Page 48 of Devil's Kiss

Brantley shook his head and pulled his own phone out, and Jordan thought it funny that the two of them were now likely talking to their “students.”

After getting to his feet, Jordan hit the answer button as he wove his way through the tables and out onto the small deck that overlooked the rolling waves.

“Derek?”

He wasn’t sure why his heart was thundering like a million horses were galloping through it, but it was beating so hard that Jordan was positive the people seated out on the deck must’ve been able to hear it.

“You answered.”

Those two words made a smile stretch across Jordan’s lips. “I already told you?—”

“You’ll always answer,” Derek finished for him.

“If I’m able, then yes,” Jordan confirmed as a comfortable silence fell between them. It lasted all of two seconds, and then he had to know: “Are you okay? How’s your eye? Your lip? Where are you?”

Derek’s chuckle made Jordan want to strangle him. This past week he’d imagined every possible scenario, from the good, to the bad, to the downright morbid. “Don’t you dare laugh at me.”

“I’m sorry,” Derek said, and then he sobered. “I’m not really laughing at you. I was just imagining your face getting all red and cranky.”

“I don’t get cranky.”

“Yeah, you do, Devaney. It’s really cute.”

Jordan sputtered a little and was about to protest when Derek spoke up again.

“To answer you. I’m okay. Or, at least, I will be. My face is healing. I had a pretty smart guy patch me up…”

As Derek’s words trailed off, Jordan pictured the man who’d sat in his bathroom bruised and bloodied just last week and shut his eyes.

God, until this very moment he hadn’t realized just how much he wanted to reach out and?—

“Jordan?”

His name brought him out of his thoughts and had his eyes opening, almost as if Derek had appeared in from of him.

“Yes?”

“I’m okay. I promise.”

“The motel?”

“No,” Derek answered. “A roommate. He’s pretty cool, I think.”

Jordan wasn’t sure he was comfortable with the emotion that shot through him at those words, because if he wasn’t careful he’d almost believe it was…jealousy.

“Okay. Well, I appreciate you letting me know.”

As the silence stretched between the two of them this time, it felt gaping and vast. Final. And it was clear that this, whatever odd arrangement they’d had, was over.

“Jordan?”

“Yes?”

“I wish things were different.”

Jordan squeezed his eyes shut and willed himself to stay quiet. He knew exactly what Derek was referring to.

That unspoken element. That moment in the bathroom.