Page 4 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Jude

He couldn’t stop glancing toward the beach.

Even coming up with a job pruning and watering his plants as an excuse to be out on his deck.

They didn’t have yards in the neighborhood, but Jude did love his plants.

The plants were the only thing that he had at his house that had no connection with his past. Jude had bought each plant after Sam was already gone, putting his nurturing into something that he didn’t have to fear would die and leave him alone.

Jude had considered getting a pet but was afraid that he’d once again be left alone if something happened to this animal. Plants were much easier to keep alive, it appeared.

The sliding glass doors in each house led to a wood deck that had enough room for some furniture, a bar-b-que pit, and of course his plants. The gate on the opposite side of the deck opened straight onto the sandy beach. The water was only feet away.

Jude enjoyed the setup.

He could go to and from the water without interacting with anyone mostly.

That was all before Liam entered the picture.

The man that was sound asleep in a folding lounge chair that he’d dragged out near the water. The sun was high in the sky. The rays beaming down on Liam and everyone else out in its direct path.

Jude didn’t normally care what people did on his beach, but Liam had fallen asleep while reading a book and it had been over an hour already.

He shifted uneasily on his feet.

Liam was going to burn.

He was going to get dehydrated.

It hadn’t even been a full week since Liam had moved in, and he was already breaking commonsense rules when it came to being out in the sun. Jude growled. This was just unacceptable.

Jude slammed down his water spray bottle before heading inside. He quickly filled a glass with ice before pouring from the pitcher of lemonade that he’d made earlier that day.

Stomping through the house, Jude muttered to himself.

This had nothing to do with what he’d overheard the previous night. It didn't matter that Jude knew that Liam identified as a little. No, Jude was just looking out for his new neighbor. Being neighborly, or whatever bullshit he could come up with.

The sand was hot on his bare feet and Jude had to avoid the mass of tourists that were in his way. By the time he was standing in front of Liam’s lounge chair, the glass already had condensation sliding down the sides.

Liam didn’t move as Jude blocked the sun from him. Jude’s shadow covered the other man and the sand around him.

At least it appeared that Liam had put sunscreen on before he came out. While Liam’s face and chest were a bit on the pink side, he hadn’t burned quite yet.

Feeling just a little evil, Jude held the sweating glass right over Liam’s stomach.

Jude was not looking at the tight body in front of him in very small shorts. No, he was not.

Jude smirked and counted. One, two, three, four, as the fifth drip of water landed on Liam. He hissed while his eyes flew open, jerking himself up into a sitting position.

“What the f—”

“Oh good. You’re awake,” Jude deadpanned.

“Jude?” Liam shook his head. “What’s going on?”

“Up!” Jude demanded.

“Huh?”

“Up!” he repeated. “You’ve been out here for over an hour, and you’re turning red.”

“I am?” Liam scrambled out of the lounge chair when Jude continued to shake it with his foot. Standing next to him, Liam blinked owlishly at him.

He wasn’t even wearing sunshades to protect those pretty blue eyes. No, not pretty. Ugh! Jude thrust the glass into Liam’s hand. “Drink that. All of it.”

“Okay.”

Bending over, Jude picked up Liam’s abandoned book then folded the chair back together.

“You shouldn’t sleep on the beach. You have no idea what someone could do to you.

Plus, it’s the hottest part of the day. You came out and read for about forty minutes then fell asleep for over an hour.

” He started back toward their houses. “You should reapply sunscreen every two hours.”

Liam clumsily followed him. The lemonade sloshed from the top of the glass.

Jude glared at him.

“I’m drinking it!” Liam said right before he did take a big gulp. “Hey! This is good.” He drank again.

Satisfied, Jude returned to leading Liam home.

It amused and irritated him that Liam didn’t argue. Liam just kept sipping on the lemonade while slowly strolling along. Jude had to adjust his long strides so he didn’t leave Liam behind.

“Wow, it’s busy this afternoon.” Liam was looking around with a smile. “It’s crazy how this morning there was literally no one out here but you and now the beach is packed.”

“This is why I swim in the mornings,” Jude pointed out.

“But look at everyone having so much fun!” Liam stopped walking.

Jude huffed but stopped as well. “All I see is people who are going to leave trash and shit around when they leave.”

“No,” Liam drawled. “That’s just your grumpiness showing.” He pointed toward the water. “I see a toddler putting their toes into the water for the first time.”

Jude squinted to see where Liam was pointing.

“And a group of friends playing volleyball. Oh! Two teenage girls trying and failing to flirt with a lifeguard.”

Why would anyone care about any of that?

“I love to people watch,” Liam told him. “I even make up little stories about them. Grand adventures or finding a second chance at love. There’s so much possibility in this one area.”

“You can watch it all from under the cover of your deck where you’re not in danger of frying to a crisp,” Jude replied firmly.

Liam sighed but started back toward the house.

Jude was just happy that Liam wasn’t arguing further. He held open Liam’s gate and motioned for him to go first.

“Bossy!” Liam said but he smiled. “I’ll put up with it if there’s more of this delicious lemonade. Is it homemade? I haven’t had homemade lemonade in years.”

“Yes, it’s homemade,” Jude answered. “Sit there.” He pointed toward the chair the most under the cover. “You can have more.”

Liam drained the glass before handing it over.

Jude exchanged the glass for the book he carried.

He placed the lounge chair against the railing.

“I’ll get you more.” He turned to stare inside Liam’s house.

What was up with that big blob? Did it ever move from that spot?

That couldn’t be healthy. Maybe Liam should start walking his cat or something. “Your cat is growling at me.”

“You called him fat!” Liam defended his baby.

“Because he is,” Jude replied. And it obviously bothered Liam when Jude said that so he would keep it up. The boy deserved some payback for making Jude feel things that he so did not want to feel.

Shaking his head, Jude returned his attention to Liam. “Lemonade. I’m going to get you some more.” He had a purpose here. And lunch. After being out in the sun, Liam needed some food too.

“Awesome! It really is that good.”

Jude grunted and walked away.

* * * * *

Liam

Talk about mixed signals.

Hanging out with Jude was a head-spinning, confusing adventure but Liam liked the time he spent with his neighbor. Jude had not only returned with a pitcher of lemonade—he’d also brought chicken salad sandwiches and vegetable sticks for both of them.

Jude claimed it was time for lunch and nothing else had been said about the matter. At least not out loud. Liam had a running commentary in his head though.

For at least thirty minutes, Liam had been making up ridiculous stories about the people in their view that would have even been too much for a book. Jude would look up every so often to squint in the direction Liam waved before grunting or making a sarcastic comment.

His neighbor was a funny guy. Well, when he wasn’t being grumpy.

And he was grumpy a lot, but he was also attentive, protective, and kind of sweet.

Sure, probably no one else would notice, but Liam did like to watch people.

Jude was awesome. Like making sure Liam got the thickest sandwich.

When Jude figured out that Liam would only eat the carrots and celery sticks and not the other veggies, Liam’s plate had more of the two he liked.

Anytime Liam’s lemonade was low, Jude was filling his glass.

Jude would scowl like he hadn’t meant to do any of that. Leading back to the confusing mixed signals.

Eventually, Liam had to push the plate away before he ended up with more food. He was stuffed. He mostly just grabbed some food that he could warm up quickly in the microwave. Liam could cook—he just didn’t like to. It was much easier nuking a burrito or frozen pizza.

“Thank you for lunch and all the lemonade and rescuing me from the sun.” Even if Liam didn’t think he’d needed the rescue.

“I’d give it a few hours before you go back out there, if you’re going to,” Jude said.

Liam nodded. “I really had just planned to read and get some sun before the beach got crowded. I was up all night writing. My new book is really flowing and I learned to take advantage of that when it happens.”

“Sleep is important too,” Jude commented. Because of course he did.

Liam nodded anyway. “I know. I don’t go without sleep. I had planned on a nap. It just turned out to be outside instead of my nice bed or the couch.”

“Is—” Jude cleared his throat. “Is your bed put together. Do you need help?”

Yeah, having Jude in his bedroom would not help with all the feelings Liam had for his neighbor. “No, it was done by the movers. I’m practically finished with everything anyway.”

Jude glanced away quickly.

Huh, that was kind of weird.

Oh well. Liam had no room to judge. He was currently writing a book where one guy had three lovers that couldn’t get enough of him.

The sex scenes in his newest manuscript were hot!

Not that he could see Jude sitting down and reading about a little who had a Daddy, Papa, and bubbie as lovers.

Liam loved the dynamic, but it wasn’t for everyone. Some might call him weird.

Jude suddenly pushed back from the deck table. “I have things to do.”

“Let me help you carry—” Liam started to rise.

“I’ve got it,” Jude told him sternly.

“Fine.” Liam waved his hand. And Jude was back to grumpy guy. “Sincerely, thank you.”

Jude paused in collecting the dishes. He gave one sharp nod. “You’re welcome.”

Liam was totally counting that as progress.