Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(31)

“That just figures,” she said with a sigh, then went off to the storage area by the utility room. Sure enough, the cat box and extra container of litter were just where she’d last seen them. She filled the box and set it by the washer, then returned to the living room.

Percy stood cradling the cat as he stroked her. She had her big blue eyes half-closed in pure bliss.

“I’ve never had a cat,” he admitted. “I didn’t think I’d like them, but she’s nice.”

Larissa thought of the dogs, cats, fish and hamsters she’d grown up with and briefly wondered how many other Percys were out there, barely getting by.

“Let’s show her the litter box,” she said, motioning for him to follow her. “Then eat. Jack gets crabby if his meals are delayed.”

“I heard that,” Jack yelled from the dining room.

Percy grinned.

After showing Dyna her facilities, Larissa and Percy detoured by the kitchen. They both washed their hands and collected cans of soda before walking into the dining room.

Jack had set out plates and serving spoons. He’d unpacked all the cartons and opened them. Larissa handed him a soda and sat across from him. Percy sat next to Jack and a few seconds later, Dyna sat in the chair next to Percy.

“Traitor,” she told the feline. “I’m the one who saved you.”

“There’s no accounting for who you fall for,” Jack said, and handed Larissa a carton. “Have an egg roll. You’ll feel better.”

There were plenty of choices for dinner. She’d gotten all of Jack’s favorites, along with the crispy spicy shrimp she liked, then added a few things for Percy. She preferred chow mein and Jack preferred rice, so they usually alternated. But with a teenaged boy in the house, she’d gone for both.

For a few minutes there was only the sound of chewing, accompanied by Dyna’s soft purr. Then Percy surfaced long enough to say, “I had Mexican food for lunch. It was good, too.”

“That’s right. Kenny took you out.” Larissa smiled. “You had a nice time with him?”

“Yeah, he’s cool. He really likes football, though.”

Larissa felt her lips twitch. “Could be from being a professional and all.”

“I guess. But it’s just a game, man.” The teen glanced at Jack. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Jack put down his fork. “Basketball is more your game?”

“Uh-huh.”

Larissa saw where this was going. “No,” she said firmly. “No way and no. You can’t.”

Percy’s dark eyes widened slightly. “Can’t what?”

“Invite you to play with his friends.”

“Why not? I’ve got game.”

Jack’s expression turned smug. “Yeah, Larissa. He’s got game.”

“They’re grown men,” she told the teen. “Some of them are dangerous. This is basketball with blood.”

“Only sometimes,” Jack pointed out. “Percy, we play three days a week. If you want in, you’re welcome to join us.”

“I’m in,” Percy told Jack. They exchanged a high five.

It was a part of the male psyche she would never understand, she thought. The need to be so competitive about everything. On the bright side, at least Percy and Jack were connecting.

She accepted the inevitable and picked up her fork. “How was your meeting at the college?” she asked Jack.

Jack’s expression shifted to a scowl. “The athletic director is against starting a football program at the school.”

“Then he’s stupid,” Percy announced. “Football isn’t my thing, but even I know that it brings in the big bucks. Right? Money that pays for other stuff in the school. You know, like the library. Important to the students, but not exciting, like a football game.”

Larissa blinked at him. “You’re right. That’s very insightful.”

Percy sat a little straighter in the chair. “I’m an insightful guy.”

“I see that.”

“Don’t get too cocky, kid,” Jack told him. “Not until you’ve proved yourself on the court.”

“You’ll see.”

“Uh-huh.” He turned back to Larissa. “I’m with Percy. They’re idiots. They have the support of the regents and you know the alumni would be on board. The amount of money they could pull in is staggering, but you can’t push a rope. If they don’t want it, they shouldn’t do it.”

“Is that what you told them?”

“Among other things.”

“I’m sorry the meeting was frustrating.”

He shrugged. “I told them what I thought and now they’ll make their decision. I’m out of it.”

She wondered if he really was or if that was wishful thinking on his part. Jack wanted to get involved and pull away in equal measures. Conflicting emotions with a significant cause. No one could go through what Jack had and not have those events change a person. Some people would have gotten angry or depressed. Jack had moved on, but with emotional protection carefully in place.

He’d been nearly eighteen when his brother, Lucas, had died, but he’d been much younger when his twin had gotten sick. She would guess his life had been defined by Lucas’s illness. She knew his personality had been molded by it. While other kids were free to act out or be irresponsible from time to time, Jack never could. Lucas needed all the family’s attention. Jack had learned to do the right thing, to stay out of trouble and not call attention to himself.