He set his keys in the bowl and walked around the pieces still waiting to be put in place. “How about some help? I used to be good at this once.”
“Sure.” If he didn’t get help, he’d still be working on it in the morning.
Pop knelt on the kitchen rug next to Liam. “Can I see the directions, please?”
* * *
“Let’s hang it on the back of the door and see.” Pop pointed to the fully assembled spice rack—together, they’d taken twenty minutes to finish it.
Liam handed it over, and they slid it onto its hooks. It fit perfectly and felt sturdy when Liam tested it.
“Feels good.”
“Better than good.” He hugged Liam. “Thank you.”
“You did most of it once you got here.”
Pop winked. “No, I told you what to do and you did the work.” He removed his spices from their various places and set them on the counter.
“Would you care to tell me what’s really wrong?” Pop continued sorting his ingredients.
“Just needed to do something.”
“I see. And what were you trying to forget?”
He felt Pop’s steady, knowing gaze on him and bowed his head under the scrutiny.How did he always just know?
A knock on the door set hurricane Slider in motion.
Finally, a reprieve.
“That should be the Chinese food.”
Liam leaped to his feet, taking the chance to remove himself from Pop’s shrewd vicinity. “I’ll get it.”
“I’ve paid.”
In a dozen strides, Liam was at the door. He pulled it open and sucked in the first gust of fresh air—
And froze.
Coury stood on the front porch, palm against the wall, face cast down, pensive.
Dark eyes lifted slowly and hit Liam with a crude mix of frustration and annoyance. Liam’s heart banged in his chest, with guilt, with relief at seeing him again, no matter his mood. “Coury.”
Slider slipped around Liam and put his paws on Coury.
Absently, he rubbed the excited dog’s head, his gaze on Liam. “Are we still friends?”
Liam didn’t know what his response was supposed to be, only that he was glad Coury was there.
Coury glanced away. “It’s been five days.” He slammed his eyes shut and cursed under his tongue.
“Coury, I—”
“I failed Glover’s test. It was stupid. I could hear your disappointment.”
“We all have a bad test day,” Liam managed.
