Page 23

Chapter 22

JORDY

“I’m telling you that I am madly in love with her,” I said to the guys as we stand in the lobby.

They all looked around at one another, smiling. “We knew you’d fall in love with her eventually,” Shyloh beamed.

“Why aren’t y’all freaking out like I am?” I wiped the metaphorical sweat off my brow.

Conrad stepped closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. My brother-in-law was not an overly emotional type of man, but with the people he was close to, he was known to shed a tear or two. “Because, Jordy,” he replied calmly. “We all kind of expected you to be in love with the girl that you brought as your date. Why is that so hard to accept?”

When he put it that way, I knew Dani and I have given the fake dating performance of our lives if the people around us already thought we were in love. I mean, I was, but I didn’t know about Dani. She was hellbent on not being in a relationship with me.

I smiled, glancing over Shyloh’s shoulder to see Dani smiling and laughing with the girls. Suddenly Elena strolled up beside her, and my body froze in place.

Oh God.

Elena reached Dani's shoulder, tapping her and gesturing to follow. I knew my eyes were as wide as saucers, watching her follow my ex-girlfriend. With a quick turn of the head, smug-looking Dani glanced back at me.

What was she up to?

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Shy said, snapping me out of my gaze. His eyesight tracked mine, watching Dani and Elena walk away to the other corner of the lobby. When he returned his gaze, his brow was arched in interest about what they could possibly be talking about.

“Don’t worry about her. She can handle herself. Don’t you remember her tackling everyone during the flag football game? Dani is a tough cookie, and she bites. I’m sure she bites.”

I stared at Dani the entire time, trying to get a read for their conversation. Her facial expressions didn’t give away anything at all, and it truly pissed me off. I wanted to be there, listening to what Elena was saying to her, because how dare her talk to—

A whistle sounded, letting us know the vans were ready to be loaded for the airport. I grabbed mine and Dani’s bags and started to walk towards the van, still keeping a close eye on the two of them.

By the time we were loading our bags, Dani saddled up next to me. I searched her face for an ounce of emotion from the conversation, something that would give me a hint about what might have been exchanged, but I found nothing. “So—”

“So?” she replied.

My eyes widened. S o tell me what you said, what she said, what was the chat about?

She gave me a soft smile. “Nothing to worry about. Promise.”

I narrowed my gaze on her, not believing her for one second.

“Seriously, it’s totally fine,” Dani insisted. “Just work stuff.” She stepped in front of me to climb into the van. I patted her ass playfully, and she tossed a smirk over her shoulder.

There was something she wasn’t telling me.

Boarding the flight was easy, sitting and buckling was easy, but the nagging little person in my head kept trying to formulate what their conversation was about. I couldn’t let it go.

“Your brain is screaming, Jordy. Keep it down.” Dani said, nudging her elbow into my arm. I sat in the aisle seat, with her in the middle and an older man by the window. She returned to the book she was reading. I tried to read along with her, but I was starting to sweat and had to stop. I had no idea how she could read such a hot scene in public with a straight face. That was a special talent.

“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” I announced, and she nodded in acknowledgment. I stood, walking to the back of the airplane, unfortunately passing Elena. I tried to get past her quickly and get into the small room without her noticing me.

After washing my hands, I switched the lock and opened the door, only to be greeted by my ex. “Oh, sorry— I didn’t know you were waiting for the bathroom,” I muttered.

She sighed. “I don’t need to use the bathroom, I need to talk to you.”

I closed the door behind me, making sure she couldn’t push me in there. I did not want to be in any closer quarters with her.

“What’s up?” I asked nonchalantly, trying to stay calm.

“It’s about you and Dani.”

My brows scrunched. “What do you mean about me and Dani?”

She sighed, giving me a remorseful look. “Your relationship will not be able to continue.”

I leaned forward. “Excuse me? I know the contract rules, it’s fine—”

“No, it’s not.”

I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall. “And what about it isn’t okay?”

She stepped closer into my space, and immediately my hair stood on end. I was uncomfortable, and my body was screaming to get out of this situation.

“There’s a clause in the contract that states if someone in the organization is uncomfortable with a work relationship, they can report it to the general manager who can investigate to ensure both sides of the jobs are working fully and focused, not taking away from the Kings’ organization.”

What the fuck? Was she blackmailing me? For what reason.

“I’m not sure I understand why you’re doing this,” I stated cautiously.

She stepped closer to me. “Because I realize I made a mistake leaving you, and I want a chance to be with you again.”

I laughed sharply. Was she for real? “You’re insane if you think I’m gonna try to do anything with you again.”

She stepped back, brows raised. “Well, looks like your relationship needs to be reviewed by the team and we all know how that will end, don’t we, Jordy?”

Elena turned, flipping her hair behind her, making me stand here to decipher what she just said. Was that what she was talking to Dani about earlier?

I walked quickly back to my seat, buckling up and tapping Dani. “You’ll never guess who just cornered me in the back of the plane,” I whispered.

Her eyes flickered to me. “Elena.”

“Yes, and do you know what she said?”

She hummed, looking back at her tablet. “She said that she wants you back, right?”

I stared at her, but she didn’t return the gaze. I tapped her. “Why are you not upset about this?”

She chuckled. “Why would I be upset? This is what you wanted all along, right? I came with you to make Elena jealous.”

Even though I knew she was correct, I didn’t think either of us actually believed that. Dani and I were not just fake dates; we were best friends, and I wanted to be more.

“And I think you should give her a chance, you know?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head back and forth. “What the hell are you doing, Dani?”

“I’m doing what you asked me to do.” She set her tablet on the tray.

“Well, what if I don’t want to be with Elena?”

She shrugged. “Then, I guess don’t be with Elena?”

“Why are you acting like we didn't just have the best time of our lives on this trip?” The anger was swelling in my chest and an unexpected lump was forming in my throat. “Why—”

She sighed, pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose. “Because it’s just better this way. The longevity of our relationship is not something that I would consider for us. I don’t even know how long I’ll be working for the Kings. We had fun and we’re friends, why can’t that just be enough?”

I took in her features—the softness of her cheeks, the rose-tinted lips, the dark brown eyes—and I knew I was one hundred percent in love with her. How could I make someone else feel the same about me? This was how every single relationship had ended for me—why had I thought this would be any different?

Flipping the switch within me, I answered. “Fine. We’ll just be friends.”