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“So? I’m your friend and neighbor.”
The statement bothered me more than I cared to admit, because we already seemed like so much more. “Who has no idea how to fix a car. He offered to do it for free. And I could use the break.”
“Do you need money?”
The last thing I wanted was to owe Jude money. “I’m not borrowing money from you. And I’m fine. I just can’t afford to fix my car at the moment.”
Or ever. But I didn’t say that.
“Then let me at least take care of your car.” We’d stopped in front of his truck that looked about as good as mine did. He crowded me against the passenger door, my body arching into his. “I want to help you.”
“Jude, no. It’s too much. Friends don’t pay for each other’s cars to be fixed.”
His reply was instant. “Fuck being your friend. I want to be more.”
After uttering the words in a low growl, he pulled me against him and crushed his mouth to mine.
I didn’t even care that we were still in full view of anyone heading to their cars. Or that the whole school was there. Because his lips on mine felt right.
“Is Jude going to move in with us?”
I froze at Lenny’s question, my hands that had been roaming Jude’s chest freezing. I pulled back, but Jude’s arms around me stayed in place. “No. He was just saying thanks.”
“I’ve never seen anyone say thanks to you like that.”
That was because he had never seen me with anyone. I’d made sure to keep my hookups away from him. And that was all they ever were, as few and far between as they had been.
Until now.
After I lightly pushed against Jude’s chest, he finally stepped back, giving me room to smooth down my top that had ridden up when he’d put his hand underneath the hem. “That’s because I’m extra grateful this time.”
Lenny’s narrowed eyes told me he didn’t believe our ridiculous excuse. But my brain was still scrambled from the kiss, and I had nothing better I could come up with.
“Are we stopping for pizza? I’m hungry.”
Thank heavens for the attention span of twelve-year-olds.
And for their bottomless stomachs.
Bailey’s mom had messaged me with updates throughout the day. Lenny had been exploring the fair with them, giving him an alternative to sitting at the ticket stand with me all day, so I knew he’d consumed plenty of food.
Opening the door, I slid in, knowing Lenny preferred to sit next to the window. And I’d come to appreciate being in the middle of the bench seat. “We had pizza yesterday,” I reminded him.
Lenny looked at me like I’d just suggested he eat whole wheat bread. “So?”
Jude slid into the driver’s seat, taking hold of my leg and dragging me to him until I was pressed against his side. “Since Lenny has no doubt already ingested more sugar and carbs than a person of his size should be able to digest, why not top it off with pizza?”
I groaned, slumping forward. “Because I can’t take more pizza this week. We’ve already had it three times.”
I’d never had to watch what I ate, but I did have a limit on how many nights a week I could eat the same food. And three was it.
Jude squeezed my thigh reassuringly before starting the truck. “We’ll get sushi for us and pizza for Lenny.”
Instead of placing a kiss on Jude’s cheek like I really wanted to, I went with a light nudge of my leg against his. “I love sushi.”
He nudged me back. “I know.”
Satisfied with Jude’s answer, Lenny nodded, then turned back to look out the window. The setting sun was tinting the sky a light orange. Lenny loved watching sunsets. Always had. Even when he was little and could barely walk.
