Page 25

Chapter 24

JORDY

I had known Dani kept part of the conversation she had with Elena away from me. I knew it because Tee was such a devoted and loving friend who only wanted happiness for Dani, just like I did.

We agreed that if Elena tried to get Dani fired, we would take her down. Tee was ready to get Elena fired anyway because she “pissed him off with her ugly ass personality” and I couldn’t agree more with him.

Having sex with Dani in the janitor’s closet wasn’t what I had planned for the morning, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Are you coming to get lunch with us today?” Blythe called out to me.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll meet you there."

Another thing I wasn’t planning on was Elena cornering me in the lobby.

“Just to be clear, even if I see you talking to her, I’ll assume you’re making me uncomfortable." Her bitchy tone was abundantly clear, but I grew up with women, so I knew how to put her in her place.

Stepping into her space, I leaned down. “And right now, you’re making me uncomfortable, cornering me in the lobby of our practice facility. It would be such a shame if I needed to talk to HR about your repeated disrespect of my space. Wouldn’t it?” I whispered.

Her face was filled with rage, a hint of red painting her cheeks.

“See you around Elena,” I called, walking out of the door. It was one thing to threaten me, but a whole other thing to threaten the woman I loved.

***

“Ay! It’s the man of the hour!” Blythe yelled from the courtyard. We’d always gone to this little bistro in the French Quarter run by the most adorable old ladies. Sitting at the table, the waitress brought me water, and we ordered our regular meals.

“So, a little birdie told me that not only were you cornered by Elena once, but twice…is that true?” Conrad asked, taking a sip of his drink.

I nodded. “Unfortunately. But I put her in her place this afternoon before leaving.” They all looked at me with doubt. “What? I can be rude sometimes,” I said with a shrug.

Blythe leaned his elbows on the table, “Jordy, you are the kindest guy I know. What do you need us to do to put Elena in her place? My reputation isn’t the best anyway; I can do whatever I want.”

Shy and Conrad both shook their heads. “No, Blythe. You’re gonna get in trouble with Millie again. You don’t want to do that. She’s terrifying when she’s angry,” Conrad remarked, knowing damn well because she used to be his agent too.

“I’m not scared of Millie,” Blythe said. His phone started buzzing and he glanced at it. “Shit, it’s Millie. Someone answer this—please.”

We all laughed. “Answer the phone. dipshit,” Shy said, smiling at the waitress in thanks for delivering our food.

Sitting quietly, we all ate and listened to the one-sided conversation that Blythe and Millie were having. A few moments later, we thought we heard screaming from the other side of the phone, but Blythe kept his face stone cold.

After hanging up, he let out a large sigh and each of us chuckled. We loved when someone put Blythe in his place, especially Millie.

“Okay enough about me,” Blythe said, returning his gaze to me. “What’s up with you and Dani and this whole situation? Are you official?”

I knew how I wanted to answer, but I knew Dani wasn’t on the same level as me when it came to our relationship, even though I wanted to have a relationship with her.

“We're just hanging out.”

“That’s what they all say,” Conrad mumbled under his breath, and Shy smirked at the comment.

“Dani doesn’t want to do the relationship thing.”

All three of my friends looked at me. “So, convince her,” Shy said, taking a bite off of his fork.

“And how do I do that?” I replied.

“I might have a few ideas,” Shy announced. I immediately started to sweat. I’d have to work for this relationship. I already knew that. But now everyone wanted to be involved and I didn’t know how to feel about that.

“I’ll text you later with the details,” Shy continued as he looked at his watch. “I gotta get going, Becca said she needs me to come home, so duty calls.”

He shook our hands and threw a few twenties on the table before jetting off.

Conrad turned his attention to me. “You want to ride with me and Lenna to your mom’s house tonight for dinner?”

I contemplated it. I would like to not drive, but I also didn’t want to be trapped in the car with a screaming baby. “C’mon, you can sit with Asher in the back,” he continued, “it’ll be great.”

Groaning in defeat, I said, “Fine.”

***

The wailing was so loud I could barely hear my inner thoughts. Lenna cut her eyes to me. “Couldn’t you help a little?” she asked, reaching back and giving Asher the pacifier.

I shrugged. “What am I gonna do? He doesn’t want me!”

She threw the packet of wipes at me. “Wipe his mouth, he just spit up.”

“Ugh, gross,” I remarked, leaning over and wiping Asher’s chin, and he yelled at me. “Well, hello.”

Asher kicked his feet when I talked to him, and I kept saying stupid shit like, “Your mommy is a stinky mommy,” or “Your daddy has a weird looking face.” He repeated the last word of every phrase, which was adorable.

His parents didn’t say anything, just listened. Once we got to my mom’s, I carried Asher out of the car seat and into the kitchen. Mom was putting out the salad, pasta, and wine glasses for dinner. We tried to have dinner with her at least once a week, or as often as we could.

We said our hellos and made our way to the dining room table. It was comfortable here; my mom was chatty with Asher, making him giggle, and I watched my family sit around the table enjoying a meal together. I knew my older brother would have loved this, but we weren't as close as Lenna was with him. Being that I was the youngest child, sometimes I was left out of the ‘older’ kid things.

A cold, wet feeling saturated my cheek and giggles rang out around the table. Cutting my eyes to the launch zone, I spied a smiling baby with applesauce all over his hands. “Did you just throw your applesauce at me?” I shrieked.

Asher giggled again and I stood up, his eyes following me. “That’s it! Attack!”

I charged him, tickling and nibbling under his ears, making monster noises as I did. He belly laughed and I kept going until I was exhausted. When I turned around, my sister had her brow raised and a smirk on her face.

“What’s that look for?” I eyed her as I sat.

She shook her head. “Oh, nothing. Just funny how you are terrified of babies, yet you are the only one that can get Asher to laugh like that.”

When I glanced back at my nephew, he was smiling at me, munching on the applesauce that coated his fingers.

“Thomas would have enjoyed these dinners,” my mom added. Everyone gave soft nods of agreement. “You know, I found some more of his things when I was cleaning out the attic. I put them in a few boxes and brought them down to the storage.” She put her fork down on the plate, and we all sat up straighter and listened. “Also, I’m selling the house.”

“What?!” Our voices rang out, collected together in utter shock.

She nodded. “Yes, this house is much too big, and I need something a little smaller. There’s a little townhouse in town they’re gonna sell to me for a reasonable price, and I’ll end up making a profit off of our house.”

“But Mom, this is our house, it’s where we grew up,” Lenna interjected.

My mom held up her hand. “I know, but it’s time for us to move on from this place. I need to move on from here.”

My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and I pulled it out glancing at it.

Dani : Are you busy tonight?

I sent her a quick text back.

Jordy : Nope. Finishing up dinner at my mom’s right now, I’ll be back at my apartment in about an hour.

Dani : Perfect. See you then.

I slid my phone back into the pocket of my jeans, and when I returned my vision to the table, everyone was looking at me. “Who are you texting, Jordy?” my sister quipped.

“No one.”

“Liar. Is it Dani?”

I knew my face gave away the answer.

“Dani? As in your friend Dani?” my mom asked. “Oh, I love her, she’s just the sweetest and so stunning—”

“Can we not talk about this right now?” I asked, gesturing to the plate. “We’re eating.”

Conrad raised a brow, a silent cue that I wouldn’t win this argument.

I groaned. “Fine, yes. It was Dani. We’re gonna hang out later.”

Mom clapped her hands together. “That’s great! You think you could bring her to the next family dinner?”

“Oh, I don’t—”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Lenna interrupted me.

I narrowed my eyes on my sister. “Sure, I’d love to.”

I didn’t mind inviting Dani to dinner, I just didn’t think she’d want to go.

Another vibration.

Dani : picture

I bit my lip, trying not to react at the table in response to the picture Dani sent me. Her dress was low cut, and she looked absolutely delectable.

Dammit. I should have taken my own car…