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Coury’s smile would have been answer enough, but he added, “Fuck yeah. Let’s do it.”
“Great!” Running together would be a good break from always going alone. “We can change and stretch in my room if that’s okay.”
“Um.” Coury avoided Liam’s gaze.
Liam’s lightness vanished. “What?”
“I mean it’s fine, but that’s not where you hide the bodies, is it?” He pretended to cower in fear.
“Fucker.” Liam flipped him off. “Just for that I won’t go easy on you.”
“What if I’m able to keep up? This ain’t exactly my first run, you know.” Coury started to pack his books away.
“Then I’ll have to find another way to torment you.”
“Oh, Mr. Wright. The things you say.” Coury winked and rubbed Liam’s back for a second. “I am kidding, you know. I don’t want to push too hard until I know my oblique is okay.”
“Totally, cool.” Liam pushed out of his comfort zone and playfully slapped the back of Coury’s head. “If you can’t keep up, I’ll just leave you wheezing on the path.”
“Oh no, you didn’t.” Coury zipped his backpack shut. “It’s on, Lionheart. It’s on!”
When they reached the top of the stairs, Pop emerged from the living room.
“Are you staying for Pizza Friday and Fright?” Pop asked.
“For what?” Coury looked quizzically at Liam.
“Whenever Pop doesn’t want to cook, he orders pizza and watches a movie,” Liam said. “Each time is a different theme. This Friday is obviously scary movies.”
“Um, cool.” Coury sounded anything but excited.
Liam turned to Pop. “It’s Friday. I’m sure Coury’s got a party tonight.”
Pop shifted his gaze to Coury. “He didn’t ask you, did he?”
“He is standing right here.” Liam pointed to himself with both hands. “He didn’t know until just now it’s Pizza Friday. And he didn’t know he was supposed to ask.” Liam ended his mini rant by sticking out his tongue.
“Um . . .” Coury held up his hands and stepped toward the door. “I’ll give you two a moment.”
“What a drama queen,” Pop said, pointing to Coury.
“I know, but he’s Beckett’s best friend. What can you do?”
“Whoa!” Coury stepped closer, his nose snorting fire. “Y’all are having some little family tiff and you end it by attacking me?”
Liam stared at his grandfather, who gave him a wink. In unison, they turned toward Coury and said, “Yes.”
Coury narrowed his eyes, lips twitching. “I hate you both. Why do I come here?”
“Because,” Pop ruffled Coury’s hair, “you love it.”
Coury growled; Slider popped up from his cushion in the kitchen, barked, and trotted over to join them. When Coury bent to grab him, Slider barked some more and ran behind Pop’s legs.
“You too, Slider?”
The easy way Coury joined in with him and Pop thrilled Liam even as it made him ache. Everything Coury had done had been him being himself. No ulterior motives. It was just who he was.
“If you two go running, take Slider with you,” Pop said. “He’s too full of energy.”
“Does he know how to run with someone?” Coury asked.
“Damned if I know, the last time I went running Clinton was president.” He reached down and scratched the dog’s head. “So, dinner? Did you want to stay?”
Liam already knew the answer. Why would you spend the night with Liam and his grandfather when you could go to a party on campus?
“What kind of pizza?” Liam’s surprised gaze shot toward him. Coury’s eyes twinkled.
“You’re bargaining for a free meal?” Pop laughed. “Kids today.”
“It’s a reasonable question. If you order ham and pineapple, I’d rather eat the free food at school.”
“Okay. Fair point. I just like cheese pizza. You and Liam can work out what’s on the other.”
“Sounds good. But one condition.”
“You’re testing my good nature, Mr. Henderson.”
Coury winked at Liam. “You let me kick in for the pizza. I can’t freeload every time I come over.”
Pop shook his head. “Out of the question. If I did that, I’d have to make Liam pay, too.” He grabbed Coury’s shoulder. “You’re not a freeloader. I’ve known you so long, you’re practically family. It’s almost like having Beckett here, only with more manners and a bit less . . . everything.”
Liam struggled to keep his smile. Family. Beckett. He was crushing on someone Pop saw as family. Fuck my life.
“That’s Becks,” Coury said. “Fine, but expect something next time I come visit.”
“Good enough. We can argue about that the next time. Go change, push on the wall to stretch, or whatever you do to get warm. I’ll get Slider ready for you.”
* * *
It had taken a few false starts for the three of them to get in sync, meaning for Slider to figure out the routine. The dog wanted to stop and sniff every tree, pole, pile of snow—especially if another dog had found it first—and anything else he could find. Finally, he got with the program and they got into a rhythm.
