Page 21 of Allegiant

“You love them,” I sing-song back and then pull open the fridge and see that it’s mostly bare. Which means I need to make sure to order in some food he can easily heat up.

Larry is nothing if not lazy.

We met two years ago when he fell on the stairs outside the apartment complex. I helped him up, and he cursed at me and threatened to sue me as I helped him through his front door. I was not deterred, and I showed up the very next day.

He tried to whack me with his cane.

I ignored him and continued to show up.

When I brought Nugget over the first time, he picked him up and tried to close the door on me.

I made sure to barge in before he could lock me out and steal my dog.

Now we have this unspoken friendship, one he tries to deny and ignore, but I know he misses me when I don’t show up for a day or two.

I decide to give him and the brownies some privacy. “I’m going to do some laundry for you.”

“Don’t touch my shit!” he calls as I walk away, but I can hear the grin in his voice. Or at least what I think could be a grin. I pretend it is for my own sanity.

I move into his cluttered bedroom and grab the hamper, then stuff a load into the washer before turning it on. A quick check of the tumble dryer shows the one I ran yesterday needs folding, so I do that.

While I’m here, I may as well change his bedsheets too. Anything to keep me busy and not thinking about Samson.

How he left me needy and wanting in the dance studio yesterday.

I thought about it far too much overnight. My cock is practically chafed at this point from how often I’ve got off to the memory of him.

When I finally return to the living room, I find Larry on the couch, a brownie crumb on his mustache, with the TV playing in the background.

“So, what’s the plan for the evening?” I ask, taking my usual chair and pulling my phone out. I get busy adding various groceries to my cart to be delivered to him.

“Being alone and relaxing in peace without you talking me to death.”

“Aw, babe. You know you’re going to live for a hundred more years, right? I’m keeping you alive and young.”

“You take years off my life every time you show up.”

I snort and turn toward him, meeting his gaze. “You love it. You know what you need?”

He glowers at me. “Nugget?”

“Ha! No. That demon dog is the one who will take years off your life, trust me. No, you need a date, a little love in your life.” Besides, Nugget might be a little shit, but he’s my little shit.

Larry huffs, tapping his cane on the floor. “I’m too old for love.”

I mean, I get that feeling. I too feel like love has passed me by, but more because I don’t think I deserve it.

I don’t deserve anything good after what I’ve done. Happiness isn’t in the cards for me. I know that now.

I study Larry thoughtfully. “You’re only sixty-five, but I mean…you do look older. That hair, my love. It needs a good brush.”

He pats his head and then lets his hand fall to his lap. “My hair is fine. Have a full head of it.”

“Exactly. Now imagine if you tried a little. You’d be a stunner.”

“Don’t want to stun. Want to be alone.”

I snort as I look down at my phone and place the order for the groceries.