Page 37 of A Furry Thing Called Love
“That’s a lie.”
I help Val clean up the dinner mess and Luka stands.“I’d love to hang out more, but I need to pick up Cal from his grandmother’s on the way home.I’m working an early shift tomorrow, but I’ll see you guys for dinner.”
“It’s nice meeting you.I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family.”I give Luka a quick hug.
“You too.”He smiles a little at me, but when he drops to the floor to say bye to both dogs, he really lights up.
“Do you have pets?”I ask.
“No, but Cal has a cat.It’s like his damn baby.”
“Is it good with dogs?”I ask.“Eli doesn’t care, he’s very well-trained, and I think his personality is just really chill, which is good for me.”
“Yeah, Jolene will be fine.His grandmother has a dog, and they get along well.I’m not worried,” Luka assures me.He gives each dog another kiss.“I gotta go, but I’ll see you tomorrow, okay.”He stands and brushes hair off his pants.“Bye, guys.See you later.”
When Luka’s gone, Valery shows Jordan and I where we’ll be sleeping, and where everything is in the bathroom.“Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.Or use whatever you find in the house, I don’t mind.”
“Thanks, Val.And if you don’t want to sleep with Jordan, I don’t mind bunking on the couch.”
“No!”they both say.
“If anyone would be sleeping on the couch, it’d be me,” Jordan says.“But I’m not, because I don’t mind sleeping with Valery.”
“I don’t want it to feel awkward between the two of you.”
“Honey, we passed awkward a long time ago.Trust me, Jordan and I are fine.We’re better friends than anything else.I love him, but he’s my best friend.So, thanks for caring, but we’re fine.Promise.”
“Okay.”
“Good.”Val smiles.“Now that we’ve got that all cleared up, are you tired, or do you want to watch something?I have a few different streaming services.Or we can play cards or something.”
“I’m good with just vegging out with a movie or something,” Jordan replies, glancing at me.
“Same.I’ll watch just about anything.”
“Except horror,” Jordan says.“Ar is a baby.”
“As if you’re any better.”
“I wasn’t the one using Eli like a shield…”
I roll my eyes and head to the living room, taking a seat on the couch.Jordan sits on the other end, while Valery takes up a seat in a papasan chair, curling their legs under them.“We could watch a Disney movie then?Or…a rom-com?I’m not picky.Oooh, do you like action films?Luka and I saw one a few weeks ago calledDamaged,with Samuel L.Jackson, and it was so good.”
“I’m game,” I reply.
“Me too.”
Valery sets the movie up and Jordan wastes no time reaching across the couch, tugging at my legs.I huff but shift so I’m leaning my back against the arm of the couch, my legs stretched out, feet in Jordan’s lap.He sets a hand on my shin and we settle in to watch the movie.
It’s…nice, being here with Jordan and Val.I don’t have to think, especially not with the couch that is as plush and comfortable as I imagined from simply looking at it.Jordan’s hand on me is a pleasant weight and comfort, and though we’ve only been here a few hours, I’m glad I came.This…being here with them both, is exactly what I was searching for when I decided to pack up my life and move to Gaynor Beach permanently.
Chapter21
Arlo
Everything hurts,but it’s what I expected after a day of traveling.I’m a bit unsteady on my feet when I get out of bed, but I’m chalking that up to the fact my entire body is weighed down by fatigue, rather than anything else.
Grabbing my crutches, I move slower than I would like, but I’m up and moving, and that counts, right?
