Page 17 of Colin

Colin kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, boss.” Then he looked at me and cocked his head to the side, looking very much like a confused puppy. “I’ll be right out.”

“Great. I’ll be outside.” I went out and paced around.

Finally, Colin joined me on the patio. “Hey. Don’t you have, like, work? Or something?”

“I work when I want. Come on.” I took his hand, pleased he let me, and led him around the corner where I parked. “Here.” I pulled out the key fob, clicked it so the little car beeped, then handed it to him.

“What?”

“Surprise. I bought you a car.”

“What the hell?”

“Now you have transportation, and you can stay in my pool house.”

“Rourke…um, I don’t know.”

“Say yes already, doofus,” Andy added from the corner. Of course, he couldn’t let it go. “You need a car and a place to stay. Seriously. I’m kicking you off my couch.”

“I…I…” Colin stumbled over his words, but he also clicked the fob. Twice.

Andy came up behind him and gave him a shove. “Say yes.”

Colin turned and glared at him. “Who is minding the store?”

“Closed early. Take the car.” Andy leered at Colin. “Or I will.”

“The hell you will,” Colin blurted.

At the exact same time, I said, “It’s not on the table for you, Andy.”

Colin stuck his tongue out at his friend, who flipped us both off.

“Let’s go pick up your stuff.” I was ready to get moving.

“Fine. Let’s go. I’m driving.” Colin headed over to the car and got in.

Relief washed over me. I needed Colin to be okay. I hadn’t been this excited about the potential with someone in a long time.

Chapter seven

Colin

Rourke’s pool house was amazing. I’d seen the outside when we slipped away from the party, so I knew it had three French doors across the front, flanked by round windows set inside of wall-sized plantings. But the inside? Man! He’d been living here during his house remodeling, but now it was mostly empty. That did not detract from how nice it was. All three doors opened to the wide-open living area, and the back wall, which was a floor-to-ceiling bookcase and was now empty. On the right side was a kitchen. It wasn’t large but had all the right things, oven and range, fridge, and sink. And a huge island that separated it from the living room. There was a big sofa and chair that looked comfy, but that was it.

I headed to the other side of the house where the bedroom was. It did not have an ensuite, and there was only one bathroom, but the whole house was like an ensuite. There wasa queen-sized bed with no bedding. I mentally started making a list of things I needed, not that I could afford any of them. Maybe I could pick up some things from Goodwill, though. My finances were impossible. But I had a car and a roof over my head, and Rourke wasn’t asking me for anything more than I could give.

But I’d eventually have to pay him back. For now, I wanted to get my clothes sorted and figure out where I could do laundry. I had a pile of dirty stuff I’d brought and clean jeans, underwear, and shirts stacked on the bed.

“Knock. Knock.” Rourke stuck his head in the bedroom door. “How’s it going?”

“Fine. I don’t have a lot of things right now.”

“I saw a box in the living room. Books?”

“Yes. I stopped by my uncle’s house and picked it up. That’s about it.” My cousin had already moved in, but I didn’t see him. I knew it was a hard time for them, and I wished I could do more. Maybe taking care of myself to keep him from worrying was all I could do.

“Well, you should take a break. Maybe jump in the pool. Use of it comes with the house, you know.”

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