Page 71 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Jordan gasps, propping his hands on his hips. “Do you know how many guys would kill to get a piece ofthis?”

“I hear that organ trafficking is a lucrative business.”

“Ha ha.” Jordan crosses his arms. “By the way, when did you last get tested?”

“Must have been a none-of your-business weeks ago.”

“Ellis…”

“I’m not an idiot. You think I didn’t get tested after I caught my girlfriend blowing another guy?”

Jordan purses his lips. “Okay, fair point.” He’s about to say something else when his phone dings with a text. He pulls it out, a muscle in his jaw jumping. He looks like he’s about to ignore whatever it is, but ends up unlocking the screen and reading the rest. His chest expands with a sharp breath and his ears turn red. It’s a stark contrast to his pale complexion, and it takes Ellis aback. In all the time they’ve known each other, he’s never seen Jordan blush, not even when he’s drunk.

“What is it?”

Jordan’s gaze lifts to him slowly, a little dazed. “Huh? Oh, nothing.” He clears his throat, his eyes finding the text again.

Taking advantage of his distracted state, Ellis makes a grab for the phone, but Jordan pulls it out of his reach.

“Hey!”

“It’s Charlie, isn’t it?”

Jordan sputters. “No!”

“Uh-huh. Show me, then.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s private.”

Ellis lunges forward, his fingers missing the phone by an inch. Jordan screams and attempts to stuff the phone down the front of his jeans. Ellis catches his wrist, throwing his whole body against Jordan’s, and they end up toppling over in a flurry of limbs.

Ellis lands on top and stabs a finger between Jordan’s ribs, pulling a high-pitched squeak out of him. He rises up, pinning Jordan down with his weight, and tickles his sides. Jordan drops the phone as he laughs involuntarily, and Ellis snatches it, holding it out of reach when Jordan attempts to retrieve it.

His eyes skim the thread of messages—from Charlie, as he suspected—starting off tame and innocent and progressively turning explicit. The last one makes him gape. He reads it out loud.

“‘I dreamed about our kiss again. I woke up so fucking hard. I came twice thinking of your—’ Jordan!” Ellis shrieks. “You said you’re not fucking him!”

Figuring struggle is futile, Jordan flops onto the floor, letting out a groan. “I’m not. It was just a kiss.”

“Why would you kiss him in the first place? I thought you’re trying to establish boundaries.”

“Because he begged me for it, okay?! How was I supposed to say no? Plus, the kiss happened before I hired him. I didn’t think we’d see each other again.”

Ellis sighs, giving Jordan the phone back. “This is ridiculous. Are you seriously only gonna fuck guys who mean nothing to you instead of being with the one you want?”

Jordan looks away. “You don’t get it.”

“I get that you’re a coward. You push me to put my heart on the line, but you won’t do the same. What did you expect when you hired him, anyway?”

“I told you; he needed a job. And I have morals. I wouldn’t fuck someone I work with. Thought it would help strengthen my resolve.” He chuckles wryly. “Blew up in my face, didn’t it?”

“Is sexting supposed to help with your resolve?”

“I’m not texting back anymore,” Jordan defends. Now that he mentions it, Ellis remembers seeing mostly Charlie’s texts.