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“Well, today’s your lucky day. But you have to be ready in five minutes or I’m leaving without you.”
The door slammed in my face, and then I heard the telltale squeak of his closet opening. I put the dirty dishes still sitting in the sink in the dishwasher, then wiped down the counters. Jude came back in as I was tying up the trash bag to take downstairs with us.
He came straight for me, pulling me into an embrace and kissing me. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, and I opened, greedy for another taste of him.
A noise in the hallway made me reluctantly step back.
Lenny sounded like a herd of elephants, his little body making way more noise than should be possible. “I’m ready.”
Still catching my breath, I gave him a thumbs-up, then walked past Jude, who was smiling so big I couldn’t help but smile back.
Jude grabbed my trash and deposited it into the large bins behind the building.
We climbed into his truck, and I ended up sitting in between my brother and Jude on the bench seat. Jude didn’t waste the opportunity presented to him and brushed his hand over my thigh whenever he shifted gears. He also rested his leg against mine, and I fought the urge to reach out and touch him.
I didn’t want to talk to Lenny before I was certain of what we were. This might never go further. Even though the thought hurt, I didn’t know how serious Jude was.
There was always a possibility he only wanted to get laid.
“I’m also getting chocolate pancakes. With cream and chocolate sauce.”
Jude chuckled at Lenny’s announcement as we pulled into the parking lot. “I think I’ll get the pancakes with warm maple butter and a side of bacon.”
“I feel like French toast today.” It came with caramelized bananas and roasted pecans. Delicious.
We piled into the restaurant, the waitress seating us as soon as we stumbled through the door as if we were half starved.
I ended up sitting next to Jude, who didn’t waste time pressing close and holding my hand that was resting on my thigh. I couldn’t help a flush from spreading over my face, my hand tightening in his.
We all placed our orders, then settled in for the short wait.
The waitress set coffees for Jude and me on the table when my phone rang. An unfamiliar number showed on the display, but since it could be Gladius, I knew I had to answer. Jude made no move to get up, not even when I pushed against his side.
“Just take the call here. We don’t mind, do we, Lenny?”
My brother shook his head, too busy folding his napkin into a swan to care.
I accepted the call, hoping it wasn’t Gladius.
“This is Kelvin Maynard. I’m calling for Ariel Caster.”
“Hi, Mr. Maynard. Thanks so much for returning my call.” He was a lawyer I found online who I thought might be able to represent me in Lenny’s custody case.
“Of course. How can I help you?”
“I need representation for a custody case.”
“You’ve come to the right place. Now, I have to tell you that we require a $5,000 bond before we even look at a case.”
I swallowed, all thoughts of taking this call outside gone, my body sinking into the seat. “$5,000?”
“And an advance for the first five hours of work. We charge $300 per hour, so that will be $1,500.”
“So you’re telling me I’ll have to pay you $6,500 before you’ll even look at my case?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’ll have to figure out if I can do that. Thanks so much for your time. I’ll be in touch.”
