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“Do?”

“For work,” Liam clarified. “You seem to be home quite a bit.” It didn’t appear that Jude ever left. Liam had even seen his groceries being delivered to his door. “At least as much as me. Are you on vacation or—”

“I’m retired,” Jude replied, practically barked at him.

There was a short pause as Liam considered just going inside and leaving Jude to do whatever the hell he wanted.

“What—” Jude cleared his throat. “What about you? What do you do?”

That was sort of an effort. Liam decided to take it as a win. “I’m a writer. I have eight published books.”

“Writer?”

Did Jude seem intrigued? Whatever. Liam was going to roll with it. “I was an accountant, but I hated my job. My boss was a dick and even though I’m good with numbers, I didn’t particularly like them. I started to write in my free time. My best friend Nick put me in touch with a publishing company that he’d worked with, and I sent them my book. It took forever, like months, but eventually they reached out and offered me a contract.”

Those had been hard months. Liam had been sure that the publishing house had hated his book. He tried to write another book but all he could think about was what a failure he was.

Liam had almost given up at that point.

Nick was once again his savior. Liam didn’t know what he’d do without his best friend. Nick had asked Liam point-blank ifhe wanted to be rich or famous. When Liam said he didn’t care about either of those things, that he just wanted to write a book that other people loved, Nick had given him a look. That look. The look that said Liam was missing something.

That night Liam had started his second book.

By the time the publishing company had offered him a contract, the second book had been finished.

“What kind of books do you write?” Jude asked. It sounded like it killed him to ask a follow-up question. The evil part of Liam wanted to torture Jude. Make him work for an answer.

“Gay romance books.” Liam gave his standard answer. If he knew someone better, then Liam might admit to the kink in his books, but he didn't want to scare his neighbor away.

Jude stopped twisting the leg in. “That’s a thing?”

Liam bounced. “It totally is! Nicky and I have been reading them for years. That’s what gave me the idea to write my own book. There are some epic stories out there. Everything from mystery thrillers, to horror, and even outside of mainstream. If you can imagine it, then someone has probably written it.”

“Huh, cool.”

Well at least it appeared that his neighbor wasn’t homophobic. Which led back to the maybe flirting. Had it been flirting?

* * * * *

Jude

Replacing his tool bag in his garage, Jude thought back on the few hours that he’d spent with his neighbor. He hadn’t meant to go over and take control but Liam’s struggles had been driving him crazy.

Every long, frustrated sigh had pierced Jude’s heart.

He had the ability to help the other man and before Jude could talk himself out of it, he’d grabbed his tool bag and headed next door. This wasn’t like him. Jude wasn’t helpful. At least he hadn’t been for about a decade.

There was a time when Jude looked at the world through rose-colored glasses. He’d been the first to jump to help anyone or anywhere. If his friends needed an extra hand moving? A truck? Yep, they could count on Jude. Stranded motorists? Jude would stop every time. It didn’t matter if it was big or small—everyone knew they could call Jude.

Until the entire world fell apart around him.

His friends had tried to be there for him. Lawrence especially. Jude couldn’t be around his old team without thinking about Sam.

That day was burned into his memory. The fight that he and Sam had before going on the protective detail. Jude could recall every word said.

Two other members of his team were injured. Both Brody and Angelo had spent weeks in the hospital. Sam had been in that front vehicle. Sam had been the one that had given his life that day.

Drawing his hand back, Jude punched the metal locker he used for tools.