As I knock on Max’s door, I hear voices float from the other side. Definitely not Max’s.
I’m already stepping back when Max opens the door. His eyes light up when he sees me.
“Jude! I didn’t know you were coming by. Did you text?” He pats his pockets. “Oh, must’ve left my phone in my room. Come in.”
“You have people over?”
“Yeah, but they’re old friends. Come on.”
I don’t really want to go in there, but Max puts a hand on my arm and pulls me into the apartment, closing the door behind us.
“Have you eaten yet?” Max asks. “I just ordered pizza.”
“No, I haven’t.” I stop him in the hallway before we reach the living room, where I hear the voices coming from. “Max, I didn’t realize you had anyone over. I should go.”
“I want you to stay,” Max says.
I hesitate at the pleading look in his eyes. Meeting friends is only one step away from meeting family, and I haven’t done either ever. But Max was so kind after the alley, so understanding with the blowjob in the shower debacle. I feel like I can’t tell him no.
So I give him a smile and tell him okay.
He beams and takes my hand, pulling me into the living room.
Twenty
Max
“Guys.” I interrupt Lacey and Gary arguing about which breed of dog is the cutest in the world, and they look up at me from their spots on the couch. Juan’s in my bedroom on the phone, but I don’t want to wait for him.
“This is Jude,” I say.
A sly smile curves Gary’s lips because he thinks anything to do with sex is hilarious because he’s emotionally twelve. But Lacey’s eyes light up, and she rises from the couch to grab Jude’s hand.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” she says, smiling brightly. “Come sit down.”
Jude gives me a glance, like he’s checking my permission, so I give him a nod. He follows Lacey to the couch, and she has him sit between her and Gary. I move to the loveseat, but I wish I were sitting next to Jude. Though maybe it’s a good thing I’m not. I feel like I’d be happy if I never had to stop touching him again.
“Max told us you’re from out of town,” Lacey says. “Where’re you from?”
“Here,” Jude answers. His voice is soft. “I was born in Brooklyn and lived here until I was about sixteen. I’ve sort of been traveling ever since.”
“How come?” Gary asks.
Jude glances at me again, and I feel a little bad about asking him to stay. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable, but as soon as I saw him at the door, it was like I couldn’t let him leave again. I just like being around him.
“Just wanted to see the rest of the country, I guess,” Jude replies. There’s a bit of a lie in his voice, but I think I’m the only one who hears it.
“Max also tells us that you two have been sleeping together,” Gary says. “So what are your intentions for our friend?”
“Gary,” I snap, my face heating.
“Don’t be an ass,” Lacey says with a scowl in Gary’s direction.
“I wasn’t being an ass. I was asking questions, getting to know him.”
I expect Jude to give an embarrassed laugh, or maybe even get up and leave. But he surprises me by saying, “I think Max is really the only one who needs to know my intentions. And I showed him what they were. In his bedroom, bathroom, and office.”
The heat in my face doubles, but I can’t really blame him for the answer since Gary’s the one who brought it up. But still. They don’t need to know that.
