Page 56 of Love Expert

Sweet, sweet boy.

“Never change, okay? You remind me of someone else I used to know a long time ago.”

“My dad?”

“Mm. But you…” I slow my steps at the bottom of the staircase. Setting my hands on his shoulders, I study his face. “You’re perfect exactly how you are.”

“My dad says I’m weird sometimes.”

I snort. “Your dad is weird, so his opinion doesn’t count. Now…” I lower into a crouch and gesture toward the living room.Coward!“Could you run in there and get my things? Just my shoes and phone and keys. I think that’s everything.”

“Sure!” He dashes away. “Where do you even go for work so late at night anyways?”

The sound of my jingling keys plays through the house. Then Jeremy’s pounding steps against the hardwood floor.

“You get home really late sometimes.” He skids back into the entryway, his arms loaded with my belongings. “It’ssuperlate.”

I accept my shoes and slip them on, one after the other. My bladder aches with the need to pee, and my nervous system is shot to hell.Where is Billy? “How do you even know what time I get back? You should be asleep by then.”

“My dad told me.” He dangles my keys from the tip of his finger. “He stays up late sometimes and sees you. And then he grumbles, cos he says being out that late is bad for you, cos you should be inside relaxing.”

“He grumbles about me being awake late…” Finished with my shoes, I snatch my keys and stun the boy with my fast movements. “But he can’t possibly know how late I’m awake unless he, too, was awake at the same time. Thus, rendering his grumbling mood nothing more than a rant built onhypocrisy.” I take my phone and drag him in for a hug. “Thank you for getting all my things. And for being my guard overnight. I might’ve been really scared if you weren’t there.” Pulling back, I press a kiss to the tips of my fingers, then I set those fingers on the very center of his forehead.

Jeremy’s smile turns goofy and crooked.

“I hope you have a fun day at school.”

“I hope you have a fun day at work,” he tosses right back. “Looks like you might sneak out without seeing my dad after all. That’s lucky.”

A fiery blush colors my cheeks and spreads all the way into my chest.

“I-I wasn’t sneaking out. I was just trying to be considerate, in case he was still sleeping. That’s all.”

He releases a wild, guffawing laugh, then he latches onto my hand and drags me toward the front door. “You were sneaking, but it’s okay, cos I sneaked last night after my dad told me to stay in my room.” He swings the door wide and flashes a gap-toothed grin. “You want me to walk you home? It’s a very long way,” he giggles. “You might get lost.”

“Oh, I think I’ll be okay.” I extricate my hand from his and slip my phone into my pocket. “You should eat your breakfast and get ready for school. Probably go find your dad, since he’s notably absent when he should be here… parenting.”

“I’m right here, Magnolia.”

A piercing squeal tears along my throat as I jerk left and slam my elbow against the doorframe. Hissing, I furiously rub the ache and bring sheepish eyes around to the man arrogantly rocking in his old man rocking chair. He nurses a half-empty cup of coffee, a smug grin, and a chest on display beneath its white Henley glory.

Damn, damn, damn him!

He tips his chin toward my picnic basket, perched helpfully at the top of the porch steps. “Figured you’d be down soon. Wanted to make sure I caught you before you ran off.”

“She was trying to sneak out, Dad.” Jeremy leans against the doorframe, folding his arms and kicking one foot over the other like he’s thirty instead of eight. “She gets shy sometimes, I think.”

“It happens, son. When someone is intimidated, they usually either lash out, which often leads to landing their butts in our cages down at the station, or they retreat into their shy little shell and hide. Like cowards. It seems Magnolia is a retreater under pressure.”

“So my options are to become a public nuisance, or a coward?” I stalk across the porch and scoop up my picnic basket. Except, I expect it to weigh so much more than it does, so I grab on with too much strength andalmost send the whole thing flying. “The fact that you think these are my only options says more about you than it does me.” I broaden my shoulders and jut my chin forward,too damn proud not to.ThenI bring my attention back to Jeremy and fake a smile. “I’ll see you around. Maybe tomorrow, okay?”

“Definitelytomorrow! We’re going to Ramone’s barbecue, remember? I already told him you would come, and he said he was gonna cook a steak speshly for you. That means youhaveto come.”

“Guess it’s settled then.” Smirking, Billy rocks in his chair and sips his coffee. “Sleep well?”

“Yep.” I stumble onto the porch steps and retreat.I am a coward!“I’ll text you later to debrief last night’s meeting.”

“Mmhm.” He grins behind the lip of his mug. “Tell your stuffed cat we said hey.”