His curvy surprise, p.17
His Curvy Surprise, page 17
When this ends. When you decide you’re no longer interested. Having to see you every day and pretend I’m okay. Jude coming over to see Dozer and dying inside because I wish things could be different.
StoneColdDad
What if it works out? What if that never happens?
CutHairDontCare
I’ve never had that happen, so I don’t know.
StoneColdDad
Can we agree not to plan for this to end? That we’re going to get to know each other and spend time together and enjoy whatever this is and go from there?
CutHairDontCare
I can try.
StoneColdDad
I’ve never had it work out either. But I’m not ready to give up on us just yet.
CutHairDontCare
Yet?
StoneColdDad
I’m going for honesty here.
CutHairDontCare
I hear it’s the best policy.
StoneColdDad
I hear that, too.
CutHairDontCare
I should get some sleep. I have to work in the morning. But hopefully I’ll see you soon.
StoneColdDad
I hope so, too. Good night.
CutHairDontCare
Good night.
I smiled at my phone. The guys were wrong. Things were good with Chelsea. And they were going to stay that way.
I was disappointed to not run in to Chelsea before work the next day. I was hoping she would be around when I got home, but her car was still gone. Long day.
I let myself into the house and found Mrs. Walsh and Jude in front of the TV.
“What are we watching?” I asked.
“I’m so sorry, Derek. I was tired today and agreed to a little more TV than usual,” Mrs. Walsh said.
I shook my head. “It’s not a problem. We watch a lot of TV. There are some pretty good shows.”
“I just feel bad for not playing a game or something with Jude.”
“Winter is long, Mrs. Walsh. I imagine there will be a lot of TV watching. Usually that’s what we do.”
“Well, I’ll see if I can find some other options, too.” She pushed to her feet, looking slower than usual.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m definitely getting tired. The shorter days take it out of me. But being here is good for me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I do have an appointment next Tuesday, though. I tried to move it, but the next time they could get me in is in three months.”
Shit. Tuesday was when I was supposed to meet with a new vendor for tires. The company was a start-up in Massachusetts and wanted to see if we would stock their tires. “I’ll try to move some things around so I can be home.”
Mrs. Walsh was far too astute and saw my hesitation. “I can take the appointment in a few months.”
“No. Absolutely not. If you have something you have to do, we are not going to stand in your way. On top of that, three months puts you in the middle of winter and there’s no way of knowing if you’ll luck out with a good weather day.”
“I did have that thought, too.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I assured her.
“You could ask a friend, or a neighbor, if they could help out.” Mrs. Walsh nodded her head toward next door and raised her eyebrows.
I glanced at Jude, who was engrossed in the show he was watching. “She’s working today. She has a lot of late days.”
Mrs. Walsh shrugged. “Yes, but she’s home a lot of afternoons, too. She adores Jude, and if she’s around, it might be an easy solution for you.”
I nodded, trying to come up with a reason I didn’t want to ask Chelsea. There wasn’t one. I still held back, though. Why?
“Maybe a friend, then?” Mrs. Walsh suggested, as if she knew I was hesitating when it came to asking Chelsea.
“I’ll figure something out,” I told her.
She smiled and patted my arm. She didn’t miss a thing. “I should head home.”
“You are welcome to stay for dinner,” I told her. “You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you, and I know. But I have a delicious dinner waiting for me. Chelsea brought it over yesterday. She made more than I could eat one night, so I get to have it again. Lasagna. I’m a big fan.”
“That was nice of her.” There was a lot I didn’t know about the woman I was seeing. A lot she didn’t share. A lot I wanted to know.
“She’s a wonderful person,” Mrs. Walsh said, shrugging into her coat.
“Jude, Mrs. Walsh is leaving.”
Jude jumped up from the couch and came over to us. He hugged Mrs. Walsh and thanked her for being there when he got home.
She grinned and hugged him back. “It was my pleasure, Jude. I’ll see you next week.”
“Bye!” Jude said, returning to the couch.
Mrs. Walsh smiled. “He’s a good boy. You’ve done an amazing job.”
“Thank you,” I said. The compliment was hard to take but appreciated. I put my coat on and told Jude I’d be right back, then followed Mrs. Walsh outside.
“Ooh, it’s gotten so chilly. I’m not looking forward to the winter,” she said.
“Have you thought about going south?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no. This is home. I love it here, even if the weather doesn’t always love us back.”
We stopped at the end of my driveway when we saw headlights coming toward us. A blinker flashed, telling us the driver was turning.
My heart kicked. Chelsea.
Mrs. Walsh waited until Chelsea pulled in, then turned around.
I wanted to hurry Mrs. Walsh home so I could have a minute with Chelsea, but that was rude.
“Good evening, Ms. Chelsea,” Mrs. Walsh said.
“Good evening. Are you heading home?” Chelsea grabbed her handbag and joined us at the edge of the driveway. She glanced my way and smiled.
“I am. I have your delicious lasagna to warm me right up.” Mrs. Walsh rubbed her hands together.
Chelsea’s face lit up at the compliment. “Oh, good. I was hoping you would enjoy it.”
“Oh, so good. You gave me way too much, as usual.”
“It’s hard to cook a small amount of lasagna. I froze half of it as it was.”
“Well, I am appreciative of the meal. It’s not easy to cook for one.”
Chelsea laughed. “I agree. I’m happy I can share with you.”
“I’m always willing to eat.”
Chelsea and Mrs. Walsh laughed at the joke, as if there was more to it than I knew. I cleared my throat, not intending to break up their conversation, but it had that effect.
“I should get home and let you two get out of this cold. Tomorrow?” Mrs. Walsh asked Chelsea.
“I’ll see you at ten.”
Mrs. Walsh nodded, then started across the street. Chelsea made a move toward her house, and I asked her if she had a minute. If I could knock on her door. She agreed.
“So you’re going to ask her?” Mrs. Walsh asked.
“I know you’re not as oblivious as you want people to think.”
“You two are good together. I will not interfere, ever, but I want you to know I think she’s good for both of you.”
I smiled, trying not to let that sink in. I wasn’t ready for Chelsea and Jude to get too close. As our neighbor and Dozer’s owner, sure. But as the woman I was seeing? We weren’t there.
Mrs. Walsh seemed to sense my thoughts and said, “Don’t what if things to death. Everyone deserves a shot at happiness.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Walsh.”
“Have a good night, Derek.”
“You do the same.”
I waited until her door locked before I jogged down her driveway. Chelsea met me on her driveway when I made it across the street. Her arms were crossed and her hands buried in the fabric of her coat.
“I didn’t mean for you to wait outside for me,” I told her.
“It’s easier if I go inside once. Dozer likes to come outside if I go out again. The door in the back has helped, but when I get home, he wants to go out.”
“I won’t keep you then.”
“You asked if I had a minute. I didn’t want to delay whatever it was you wanted to say.”
“Mrs. Walsh has an appointment on Tuesday. She can’t get Jude. I know it’s a lot to ask, and you can say no, but—”
“Yes,” she blurted. “I can get him off the bus, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t ask, but I have a meeting and can’t get here that early. I don’t know your schedule. I don’t want to throw things off for you.”
“I’m off Tuesday. It’s not a problem at all.” She exhaled a shaky breath.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded and chewed her lip. “I thought you wanted to talk to tell me you were done. That this was over.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. I… It never occurred to me that’s what you would think. I’m really sorry, Chelsea.”
She smiled at me. “It’s okay. I… It’s fine.”
I glanced around and didn’t see anyone out. No curtains moved. Houses were lit from the inside and quiet from the outside. I stepped closer to her, cupping her jaw with my cold hands.
The lights from our houses illuminated the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “I’m not done with you yet. Not anywhere close. I’m sorry I made you doubt this.”
She forced another smile and relaxed. Her breath shuddered out of her.
I dipped my head slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull back. She didn’t, and I closed the gap between us, getting a taste of her cold lips.
She sighed into me, circling her arms around my waist.
I pulled her in tighter and delved into her mouth. I couldn’t get lost in her like I wanted to, but I hardened anyway. I inhaled deep, carrying her scent into me.
I pulled away with a groan. “One day I won’t have to leave you on the driveway and walk away.”
She smiled again. “Just not today.”
I shook my head and stepped back, letting my hands fall from her face. “One day. Thank you for helping me out on Tuesday. It means a lot.”
“I’m happy to.”
I glanced at my house, knowing I’d been gone longer than usual and Jude would be looking for dinner soon. “I should go. Talk later?”
She nodded. “I’ll be here.”
“Good night, Chelsea.”
“Good night, Derek.”
18
Chelsea
It didn’t matter how many times I checked the time Jude’s bus would be there, I was still worried I was going to miss him. Derek said Jude could come to my house, so I was outside on the driveway. Waiting.
Dozer sat next to me, whimpering every so often. He didn’t understand what we were doing.
The bus came around the corner and ambled down the street. It stopped a few times to let other kids off, then stopped in front of Derek’s house.
Jude jumped off the bus and ran right over to Dozer, who jumped up to greet his buddy.
“Hi, Dozer! How are you?”
Dozer barked his greeting as the bus pulled away. Dozer tugged at his leash to get closer to Jude.
“How about we go inside and you guys can visit?” I suggested.
Jude nodded, standing and rubbing Dozer’s back on his way to the door. Jude waited for me to open the door, even though it was already unlocked, then stopped to take off his shoes. I toed my boots off and unclipped Dozer’s leash so he and Jude could greet each other properly.
Jude threw his arms around Dozer’s neck and whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
My heart melted at the profession meant only for Dozer’s ears.
Dozer seemed to hug Jude back, resting his head against Jude’s shoulder for their hug.
“Can I take him outside, Ms. Chelsea?”
“How about a snack first? Are you hungry?”
“Yeah. Do you have any cookies?”
I grinned. “Always, Jude. We always have cookies. How about an apple with your cookies?”
“I like apples.”
I nodded, following the boys to the kitchen. Jude took a seat at the table, and I set the plate of freshly baked cookies in front of him. He grabbed one and took a bite.
“Oh, man, that’s good. It’s warm, too.”
“I just made them. I made some for Dozer, too.”
“He can have this?” Jude asked, holding the chocolate chip cookie above Dozer’s nose.
“Not that one,” I said quickly, before Jude handed it over. “They’re treats that are safe for dogs. Do you want to give him one?” I picked up the tray of cookies for Dozer and held it out to Jude.
“Yeah! That’s so cool. Can I ask him to do the tricks I taught him?”
“Of course. We’ve been practicing so he wouldn’t forget.”
“He’s smart. He’ll remember,” Jude said with confidence. He stood in front of Dozer and straightened his shoulders. “Dozer, sit.”
Dozer dropped his butt to the floor.
“Good. Now, down.”
Dozer flopped, sprawling on the floor.
Jude grinned. “Awesome. Roll over.”
Dozer kicked his feet and rolled over.
“Good boy. Dozer, shake!”
Dozer jumped up and shook his whole body with Jude, wiggling their butts and shaking.
Jude collapsed into a puddle and held the cookie up to Dozer.
Dozer snatched it, knowing it was one of his and not one of Jude’s. He sat down and ate the cookie with Jude on the floor with him.
“You’re such a good boy,” Jude said.
I smiled at the two of them. After the talk Derek and I had last week, I was feeling both better and worse about what was going on between us. I understood his hesitation after his marriage. But I also knew if a person didn’t open themselves up to good things, they never came.
I struggled with the idea of having a future with anyone, but I wanted it. My struggles came from the way I’d been treated and the less than spectacular relationships I’d had.
Derek was different. He wasn’t one of the men who saw me and said no. He still wanted me. But I wasn’t hoping for a future just because he was there. That wasn’t fair to either of us. No, I liked him. I liked Jude. I liked being able to talk to Derek, and the sex was better than any I’d ever had.
But we were a long way from dating to forever. I meant it when I told him I was already waiting for the day he’d walk away. The day I’d have to look him in the eye and pretend I wasn’t broken inside.
I was going to hate that day.
“Can Dozer and I go outside?” Jude asked, bringing my attention back to the moment.
“Sure. But not for too long. It’s pretty cold today.”
“Thirty minutes?”
“I think I can agree to that. Then homework?”
“And then maybe we can go out again?”
I smiled. “You’re a good negotiator.”
“My dad says the same thing.”
I laughed. “It’s a good skill to have.”
“I think so, too.” Jude went to the front and put on his jacket and sneakers. He walked through the house with Dozer on his heels, opening the door to the backyard. I heard him tell Dozer he had a cool door to use before the door closed between us.
I kept an eye on them as I cleaned up the kitchen, checking every few minutes that they were okay. I went outside for a few minutes, but unless I ran around with the boys, it was too cold for me to sit out.
“Fifteen more minutes,” I told Jude.
“Okay!” Jude called back.
“I’m going in. It’s too cold for me.”
Jude laughed. “Okay, Ms. Chelsea.”
I closed the door and watched them for another minute before going back to the kitchen. I busied myself getting things ready to make dinner and was about to start when the boys burst inside.
“Did you have fun?”
“Yeah, it was awesome.”
Dozer ran to the cabinet where I kept his treats.
“Do you want to give Dozer a treat?”
“Another cookie?”
“Not just yet. How about two of the treats in the cabinet?”
“Okay.” Jude grabbed the treats I pointed to and tossed two to Dozer, who caught them in the air.
“What homework do you have today?” I asked Jude, a subtle reminder he agreed to do it when they came in.
“Math, science, and reading.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
He shrugged and traded his jacket and sneakers for his backpack. “Can I sit on your couch?”
“Of course. You can use the coffee table if you want. Or you can sit here. Whatever is easier for you.”
“Thanks, Ms. Chelsea.”
“You’re welcome.”
I assembled the casserole I was making for dinner and slid it into the oven. Then I started on the chicken soup. I liked to cook a few meals at a time on the days I had off since when I was working, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was cook.
“That smells really good,” Jude said, walking into the kitchen an hour later.
“Thank you. I have chicken, broccoli, and rice in the oven, and this is chicken soup.”
“My dad’s chicken never smells like this.”
I laughed. “It’s all about the spices. Do you want to taste the soup?”
“Can I?”
“Sure. It’s just broth, vegetables, and spices. It needs another hour or two before it’s done, but the chicken is cooked, so it’s safe to eat. The vegetables take a while.”
I took a ladle and scooped a bit into a small bowl. I handed him a spoon and set the bowl on the table so he didn’t burn his hands trying to hold on to it.
StoneColdDad
What if it works out? What if that never happens?
CutHairDontCare
I’ve never had that happen, so I don’t know.
StoneColdDad
Can we agree not to plan for this to end? That we’re going to get to know each other and spend time together and enjoy whatever this is and go from there?
CutHairDontCare
I can try.
StoneColdDad
I’ve never had it work out either. But I’m not ready to give up on us just yet.
CutHairDontCare
Yet?
StoneColdDad
I’m going for honesty here.
CutHairDontCare
I hear it’s the best policy.
StoneColdDad
I hear that, too.
CutHairDontCare
I should get some sleep. I have to work in the morning. But hopefully I’ll see you soon.
StoneColdDad
I hope so, too. Good night.
CutHairDontCare
Good night.
I smiled at my phone. The guys were wrong. Things were good with Chelsea. And they were going to stay that way.
I was disappointed to not run in to Chelsea before work the next day. I was hoping she would be around when I got home, but her car was still gone. Long day.
I let myself into the house and found Mrs. Walsh and Jude in front of the TV.
“What are we watching?” I asked.
“I’m so sorry, Derek. I was tired today and agreed to a little more TV than usual,” Mrs. Walsh said.
I shook my head. “It’s not a problem. We watch a lot of TV. There are some pretty good shows.”
“I just feel bad for not playing a game or something with Jude.”
“Winter is long, Mrs. Walsh. I imagine there will be a lot of TV watching. Usually that’s what we do.”
“Well, I’ll see if I can find some other options, too.” She pushed to her feet, looking slower than usual.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m definitely getting tired. The shorter days take it out of me. But being here is good for me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I do have an appointment next Tuesday, though. I tried to move it, but the next time they could get me in is in three months.”
Shit. Tuesday was when I was supposed to meet with a new vendor for tires. The company was a start-up in Massachusetts and wanted to see if we would stock their tires. “I’ll try to move some things around so I can be home.”
Mrs. Walsh was far too astute and saw my hesitation. “I can take the appointment in a few months.”
“No. Absolutely not. If you have something you have to do, we are not going to stand in your way. On top of that, three months puts you in the middle of winter and there’s no way of knowing if you’ll luck out with a good weather day.”
“I did have that thought, too.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I assured her.
“You could ask a friend, or a neighbor, if they could help out.” Mrs. Walsh nodded her head toward next door and raised her eyebrows.
I glanced at Jude, who was engrossed in the show he was watching. “She’s working today. She has a lot of late days.”
Mrs. Walsh shrugged. “Yes, but she’s home a lot of afternoons, too. She adores Jude, and if she’s around, it might be an easy solution for you.”
I nodded, trying to come up with a reason I didn’t want to ask Chelsea. There wasn’t one. I still held back, though. Why?
“Maybe a friend, then?” Mrs. Walsh suggested, as if she knew I was hesitating when it came to asking Chelsea.
“I’ll figure something out,” I told her.
She smiled and patted my arm. She didn’t miss a thing. “I should head home.”
“You are welcome to stay for dinner,” I told her. “You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you, and I know. But I have a delicious dinner waiting for me. Chelsea brought it over yesterday. She made more than I could eat one night, so I get to have it again. Lasagna. I’m a big fan.”
“That was nice of her.” There was a lot I didn’t know about the woman I was seeing. A lot she didn’t share. A lot I wanted to know.
“She’s a wonderful person,” Mrs. Walsh said, shrugging into her coat.
“Jude, Mrs. Walsh is leaving.”
Jude jumped up from the couch and came over to us. He hugged Mrs. Walsh and thanked her for being there when he got home.
She grinned and hugged him back. “It was my pleasure, Jude. I’ll see you next week.”
“Bye!” Jude said, returning to the couch.
Mrs. Walsh smiled. “He’s a good boy. You’ve done an amazing job.”
“Thank you,” I said. The compliment was hard to take but appreciated. I put my coat on and told Jude I’d be right back, then followed Mrs. Walsh outside.
“Ooh, it’s gotten so chilly. I’m not looking forward to the winter,” she said.
“Have you thought about going south?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no. This is home. I love it here, even if the weather doesn’t always love us back.”
We stopped at the end of my driveway when we saw headlights coming toward us. A blinker flashed, telling us the driver was turning.
My heart kicked. Chelsea.
Mrs. Walsh waited until Chelsea pulled in, then turned around.
I wanted to hurry Mrs. Walsh home so I could have a minute with Chelsea, but that was rude.
“Good evening, Ms. Chelsea,” Mrs. Walsh said.
“Good evening. Are you heading home?” Chelsea grabbed her handbag and joined us at the edge of the driveway. She glanced my way and smiled.
“I am. I have your delicious lasagna to warm me right up.” Mrs. Walsh rubbed her hands together.
Chelsea’s face lit up at the compliment. “Oh, good. I was hoping you would enjoy it.”
“Oh, so good. You gave me way too much, as usual.”
“It’s hard to cook a small amount of lasagna. I froze half of it as it was.”
“Well, I am appreciative of the meal. It’s not easy to cook for one.”
Chelsea laughed. “I agree. I’m happy I can share with you.”
“I’m always willing to eat.”
Chelsea and Mrs. Walsh laughed at the joke, as if there was more to it than I knew. I cleared my throat, not intending to break up their conversation, but it had that effect.
“I should get home and let you two get out of this cold. Tomorrow?” Mrs. Walsh asked Chelsea.
“I’ll see you at ten.”
Mrs. Walsh nodded, then started across the street. Chelsea made a move toward her house, and I asked her if she had a minute. If I could knock on her door. She agreed.
“So you’re going to ask her?” Mrs. Walsh asked.
“I know you’re not as oblivious as you want people to think.”
“You two are good together. I will not interfere, ever, but I want you to know I think she’s good for both of you.”
I smiled, trying not to let that sink in. I wasn’t ready for Chelsea and Jude to get too close. As our neighbor and Dozer’s owner, sure. But as the woman I was seeing? We weren’t there.
Mrs. Walsh seemed to sense my thoughts and said, “Don’t what if things to death. Everyone deserves a shot at happiness.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Walsh.”
“Have a good night, Derek.”
“You do the same.”
I waited until her door locked before I jogged down her driveway. Chelsea met me on her driveway when I made it across the street. Her arms were crossed and her hands buried in the fabric of her coat.
“I didn’t mean for you to wait outside for me,” I told her.
“It’s easier if I go inside once. Dozer likes to come outside if I go out again. The door in the back has helped, but when I get home, he wants to go out.”
“I won’t keep you then.”
“You asked if I had a minute. I didn’t want to delay whatever it was you wanted to say.”
“Mrs. Walsh has an appointment on Tuesday. She can’t get Jude. I know it’s a lot to ask, and you can say no, but—”
“Yes,” she blurted. “I can get him off the bus, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t ask, but I have a meeting and can’t get here that early. I don’t know your schedule. I don’t want to throw things off for you.”
“I’m off Tuesday. It’s not a problem at all.” She exhaled a shaky breath.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded and chewed her lip. “I thought you wanted to talk to tell me you were done. That this was over.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. I… It never occurred to me that’s what you would think. I’m really sorry, Chelsea.”
She smiled at me. “It’s okay. I… It’s fine.”
I glanced around and didn’t see anyone out. No curtains moved. Houses were lit from the inside and quiet from the outside. I stepped closer to her, cupping her jaw with my cold hands.
The lights from our houses illuminated the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “I’m not done with you yet. Not anywhere close. I’m sorry I made you doubt this.”
She forced another smile and relaxed. Her breath shuddered out of her.
I dipped my head slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull back. She didn’t, and I closed the gap between us, getting a taste of her cold lips.
She sighed into me, circling her arms around my waist.
I pulled her in tighter and delved into her mouth. I couldn’t get lost in her like I wanted to, but I hardened anyway. I inhaled deep, carrying her scent into me.
I pulled away with a groan. “One day I won’t have to leave you on the driveway and walk away.”
She smiled again. “Just not today.”
I shook my head and stepped back, letting my hands fall from her face. “One day. Thank you for helping me out on Tuesday. It means a lot.”
“I’m happy to.”
I glanced at my house, knowing I’d been gone longer than usual and Jude would be looking for dinner soon. “I should go. Talk later?”
She nodded. “I’ll be here.”
“Good night, Chelsea.”
“Good night, Derek.”
18
Chelsea
It didn’t matter how many times I checked the time Jude’s bus would be there, I was still worried I was going to miss him. Derek said Jude could come to my house, so I was outside on the driveway. Waiting.
Dozer sat next to me, whimpering every so often. He didn’t understand what we were doing.
The bus came around the corner and ambled down the street. It stopped a few times to let other kids off, then stopped in front of Derek’s house.
Jude jumped off the bus and ran right over to Dozer, who jumped up to greet his buddy.
“Hi, Dozer! How are you?”
Dozer barked his greeting as the bus pulled away. Dozer tugged at his leash to get closer to Jude.
“How about we go inside and you guys can visit?” I suggested.
Jude nodded, standing and rubbing Dozer’s back on his way to the door. Jude waited for me to open the door, even though it was already unlocked, then stopped to take off his shoes. I toed my boots off and unclipped Dozer’s leash so he and Jude could greet each other properly.
Jude threw his arms around Dozer’s neck and whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
My heart melted at the profession meant only for Dozer’s ears.
Dozer seemed to hug Jude back, resting his head against Jude’s shoulder for their hug.
“Can I take him outside, Ms. Chelsea?”
“How about a snack first? Are you hungry?”
“Yeah. Do you have any cookies?”
I grinned. “Always, Jude. We always have cookies. How about an apple with your cookies?”
“I like apples.”
I nodded, following the boys to the kitchen. Jude took a seat at the table, and I set the plate of freshly baked cookies in front of him. He grabbed one and took a bite.
“Oh, man, that’s good. It’s warm, too.”
“I just made them. I made some for Dozer, too.”
“He can have this?” Jude asked, holding the chocolate chip cookie above Dozer’s nose.
“Not that one,” I said quickly, before Jude handed it over. “They’re treats that are safe for dogs. Do you want to give him one?” I picked up the tray of cookies for Dozer and held it out to Jude.
“Yeah! That’s so cool. Can I ask him to do the tricks I taught him?”
“Of course. We’ve been practicing so he wouldn’t forget.”
“He’s smart. He’ll remember,” Jude said with confidence. He stood in front of Dozer and straightened his shoulders. “Dozer, sit.”
Dozer dropped his butt to the floor.
“Good. Now, down.”
Dozer flopped, sprawling on the floor.
Jude grinned. “Awesome. Roll over.”
Dozer kicked his feet and rolled over.
“Good boy. Dozer, shake!”
Dozer jumped up and shook his whole body with Jude, wiggling their butts and shaking.
Jude collapsed into a puddle and held the cookie up to Dozer.
Dozer snatched it, knowing it was one of his and not one of Jude’s. He sat down and ate the cookie with Jude on the floor with him.
“You’re such a good boy,” Jude said.
I smiled at the two of them. After the talk Derek and I had last week, I was feeling both better and worse about what was going on between us. I understood his hesitation after his marriage. But I also knew if a person didn’t open themselves up to good things, they never came.
I struggled with the idea of having a future with anyone, but I wanted it. My struggles came from the way I’d been treated and the less than spectacular relationships I’d had.
Derek was different. He wasn’t one of the men who saw me and said no. He still wanted me. But I wasn’t hoping for a future just because he was there. That wasn’t fair to either of us. No, I liked him. I liked Jude. I liked being able to talk to Derek, and the sex was better than any I’d ever had.
But we were a long way from dating to forever. I meant it when I told him I was already waiting for the day he’d walk away. The day I’d have to look him in the eye and pretend I wasn’t broken inside.
I was going to hate that day.
“Can Dozer and I go outside?” Jude asked, bringing my attention back to the moment.
“Sure. But not for too long. It’s pretty cold today.”
“Thirty minutes?”
“I think I can agree to that. Then homework?”
“And then maybe we can go out again?”
I smiled. “You’re a good negotiator.”
“My dad says the same thing.”
I laughed. “It’s a good skill to have.”
“I think so, too.” Jude went to the front and put on his jacket and sneakers. He walked through the house with Dozer on his heels, opening the door to the backyard. I heard him tell Dozer he had a cool door to use before the door closed between us.
I kept an eye on them as I cleaned up the kitchen, checking every few minutes that they were okay. I went outside for a few minutes, but unless I ran around with the boys, it was too cold for me to sit out.
“Fifteen more minutes,” I told Jude.
“Okay!” Jude called back.
“I’m going in. It’s too cold for me.”
Jude laughed. “Okay, Ms. Chelsea.”
I closed the door and watched them for another minute before going back to the kitchen. I busied myself getting things ready to make dinner and was about to start when the boys burst inside.
“Did you have fun?”
“Yeah, it was awesome.”
Dozer ran to the cabinet where I kept his treats.
“Do you want to give Dozer a treat?”
“Another cookie?”
“Not just yet. How about two of the treats in the cabinet?”
“Okay.” Jude grabbed the treats I pointed to and tossed two to Dozer, who caught them in the air.
“What homework do you have today?” I asked Jude, a subtle reminder he agreed to do it when they came in.
“Math, science, and reading.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
He shrugged and traded his jacket and sneakers for his backpack. “Can I sit on your couch?”
“Of course. You can use the coffee table if you want. Or you can sit here. Whatever is easier for you.”
“Thanks, Ms. Chelsea.”
“You’re welcome.”
I assembled the casserole I was making for dinner and slid it into the oven. Then I started on the chicken soup. I liked to cook a few meals at a time on the days I had off since when I was working, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was cook.
“That smells really good,” Jude said, walking into the kitchen an hour later.
“Thank you. I have chicken, broccoli, and rice in the oven, and this is chicken soup.”
“My dad’s chicken never smells like this.”
I laughed. “It’s all about the spices. Do you want to taste the soup?”
“Can I?”
“Sure. It’s just broth, vegetables, and spices. It needs another hour or two before it’s done, but the chicken is cooked, so it’s safe to eat. The vegetables take a while.”
I took a ladle and scooped a bit into a small bowl. I handed him a spoon and set the bowl on the table so he didn’t burn his hands trying to hold on to it.
