Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Yeah, sure, no worries. Is he…” Jude let his sentence trail off.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Only he can figure that out, and it’s his story to tell, but I put it out there. Thanks, by the way. For being willing to go if he wants.”
“Of course. I don’t know why I didn’t think about that. That was cool of you—to offer to bring him.”
I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I shifted uncomfortably, then started wondering what the fuck was wrong with me because I sure as shit never felt insecure about compliments. I ate that shit up. “What can I say? I’m an amazing guy. Sexy, sweet, a good friend, an incredible fuck…”
“Oh God.” But Jude was grinning, and things were starting to feel more natural between us again.
We talked about random stuff as I drove to Atlanta. It took hours to get my shopping done. Jude was a trooper the whole time, except when he made fun of me, which I liked because it meant he wasn’t being a weird-ass anymore—and it also meant I could tease him back. Which I did. A lot. It was kind of us. Or me, I guess.
Still, I made a point not to touch him all day. Not to call him beautiful or boyfriend and to let him lead the way, which wasn’t in my nature. Damn, this beautiful boy did shit to me. Got me all wrapped up, and I wasn’t sure I minded all that much.
We had lunch together while we were out. It was a good day. There was something about spending time with Jude that just made me feel good. And I liked to feel good. I did as much as I could to feel that way in my life.
“There’s nothing you need to buy?”
“Nah, not really. I just have Rush and Mama K…probably your annoying ass.”
His words made me sad but also caused a jolt of electricity to zip up my spine. Fuck if I didn’t want to be special to Jude, if I didn’t love being in that small group of people he let into his heart. But even beyond that, I wanted him to have more. “That’s fine if those are the only people you exchange gifts with, but you know more people than that care about you, right?” Sometimes I wondered if Jude didn’t feel quite part of our friends. Except when Elliott was around, he was the only one who identified as straight, until recently. He hadn’t lived in Fever Falls as long as the rest of us, or maybe he felt he was just there because of Rush.
“Don’t get all sappy on me, Cam.”
I chuckled. “Okay, fine.” I understood what he was saying. I didn’t want it to feel like pity. “I’m just sayin’, some of them might like you more than me.”
“Everyone loves you. You’re a good guy.”
“Do you mind repeating that about eleven thousand more times?”
He rolled his eyes playfully, but I was still stuck on what he’d said. “Everyone loves you too. I mean, you’re my bestie, and that gives you street cred right there.”
“Street cred? Bestie?”
Okay, so not typical things I would say, but who gave a shit? I just wanted him to know he was as much a part of the Saturgays—and Saturbisexuals?—as everyone else. “I’m serious.”
“I know. But I really don’t wanna talk about it.”
I nodded, but damned if another question didn’t roll off my tongue. “You and your dad don’t do shit like that?”
“No. It’s not really our thing.”
And the way he said it, I knew the conversation was over.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jude
Awkward Boy wonders if his secret is out. ~ Theo’s comic
I was going out of my damned mind.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Cam and what we’d done together and how things were now. Fever had been frustrating enough, but today he’d been careful around me in a way he never was. It was as if everything was measured, thought out. It had gotten better as the day went on, but it just wasn’t the same. I felt it in my bones.
Which yeah, I was aware sounded hokey when that wasn’t my thing. And though it made me a bit of an ass, I sure as shit couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he hadn’t called me beautiful all day. Or boyfriend. Or touched me. Weren’t we supposed to be fake boyfriends who touched each other now? And even when we weren’t, he’d always called me beautiful.
But I wanted Cam to touch me. It made me feel special, which was something I could never admit out loud, even if it was true.
I shifted, biting back a groan. This wasn’t me…this needy guy I suddenly was for Cam.
It was evening by the time Cam pulled his truck up in front of the condo, and I looked at him and frowned. “Aren’t you coming up?”