allowed his early morning routine to lull him into a sense of contentment. This was his favorite time of the day. Every day. The beach was quiet, the crowds not invading his space, the water was cold and worked better than a cup of coffee to wake him up.
With the ocean just a few feet from his back deck, Jude could almost pretend that he was alone on a deserted island. All on his own.
Jude was always on his own. By choice.
He didn’t need friends, old co-workers, or the team to check on him. Even though they obviously didn’t agree. He would receive the predictable phone call later that morning. The same call he ignored week after week.
Ten years.
Jude had stopped answering the calls ten years ago.
His old team hadn’t given up.
Bunch of fucking idiots.
Obviously, Jude just wanted to be left alone.
Ten years of silence and still his old buddies tried at the same time every week to get him to answer his phone. Jude thought about changing the number, but he worried that someone wouldshow up at his door if he did that. Jude could ignore a call but not an in-person visit and his old team knew that.
They called.
Jude didn’t answer. Did not want to talk to them. Sent a one sentence text.
I’m fine.
That was it. Two words. Week after week. Two words that were a lie but kept his old team from hunting him down. Not that they didn’t know where he was. The house had been Sam’s dream. Sam had handpicked every piece of furniture. Sam had chosen the colors. Sam had loved the beach. More than Jude ever had.
They’d live there for less than a year before Sam left him.
Alone.
Jude was alone because Sam had left him that way.
Ten years since he’d heard his best friend’s laugh. Ten years since he’d touched his lover’s soft skin. Ten years since he’d carried his baby boy to bed. Ten years since that fucked-up mission that had taken Sam from him.
Stopping suddenly, Jude realized that he’d swam farther out than was a good idea.
Fuck!
He'd done it again.
Jude knew better to think about Sam when he was in the water. He started the long trek back toward the beach. Hisshoulders were burning by the time he’d made it close enough to shore where he could stand.
Out of breath, Jude stood staring at the house in front of him.
