Maybe I Like You [bxb]

Chapter 23: I Get These Sudden Bursts Of Affection For You (pt. 2)

"I'm going."

"Where?" my dad asks absently, signing his initials on a pile of paper.

"Out," I answer, using the dinner table as support to put on my shoes.

"Out where?" he lowers his glasses to look at me.

"With friends," I shrug. He frowns, looking reluctant. I roll my eyes, "At least I'm telling you. I could have snuck out, you know."

My dad sighs, picking up another paper, "I'd rather you snuck out. So that, if in case they find your body in a dumpster I won't have a guilty conscience."

"You're horrible," I laugh. "Relax. I'm sleeping over at someone's house." My dad's lips twitch, but he doesn't say anything.

"Also, there are more chances they will find my rum-soaked body in the river. Dumpster sounds so boring."

"My apologies," he says gravely.

"Bye."

"Be safe. And use appropriate safety measures," he calls out. Appropriate safety measures?

........................

"Ruff."

"Yes, Comfort," I coo in my baby voice, which I knew was embarrassing and reserved only for the dog's ears. "We are going on a drive."

He scratches his ears, and settles down on the towel that I laid out on my seat. Before coming over, I had played a game with Comfort. Fetching the ball from the muddiest portion of the garden.

Yes, Comfort's usually white fur that popped out of his black and brown fur was no where to be seen. And the lumps of mud clinging to his tail will leave a trail of dirt as he wanders in Julian's apartment.

"Now, remember. Be the badest boy," I whisper in the dog's ear, holding him at a safe distance from my body.

When I ring the doorbell, I hear shuffling from the other side. There is a ching of coins chiming, and Julian opens the door, rummaging through a fanny pack.

"Hey Bea, will that be 7.60?"

"This is golden," I say amazed. Julian's head snaps up, his eyes widening causing his golden face mask to crack on his forehead.

"Perfect," I grin snapping a quick picture. He bangs the door shut at my face. When it opens again, his face is clean, a little red around the nose and chin because of vigorous scrubbing. He gulps and opens the door wider. "C'mon in."

"Was that a face mask?"

"Hey! I have to work to maintain my pretty face," he defends indignant. "And I had honestly given up hope you'll be coming. You said five. It's round eight fifteen."

"That'll be this fellow," I hold up Comfort, who was wiggling with excitement to sniff Julian. I put him down, and he gives a brief bark of happiness before jumping around snuffling Julian's feet.

"Why does it look like a Santa farted on you?" Julian's pajama top was red velvet, with small reindeers stitched on them. The pants were green with a ring of white at the bottom. I smile inwardly at the irony of how he looked like a red flag.

Amusedly, Julian turns further red, "I was not expecting company! If you'll excuse me, I'll go change."

"Why? It's hella adorable," I say confused.

He pauses, then says, "Oh." Meanwhile Comfort was barking for attention. Julian frowns and picks him up. Immediately he tries to lick Julian's face. "Jesus, do you keep him in your garbage can?"