Page 60 of Tucker
“Everyonegrieves in their own way and needing space is normal, but I agree, the guysneed to keep an eye on him,” I offer.
Criesfrom the boys in the pool draw our attention.
Ethansurfaces, rubbing his eye. He keeps one eye closed and one of his friends asks,“Dude, what are you doing? A pirate impersonation?”
“Well,he’s a type of pirate,” his friend adds, and they all bust out laughing, Ethanand his boyfriend included.
“Andyet, I’ve still touched more pussy than you,” Ethan claims.
“Ah!”Zoe slaps her hands over her ears. “I don’t need to hear this!”
Ethangrins at her. “I don’t need to hear you begging Landon in the bedroom either,but apparently, we both have to suffer.”
Tuckerreturns and sits down beside me. Turning to Zoe, he asks, “Ethan is spendinghis summer with you?”
“Ifhe survives it.”
Tuckergets quiet for a moment, then asks, “But he’s returning to school in the fall?”
“Actually,his classes this semester are all online so I’m going to try to talk him intostaying here. It’d be cheaper, anyway.”
“Doyou think he’d want to stay out at the farm? His boyfriend could stay withhim.”
“Areyou running away?” Zoe teases, glancing at me. She knows what he’s getting at.
“Leahhas a job she doesn’t want to leave, and it’s an hour and a half commute if shestays with me. I can’t leave the animals alone for long. If they want to takecare of the place, they can stay until we’re ready to move back, or he goesback to school, whichever comes first.”
“Andyou can beg Landon all you want,” I add.
Zoerolls her eyes. “I’ll talk to them.”
Ethanand Colin jump at the chance to have a house to themselves for the summer, andTucker makes arrangements to take them out to the farm to learn what they’llneed to do for the animals.
“Areyou going back home tonight?” I ask him once it gets late and everyone isleaving.
“No,but I have to go early in the morning. Do you want to stay with me a couple ofdays until we get the boys settled in?”
“Ofcourse. Just drag me out of bed when you’re ready.”
Justas we’re saying goodbye, Justus shows up, clearly upset. He left an hour ago soI don’t know what could have happened in that amount of time.
“IsSadie okay?” Zoe demands, first thing. Her worst fear would be to lose anotherperson she loves.
“She’sfine. It’s Jeremy. He’s gone.”
Chapter Seventeen
Tucker
“Whatdo you mean, he’s gone?” Dare asks.
“Iwent to check on him and his front door was unlocked, but all of his stuff—hisclothes and furniture—everything is gone. Like he disappeared off the face ofthe earth.”
“Anysigns of foul play? Blood, anything broken?”
“No.”Justus rubs his chin. “Just an empty house. His trashcan outside reeked so Ichecked it out. Looked like he just dumped the contents of his fridge inthere.”
“Unbelievable,”Dare spits.
