Page 183 of His Boys to Protect

Skylar nodded eagerly.

Ward grinned, pulling the truck closer to the house before he shut off the engine. He grabbed a key John had given him, and they all got out.

Charlie paused there, tilting his head and listening. It was so quiet! He heard birds chirping, plus the wind. It rustled through the trees and made the fallen leaves dance across the ground. Beyond that, he barely heard the sound of tires coming from the road. Once they were inside, he wouldn't have to hear them at all!

He glanced back down the driveway. Around a bend, hidden from sight by all the trees, the driveway had forked, leading to John and Adam's little house. Charlie squinted. He couldn't see the house through the trees, let alone hear any sounds coming from it. That was good! He wouldn't have to hear noisy neighbors like at Ward's apartment. But they'd also have people close. People they knew. That was good, too. For safety. Plus, Adam was Skylar's friend. It would be nice for Skylar to have a friend nearby.

Ward unlocked the front door, and Charlie bounded inside. He lurched to a stop, wrinkling his nose.

“The paint is fresh,” Ward explained. “But the smell will fade, I promise.”

“Hhnn.” Charlie would just have to take his word for it. He took off his shoes and padded farther into the house, idly listening to the others following him.

“I think the master bedroom is back there,” Ward said, pointing. “Why don't you go through your routine, okay? See if it'll work for you.”

Charlie hesitated, looking at Skylar. “Hhnn?”

Skylar waved his hands. “Oh, trust me, I'll be happy wherever you guys are. Go on. See if you like it.”

Charlie considered that for a moment, trying to gauge Skylar's tone. It sounded genuine. Charlie ran to the bedroom, then stood in the middle of it, eyeing the four walls as he waited for the others to join him.East?he asked.

“Is that way,” Ward said, pointing.

Charlie turned to face east, then let out a joyfulsqueak. It was perfect! It was the right way for the bed to go in that room. There would even be plenty of space for a nightstand on both sides, so the bed would be balanced. And the room was big enough to fit a dresser.

Even better, the room had two windows, giving it good natural light. And the windows had curtain rods! Not those awful blinds like at Ward's apartment. They could put up actual curtains!

Charlie ran to the attached bathroom and let out another joyful squeak. It had two sinks and a decent sized shower. And another window! Charlie would be able to shower without having to turn on an artificial light. He loved that!

He checked out the closet next, gasping over the size of it. All their clothes would fit! And he could buy Skylar new clothes. There was plenty of room!

Charlie was about to run off and check something else, then paused there, remembering Ward's words. He had to go through his routine. Charlie eyed the room once more, thinking about waking up in the morning, then going to the bathroom. Next would be coffee. Charlie left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen.

He gasped at the sight. There was a perfect spot for the coffee machine! He opened all the cabinets, deciding what would go where. There was so much more space than in Ward's kitchen. There was even room for hungry soup! Charlie had to stop and bounce in place, squeaking with excitement.Hungry soup! Hungry soup!he signed.

Ward and Skylar grinned at him.

Charlie turned around and imagined having his coffee, then making breakfast. He'd want to sit down with his laptop next, just in case Ward and Skylar were sleeping in. Charlie went tothe living room, then the second bedroom, going back and forth, trying to decide which would be best. There was so much space!

“We can try a few different things,” Ward suggested. “We don't have to do it all at once. If you can't decide where something's gonna go, we can always try one thing, and then move it if it doesn't work.”

Charlie considered that. His parents did that every once in a while, but he usually hated it. Unless they moved something to a spot that made more sense. Then he got used to it easily. He supposed they could do that here, too. If he didn't like his desk against one wall, he could try another.

But they had to leave a spot for a piano for their Sky. And there was space! Charlie eyed the living room and the dining area. So many choices! But it would have to wait. He needed to figure out how to buy one first. Plus, he wanted it to be a surprise.

Charlie kept looking around, imagining sitting on the couch with them and watching TV. Or getting up to do his laundry. They wouldn't have to go outside! It was right there between the garage and the kitchen.

He stopped when he saw a worried look on Skylar's face.

“How much is this gonna cost?” Skylar asked.

Ward rattled off a number.

Charlie had no idea what the amount meant, and though Skylar still looked worried, it wasn't as loud as it had been a moment ago.

“You have to let me help with rent,” Skylar told Ward.

“Sky–”

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