“Why are you in such a hurry to find a new place? It can’t be that bad living with your parents.”
“I walked in on them the other day. In the living room!”
He blinked at me.
“You mean…”
“I mean my mom was on my dad’s lap in the living room when I came home early after meeting with a design client.” My voice rose, but I made no effort to lower it.
“It was the middle of the day! What was my mom doing naked in the living room at two in the afternoon? She was supposed to be at work, not writhing around on the couch where Miss Priss and I cuddled the night before.”
My description broke him. Jake’s mouth dropped open, but no sound emerged.
“Um, good for them?” he croaked at last.
“Yes, good for them. In fact, I love that for them. But I don’t want to see it. It’s bad enough I can hear their bed squeaking at night.”
His face took on a look of such abject horror that I laughed.
“Yup. Squeaking and thumping. And maybe some light moaning, but my imagination might have filled in that bit.”
That last part was payback. The squeaking and thumping were real, but I was too far away to hear anything else thank goodness.
“So. Your parents, uh, still, uh.” He cleared his throat and glanced away.
“Now you understand why I’ve got to get out of there. It’s bad enough that I’m living at home again at thirty-three. Now I’ve had both visual and audio reminders that my parents have a better sex life than I do.”
Jake blanched, so I went in for the kill.
“When I came over the night you put in your fire pit? I ran into them coming out of the bathroom together in their robes and giggling. They have their own bathroom, but the other one has a garden tub.”
“Enough. I get it. You don’t need to belabor the point.”
I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Are you sure? Am I allowed to look for a new place now?”
His impassive expression was in place, but I’ve observed him carefully since we renewed our friendship. While he controlled the tick in his jaw when he was upset, he wasn’t able to stem the flush that spread to his ears.
“Of course you can look for a new place.”
“Good. I’m so glad I have your permission.”
“But if you’d like to have a second opinion, I’d be glad to go with you.”
A rush of affection for my grumpy friend flooded me.
“Thanks, Jake. I’d appreciate that.”
“You can’t be serious about this place,” Jake said in an undertone.
My heart thumped erratically, but my smile remained in place.
“It’s not so bad,” I lied.
“The apartment itself isn’t terrible, other than all the trash and dirty dishes piled everywhere. This guy givesmethe creeps, and I’m not the pretty young thing he’s eying like a feast.”
Now my heart beat faster for a different reason.
