Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Does he usually stay here? I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable with us here. Make sure he knows I’m mostly in the guesthouse and that we’d love to see him around more.”
Except Jude. He was in the house with me, and he was the one who made Linc feel the most uncomfortable. Not that my mom didn’t too, because she did. I didn’t figure Linc had much family. If he did, they weren’t close. I’d never heard about any of them. “It has nothing to do with you guys. He doesn’t stay here often. We’re not serious, Ma.” I shoveled some eggs into my mouth and chewed. “We’re just…enjoying each other’s company and seeing where it goes.”
As of last night, at least. Before that we were fuck buddies, but I didn’t figure she wanted to know that.
“Well, I like him. I hope he comes around more. I’d like to get to know him.”
“We have time. I’m hoping you don’t go anywhere. I’d love for you to stay here. The guesthouse is perfect for you.” That way I could make sure she was okay.
She waved her hand at me. “For a bit, yes, but come on. You don’t want your mom living with you.”
“You won’t be. You’ll be in the guesthouse, and yes, actually I do. Plus, you can keep an eye on the place when I travel.”
Mom walked over, bent, and kissed the top of my head. “How did I get so lucky? I have the world’s best son.”
“Are you just figuring that out?”
Mom rolled her eyes just as there was a noise on the other side of the kitchen. Jude came in mumbling and rubbing a hand over his face.
A laugh tumbled out of my mouth. “Still hate mornings, huh?” He’d never been a morning person. In fact, I was surprised he was up so early.
“They’re evil,” he groaned, going straight for the coffeepot, pouring himself a cup. Like me, he wore a pair of basketball shorts and nothing else.
There was something going on with him, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Yes, he and his girlfriend had broken up, but it felt like more than that.
“I forgot something in the guesthouse. You boys have a good morning.” Mom took her coffee and left.
“You want some oatmeal? You usually eat that with your breakfast too, right?” Jude asked, surprising me. Seemed both Mom and I forgot about it.
“I can make it.”
“Sit your ass down, Alexander. I got it.”
“A guy could get used to this,” I replied as he rummaged for the oats in my cabinet and began making them.
“Did you have fun with your fake boyfriend yesterday?”
“He’s actually not my fake boyfriend anymore. We’re seeing each other. And what’s your problem with Linc? He thinks you don’t like him.”
“I don’t know him, so I can’t really say if I like him or not, but what I’ve seen of him so far, no, I’m not real fond of him. You’ve been mentioning this guy off and on in phone calls for a couple of years now. I know you were friends with benefits. I know you were interested even before you told me you were, and he wasn’t, until suddenly he’s declaring you’re in a relationship with each other? But he didn’t want it to be real, even though you did. Now apparently it is real? I just… Fuck, it feels like he’s stringing you along. You’re my boy, and I don’t like to see that happen.”
For the second time that morning, I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself down. Jude and I had been through a lot together. I knew his words came from the heart, but I still couldn’t stand to hear him talk about Linc like that. “It’s not how it seems. Believe me, I was perfectly fine to fuck him from time to time. It’s not like I’ve been pining over him. Did I know I had feelings for him before he had them for me? Yeah. But I also know Linc, and I wasn’t going to push him. He didn’t even know I wanted more with him until I got hurt, so he wasn’t stringing me along. He’s a good guy who has trust issues. It happens. He doesn’t deserve for you to dislike him for it.”
The muscles in Jude’s back moved as he reached up for a bowl to plate my oatmeal. He put the bowl down in front of me and crossed his arms. “Yeah, I guess. If you say so.”
“He is. You’d like him. He’s funny as hell. But I don’t want to talk about Linc right now. What’s going on with you? Something’s up. I can tell.”
“Girlfriend and I—”
“How many girlfriends have you broken up with? It’s more than that. Come on, man. I’ve known you most of my life. You can’t lie to me for shit.”