“Are you sure you don’t want me to go next door and straighten that man out?” Nicky asked.
Frantically shaking his head, Liam glared. As much as he appreciated Nicky dropping everything and coming over, Liam did not need his best friend defending him. Not when Liam had to share the blame with Jude.
Nicky sighed dramatically before stomping over to where Liam was pretending to play. Nick still wore fitted dress slacks and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He’d lost the tie and jacket somewhere but that wasn’t Liam’s problem. That was a big-person problem. Liam refused to give in to big-boy thoughts. He was just a baby!
Nicky dropped down onto the thick carpet with Liam before curling around him. Liam really was lucky. One text to his bestie and Nicky was there. Liam had basically written everything in one long rambling message then tossed his phone onto his bedside table.
Less than thirty minutes later, Nicky had been stomping into Liam’s bedroom. Nicky had dragged Liam from bed and into the playroom. He’d tried to ask questions, but Liam just wasn’t up to talking.
The pacifier worked well when Liam didn’t want to talk.
“And you’re sure that you’re okay?” Nicky asked quietly.
Liam nodded. Looking back, Liam had a better day than what his feelings showed. He’d just needed the time to mourn what could have been. The uncertainness between him and Jude was resolved. Jude wasn’t looking for another boy. Liam was going to have to look for his Daddy elsewhere.
The time out on the beach with Jude had been amazing. Liam hadn’t had to worry about anything while having Jude by his side.
Lunch would have probably been wonderful if they’d both kept their mouths closed. Jude was a good cook. He also made recipes that Liam wouldn’t have even thought about. Especially since Liam mostly lived off microwaveable food. Jude’s food was perfect for summer.
The kiss. Well, Liam just wouldn’t think about that. Ever.
Someday, Liam might be able to have a friendship with his neighbor. When Jude was ready. Liam had promised not to push, and he meant to keep that vow. It had only been a few weeks, so Liam really didn’t have any ill feelings toward Jude. Wasn’t it better to know now that Jude wasn’t available?
But those were all big-boy thoughts.
Liam was just a baby!
He pushed the cars in front of him around the track. The red car was fast! Bluey ran a close second, but the red car was totally going to win. Behind his paci, Liam made vroom-vroom noises.
The temptation must have been too strong because Nicky gave him a hug before crawling around to the other side of thetrack. Nicky grabbed the black car with flames on the side and the bright yellow car.
The red car won that round and Liam moved his two toys to the starting position once again.
“Okay, on my mark,” Nicky said.
Liam nodded, sucking harder on his paci.
“Ready. Set. Go!” Nicky shouted.
The race started. Liam moved to his knees, trying to beat Nicky’s two cars. Nicky was a cheater though as he threw an arm around Liam to hold him back. Liam tried to push Nicky away but that didn’t work either.
In the end Nicky’s black car won.
Liam smacked his knee. That wasn’t fair!
Niky grinned at him. “Again.”
With a nod of determination, Liam moved back to the starting line.
Nicky won four out of five races. He was a total cheater, and Liam wasn’t ever going to play cars with him again. At least for a whole day! He giggled. That was silly. He was feeling silly again, which meant that this little time had been exactly what he had needed.
Liam yawned and the paci fell from his mouth.
“Tired?” Nicky asked.
“Yeah.” He was once again thankful for his best friend. It was so nice that he didn’t have to explain the feelings inside him.Better because Liam still didn’t know exactly how he felt. Sad. But also okay. He was going to be okay.
“You want me to stay?”
