It was quiet. Too quiet. Had Liam already closed his windows? Shut Jude out? Not that Jude blamed him. Jude had violated Liam’s privacy and trust. He was a monster!
His finger pressed the number before Jude thought it through. Jude’s hand shook as he lifted his cell to his ear.
The call was answered on the third ring.
“Jude?” Law’s deep voice was familiar. So familiar. Comforting.
Jude gasped.
“Jude,” Law repeated. “Is it really you?”
He nodded even though Law wouldn’t see him.
“Talk to me, please,” Law begged.
Jude had never heard this tone from his friend before. “I kissed him,” Jude confessed in a whisper.
There was a long pause. “Okay.”
No judgment. No demand for answers. Acceptance.
“Why did I kiss him?” he asked desperately. Jude was an asshole, but he wasn’t cruel. What in the hell had he beenthinking, leaning down to brush his lips over Liam’s? Liam’s plump soft lips.
“Start from the beginning,” Law advised. “Talk it out.”
This was why Jude needed to talk to Law. His friend had always been the most levelheaded guy that Jude had known. Law had been able to take a mission plan and calmly work out every possible outcome. He was a master of paying attention to every little detail.
“Liam,” Jude said. Just saying the name made his heart ached. “His name is Liam. He moved next door to me.”
“Tell me about him,” Law said.
“He’s my age. I think. I’m not certain. I’ve known him for less than two weeks, but it feels like longer. He has the bluest and brightest eyes and this lopsided grin that I just—” Jude chuckled. “I just wanted to kiss that grin.”
“It sounds like you did.”
“Yeah,” Jude admitted.
“And?” Law pressed.
“I really fucked up with him.”
“By kissing him?” Law asked.
“No before that.”
“The beginning,” Law said.
Jude huffed. “He moved in and every morning he would stand out by our gates, drinking his coffee and greeting me when I come back from my swim.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re at least still doing that,” Law said.
Jude ignored him. “I tried to ignore him, but Liam isn’t easy to ignore.”
“That might not be a bad thing.”
Or it was the worst thing ever. “He’s a little.”
“Did he tell you that?”
