Page 240 of Mountain Daddy
When I near, he sits up and stretches his arm over the back of my chair.
I collapse into the seat, dropping my shirt onto the chair with my purse.
Luther curls his hand around my shoulder and pulls me into his side.
I lean into him.
Leanonhim.
He rests his chin on my head. “You look cute.”
My smile is hidden from his view. “Thanks. I was just thinking I looked like you.”
His hand flexes on my shoulder. “I like that.”
I curl my fingers into the long sleeves covering my hands. “Thanks for the shirt.”
I’m still a little cold. But nothing like before.
“Stop thanking me. It’s nothing.”
I pull back enough to look up at Luther from under his hat. “It’s not nothing to me.”
He reaches across with his free hand and tugs the brim of the hat down.
My eyes still sting from crying so much, but I feel the worry loosen its hold on me.
I lean back into his side.
Headlights flash through the windows behind us as we watch a dog food ad play on the muted TV.
A woman rushes in through the main door, speed walking through the lobby and down the hall without pausing.
She must be the vet.
I shove my hands between my thighs to keep from fidgeting.
Luther’s phone rings.
He keeps his hold on me as he shifts around, pulling it from his pocket.
“Hey.” He keeps his voice quiet, even though it’s still just us and the other guy.
I can hear the muted tones of a man speaking on the other end of the call.
“Yeah, I’m with her.” He hums some agreement, and I love the way his chest vibrates with the sound. “The vet just got here. Uh-huh.” Luther traces circles on my shoulder with his thumb. “Ethan. Yeah. No. Don’t worry about it.” Luther lets out a loud sigh. “I said don’t worry about it. No. Yes. She’s fine. Joe, I swear to fucking god…” I snort at the exasperation in Luther’s tone. “Yeah, that’s her, laughing at you.” I tug my hands free from my thighs and poke Luther in the side. He captures my hand and presses it against the top of his leg. “Bring us coffee. Yeah. Hazelnut. Uh-huh. No, get it hot.” Luther sighs. “I’m hanging up.”
I can hear my dad say something as Luther pulls the phone away from his ear.
But I can’t make it out before Luther hangs up.
“I don’t know how you live with that man.” Luther slides his phone back into his pocket.
“It wasn’t by choice.” I half joke. It wasn’t by choice, but he’s been a surprisingly good roommate. “He’s on his way?”
“Yeah.”
I don’t move.
