Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Jude?” We’d had exactly one talk about my feelings, and at the time, I’d told him I was confused and thought I might have feelings for him. I’d never told him I was in love with him. What good could come from it? Plus, I was over it now. But Rush knew me, and regardless, he sensed something.
“Deflate that big-ass head of yours. I wasn’t thinking about you. Being with Linc has made you an even bigger cocky motherfucker.”
He laughed, but it was a bit forced. His eyes creased around the edges, the light that had just been there dimming. He looked…sad…like he was sad for me.
“Seriously, Rush. Cut that shit out. I, um…hell, I moved on from that confusing stuff way back then. I actually might be kind of seeing someone, though it’s not serious.”
Why in the fuck had I said that? I sure as shit wasn’t seeing any-damn-one, and I didn’t want to.
“Really?” Rush asked, and I swear to God, I saw him let out a deep breath, maybe one he’d been holding since we had our one conversation about my possible feelings. It hit me then—and I didn’t know why I hadn’t seen it before—that Rush had worried about me. That maybe a part of him felt guilty that he loved Lincoln because he hadn’t known how I felt about him. It was so typical Rush. He was the best man I knew.
And that was exactly why I said, “Yeah. We’ll see what happens. I’m definitely not ready to propose…or to tell you who it is.”
He held up his hands, chuckling. “I wasn’t going to ask. I know you. Jude Sandoval never does anything before he’s ready.”
“Damn straight.”
“I’m happy for you. I hope it turns into something, and if it does, don’t run, okay? I can’t handle the thought of you being alone.”
Like my dad, he meant, who’d lost his wife when I was young, and never recovered.
“Stop getting all sappy on me,” I said, but I knew he was right. I did always run when shit got too close…except I wouldn’t have with him.
“So I really don’t get her name or anything?” Rush asked.
Her. He automatically went to her, and I couldn’t blame him. I mean, considering that the person I was seeing was made up as hell, they could be anyone. “Nope. Nothing.”
We finished our lunch, and I pushed my lie aside. It wasn’t that big a deal. I’d just tell him it didn’t work out.
I went back home—well, to Linc’s. Maybe I should look into getting a place I wasn’t renting from Rush’s boyfriend. I got out of the elevator, and the second I did, I saw the teenager who lived next door with his mom, sitting in front of the door.
“I don’t know where I lost my keys. I’m sorry,” he said into his cell as I walked toward him. “I know this is the third set I’ve lost.” Pause. “Yes, Mom. I know I’m scatterbrained. You know how I get.”
A frown tugged at my lips. He was about sixteen or seventeen, I thought. He wore a black beanie and had a skateboard beside him.
“Yeah, I know I’m almost eighteen. I get it. I screw up, and I need to grow up, okay? When will you be home so I can get in?”
I was stalling so I could hear the rest of the conversation, fumbling with my keys at the door.
“It’s my art show tonight. You won’t be able to go?” he asked, the melancholy radiating from his words to me. “Shit,” he cursed when he got off the phone.
“No school?” I asked him.
“Some teacher-in-service day or something.”
“Do you, um…need some help? I didn’t mean to overhear. You’re welcome to come inside and wait for your mom.”
The kid’s green eyes went wide, and I held up my hands.
“It was just an offer. You don’t have to. My name is Jude. I rent this apartment from my friend Lincoln.”
“I know Lincoln. Well, I don’t know him, but I lived next door to him. I mean, obviously. No shit, I lived next door to him ’cuz I live here now. And I know you were just being nice. Did it look like I didn’t know? Because I did. And I’m rambling. I ramble sometimes. It annoys people. I’m Theo, by the way.”
I smiled. “Hi, Theo. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And sure. I’ll come in. My mom is sending her assistant to bring me a key, but she said it’ll take like an hour.” Theo stood up, and I realized he had a sketchbook on his lap. He reached for his skateboard next.
“Maybe you should call your mom and tell her? Just to be safe.”
“I’m seventeen. I don’t need her permission. Plus, she never cares where I am. She’s too busy for that.”
Well, shit. I could hear the sadness in his voice, and I got it. My dad hadn’t been too busy for me growing up, but I’d never felt like he was engaged with me. He was too damn sad and kept to himself. It was only because of Rush and his parents that I’d felt like I had family. “Maybe still just tell her to be safe.”