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Chapter 20: Jude
Itossed my charger in the duffle on my bed and looked around the small room I was now comfortable calling home. I wasn’t taking a lot; I had clothes and stuff at home that I could use. Food in the freezer and a decent stash of non-perishables. Bare essentials were all I’d need for a quick weekend.
My boss was less than happy I was taking the weekend off, but it couldn’t be helped. Eleanor hadn’t sounded exactly… right… when I’d spoken with her the other day, and I needed to find out what that was all about.
Glancing at the screen of my phone, I saw the time was a few minutes after eight a.m. If I left now, I could be there by ten at the latest. I slung my duffel across my shoulder and walked out, closing the door behind me.
In the kitchen, a bare-chested Galen paused mid-motion as he lifted a nasty-looking green drink to his lips. “What’s the bag for? Are you finally leaving us?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Galen. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He took a long swallow of his shake or smoothie or whatever it was and didn’t answer. “I’m going home for the weekend to visit my sister, so please don’t change the locks or sell my shit.”
He held up his hands. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” We stared each other down, his eyes holding mine over the rim of his glass and me keeping mine firmly above the neck. All that deliciousness on display… it was wasted on such an asshole.
Although I guessed he had his reasons, according to Baron.
“What is that gross-ness, anyway?”
“So, you and Ezra, huh?”
We spoke at the same time and I flushed, motioning. “You first.”
He raised the glass toward me. “Energy and vitamin smoothie. Kale, green apple, orange, honey, banana… whatever I have handy.”
I nodded. “Is it good for runners?”
“It’s good for any athlete. Here, I have some left—”
“No, that’s fine. When I come back.” I turned toward the door.
“You didn’t answer the question.”
Shit.I faced him and rolled my lips inward before speaking. “I’m not ‘with’ anyone, Galen. I really don’t have the bandwidth for that sort of thing right now.”
“Bandwidth for what?” Baron emerged from his bedroom, yawning and scratching his fingers along his jaw. I felt my insides quiver at his sleepy gorgeousness and firmed my knees. Why did they all have to look so damn good?
“A relationship,” Galen tossed back at him. “I hope you explained that before you started sucking Ezra’s face.”
What the hell was wrong with this guy? I shifted my bag. “I don’t know what crawled up your ass—”
“Ezra’s a big boy,” Baron inserted mildly, flashing me a sweetly crooked smile. “I’m sure he’s fine.” Galen snorted and stalked off.
“Thanks,” I whispered to Baron. “I guess I’ll see you Sunday night when I get back.“ I turned again to leave, but once again I was stopped.
“Wait. Are you driving by yourself?”
My eyebrows raised in question. “Planning on it.”
“Here.” He handed his phone to me. “Put your number in here. I’ll feel better if you can get in touch with me if something happens.”
I eyed the phone for a moment, and then began entering my number. “What could possibly happen?”
“All sorts of things,” he answered. “Flat tire. Run out of gas. Bird strike.”
“I think that’s with planes.” My lips twitched, and he shrugged.
“Same diff. Be careful, yeah?” My phone buzzed and I glanced at it to see an unfamiliar number. “That’s me.”
Holding up the phone, I smiled. “Thanks.”
