Page 90 of Five for Silver

“Ooo, sounds fancy to me.”

“But he just got back last night … he’sproper jetlagged.”

“Ouch.” Josh dropped his voice. “We’ll be asquiet as we can then.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

“Pizza!” Josh announced, lifting the box.“It’s pepperoni, extra-large, cheese stuffed crust.”

Chad’s mouth filled with saliva. “Soundsgreat.”

He stepped aside, allowing Josh inside, whoimmediately turned to deposit all his goods onto Chad beforedropping to his knees in front of Merc. Chad took the cola, pizza,and then juggled to hold the rucksack Josh had swung off hisshoulder.

“What’s this?” Chad asked, hiking it up.

“Later.” Josh replied. He smiled, but it wassmall, almost shy, then he resumed fussing over Merc.

Chad had expected Josh to get on the floorand allow Merc into his lap, but he hadn’t thought Josh would goone step further and roll around on the floor with Merc whilegrowling softly and rubbing his slobbery cheeks.

Merc’s tale whipped back and forth so fastit blurred, and he yipped at Josh, before climbing onto Josh’schest and slobbering all over his face. Josh scrunched up his face,laughing as the two play wrestled.

“You need to get yourself a dog,” Chad toldhim. “There were plenty at the rehoming center.”

Josh got back to his feet and dusted hisknees. A patch of dog drool shone on his chin, and he grimaced ashe wiped a hand through it. “Might make a good hair gel.”

“You’re disgusting,” Chad said, pointingJosh in the direction of the kitchen.

Josh went through with a big smile on hisface. He washed his hands while whistling a happy tune. Chadstudied him from the doorway, squinting at his overly happydemeanor.

“Oh, god.”

“What?” Josh asked while drying hishands.

“You and Angel didn’t just … you know…”

“No,” Josh blushed. “That was one time.”

“You were overly happy for the rest of theshift. Ally thought you’d taken something on your lunch break.”

“I’d not taken anything, but I’d givenit.”

“Okay,” Chad rolled his eyes. “I’ll be inthe living room.”

Josh jogged across the kitchen to catch upbefore taking the pizza from Chad’s hands.

“What’s with the rucksack?” Chad asked,swinging it off his shoulder.

“Later,” Josh said again before Chad couldopen it. “What’s with your face?”

“My face?”

“Yeah, I thought you were blushing becauseI’m hot and you can’t help but get turned on, but now only one ofyour cheeks is red. Kinda looks like someone hit you.”

“Later.” Chad sighed.

“Did some one hit you?”

“Pizza first.”

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