Page 10 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Liam

“I closed all the windows and blinds,” Nicky told him.

Sitting on the playroom floor with his pacifier in his mouth, Liam nodded to his bestie.

“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 the track. 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?”

“No. It’s fine.” It surprised Liam how much he meant the words. “I want to give Jude a few days, but I think that we can still be friends.”

“Friends?” Nicky repeated.

“I really do like him,” Liam said. “Even when he’s grumpy, he was fun. We’re going to live next to each other for a long time. I think it would be better for us to just forget all about today. Go back to where we were before.”

“That’s very mature.” Nicky stuck out his tongue.

“I’m a very mature boy,” Liam quipped.

“Fine. I won’t push.”

“It really is for the best. I could always use another friend,” Liam said.

“As long as I stay your best friend ever!” Nicky told him.

Liam hugged his bestie. “No one could ever replace you.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

* * * * *

Jude

Two days and he hadn’t seen or heard anything from his neighbor.

The same couldn’t be said about his old team. Jude was reconnecting with his friends, leaving him feeling much better than he had in years. More like his old self. Or the new old him. Whatever, Jude had been laughing. Smiling. He was alive. He was finally alive again.

Now Jude was a man on a mission. Liam had kept his promise to stay away. Jude hated it. A nice meal would be the perfect way to get his foot back in the door with Liam. Well, Jude hoped anyway. He’d fucked up but with his friends encouraging him, Jude was determined to make amends with Liam.

Also, cooking calmed Jude. He’d always enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen. Sam had refused to learn how to do more than boil water. Truthfully, Sam would end up burning the pan more often than not, leaving the kitchen Jude’s domain.

It brought a smile to his face as Jude was able to think of Sam without also being filled with guilt. Maybe Law had been right. Jude might need someone to talk to about Sam. To share the memories that he’d long buried. He at least wanted to explain things better to Liam.

Jude wouldn’t blame the boy if Liam wanted to stay far away from him. Didn’t he owe himself to try at least? Wasn’t that the right thing to do? There was only one way to find out.

He continued prepping the side dishes. Jude had been slow-cooking some pulled park inside his grill on the back porch to make sandwiches to take over to Liam. The amazing aroma enticed him, but Jude had snacked on some veggie sticks as he cooked.

His doorbell rang and Jude froze.

Jude wasn’t expecting a delivery, which was the only time when anyone came to his front door. Was it Liam? Excitement rushed through him. Setting down the knife he held, Jude headed quickly to the door.

Checking the peephole, Jude had to blink several times to make sure his eyes weren’t playing a trick on him.

That was not Liam.

The man on his porch rang the doorbell again.

Fuck! Jude unlocked then opened the door.

Lawrence O’Dell grinned at him.

Jude stared back. His friend looked good. At least the years had been kind to Law. He was still tall and appeared strong, with his handsome smile and clear blue eyes. In fact, Law probably looked better than he had the last time that Jude had seen him.

Rocking back on his heels, Law shoved his hands into the pocket of his faded jeans. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

He opened the door wider then stepped back, silently inviting Law inside.

Law walked in, making no secret of checking out the place.

Not that anything had changed. Jude had pretty much left the house just the way it had been the last time Sam had been there. He cleaned and of course some maintenance had needed to be done in the last ten years. However, most of the furniture and decorations hadn’t changed.

“What are you doing here?” Jude asked as he closed the door. Not that he was really surprised. Law lived by his own rules. Jude was shocked that Law hadn’t shown up sooner. Years ago.

“Just stopped by to check on you.”

“You live three hours away,” Jude reminded him. “That’s not exactly in the neighborhood.”

“Actually, I moved back to town last year.”

Jude narrowed his eyes. He hadn’t known that. He always checked the voicemails that his buddies left. That was the only way that Jude had any contact with his old lives.

“I didn’t want you to run away. Or stop replying with that one little text message. So I didn’t say anything,” Law told him.

That was fair. “And now?”

“You opened the door, buddy. My size fourteen is just keeping it open.”

“Fine. I’m cooking, so you’ll have to keep me company in the kitchen,” Jude warned.

“Just like old times.” Law followed Jude farther into the house.

That was another reminder from the past. Jude found he wasn’t too upset with Law’s impromptu visit. If Law had shown up a couple weeks ago, Jude would have been pissed. Now, Jude almost welcomed Law’s surprise visit.

“Damn, man! That smells amazing. Pulled pork?”

Jude nodded.

“You only made that for special occasions,” Law pointed out.

Jude went back to the counter where he’d been chopping vegetables for his homemade coleslaw.

“And coleslaw!” Law exclaimed.

Jude picked up the knife. He was unable to express how happy he was to see his old friend.

Law grinned. “So how is your neighbor?”

Maybe not. Maybe he was only half happy to see Law. In response Jude grunted.

“That good, huh?”

“I haven’t seen him,” Jude admitted.

Law shook his head. “By your choice?”

Not really. Jude missed seeing Liam standing out in the early morning sun, drinking from that big mug and giving Jude that lopsided smile.

“Oh,” Law drawled. “This is your way of apologizing. I like it.”

“He’s avoiding me,” Jude complained. Even if it was exactly what Liam had promised to do.

“They do say a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Law told him. “Or his dick. I always get that confused.”

Jude snorted out a laugh.

“It’s good to see you,” Law said.

“You look good,” Jude replied. “Still working out?”

“Every morning,” Law replied.