AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s awesome. I’ll check my calendar and see when I can take you.”
Lenny’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed. “I was hoping to go this week.”
My heart squeezed painfully at his sullen expression. We both knew I couldn’t make time on such short notice. I had one more job this week and a shift at Walmart every day.
Jude nudged Lenny. “I can take you, if you want.”
Biting my fingernail, I watched Lenny’s face light up.
Would it be irresponsible to let my neighbor take him to walk a puppy? I’ve only known him for a few weeks.
“Can he? Please, Ariel.” When my brother looked at me with so much hope, I knew I never had a chance. Saying no wasn’t an option.
“Okay, but with conditions.”
Lenny vibrated in his seat, nodding enthusiastically. “Anything.”
“You call me on your way there, send me photos when you’re there, and then call me again when you’re on your way home. And then again once you’re in the apartment. If I don’t hear from you for longer than twenty minutes, I’ll assume something is wrong and will call the cops.”
Neither of them knew I would never call the cops. But I’d hunt Jude down myself. And if anyone harmed my little brother, there wouldn’t be a place safe enough for them to hide.
“I promise. Thank you, Ariel.” Lenny’s wide grin turned to Jude. “Can we go tomorrow?”
“Lenny,” I warned, not wanting him to push Jude into rearranging his schedule on such short notice.
“Lucky for you I’m free tomorrow afternoon. How about I pick you up from school and we’ll go straight to Tony’s?”
Lenny pumped his fists into the air. “Thank you, Jude.”
The rest of the night was much quieter, Lenny eating almost his whole pizza while talking without a break. I marveled at his ability not to choke.
Jude stretched out his legs, resting them on each side of mine. When I raised my brow at him, he winked in return. But I didn’t move my legs until we left.
Jude drove us back to my car, then followed us home.
Lenny raced up the stairs and inside the apartment as soon as I stopped the car in our bay. Jude walked me to our door, tugging on a strand of my hair once we’d stopped. “Thanks for tonight. I had a great time.”
He kept surprising me. And the biggest one was that he seemed to actually want to hang out with us. Something that would take some getting used to. Usually, I kept guys away from Lenny. But I guessed Jude was different since we were just friends, not dating.
Studying the gold flecks in his eyes, I fought the urge to reach out and touch the stubble on his cheeks. “Are you sure you’re okay taking Lenny to see the puppy tomorrow?”
“Of course I am. I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.” He released my hair and turned for his apartment. “I promise to bring him back in one piece. Don’t worry.”
I watched him walk to his door, my eyes lingering on his backside. This was turning into a habit that I needed to break.
He looked over his shoulder, catching me watching him. A grin lit up his face. “By the way, there’s cow shit stuck to your hair.”
Fuck it. We’ll never be friends. And I’ve seen better asses than his.
If I thought about it long enough, I was sure I’d come up with someone.
Stomping back into my apartment, I went straight to the shower. At least the shit smell wasn’t strong enough for Lenny or Jude to comment on.
I’d learned to be thankful for the little things in life, after all.
4
JUDE
