Page 6 of Delay of Game

The song is soulful and hypnotic, and I don’t take my eyes away from Jordan for even a second. It’s like we’re caught in this trance, and the whole world around us disappears.

I like him so much.

“Can I ask you something?” I say, quiet enough that he almost doesn’t hear me.

Jordan looks away from my mouth where his gaze lingered for a second too long, and he bites his lip. “Of course.”

“How come you don’t have a girlfriend?”

I don’t know why I ask. It’s none of my business, and I’m terrified of the answer, but I’m dying to know anyway. Jordan is kind and sweet and perfect boyfriend material. Yet, in the year that I’ve known him, he’s never mentioned a girlfriend. Not even once.

His eyebrows scrunch together, and he looks away from me for the first time since we started dancing. “I don’t really have the time for one at the moment,” he says, avoiding my gaze.

I gently squeeze the back of his neck and his attention returns to me. “But if you did, what would you look for in someone?”

Jordan exhales roughly and shakes his head. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. You’re a really great guy, J. I’m just surprised you don’t have a flock of girls following you around all the time.”

He laughs softly. “I’m too awkward for that.”

“Well, I find it cute,” I say, and hold my breath for his response. Jordan looks at me intently and opens his mouth, but he doesn’t get a chance to say anything because the song ends. A pop one starts up and everyone else joins, crowding us in.

Jordan lets go of my waist and backs away from me, a solemn look on his face. The crowd swallows him whole as I stand there, stupefied, in the middle of the dance floor.

“J!” I say, but he’s already too far away to hear me.

What have I done?

CHAPTER 2

Eight Years Ago

Jordan

My phone ringsand I glance at the clock on my nightstand as I reach to answer. Who is calling at three in the morning?

The picture on my phone is a ridiculous one. Alice, crossing her eyes and poking her tongue out at the camera, her hair neatly styled in that half up, half down hairdo she wore at my sister’s wedding, her burgundy dress showing off her best features.

I should change it.

I really should, but I don’t have the heart to. Not when she sneakily took my phone at the wedding and snapped a bunch of pictures, making this one her caller ID photo. Not when she told me I was cute that night and looked at me like she wanted me. Maybe it was because nobody looked at me like that in a long time, but for a moment I actually considered it—being with Alice, tilting her head back and kissing her. But I didn’t; of course I didn’t. Not when she’s my best friend’s little sister.

It wouldn’t be right.

Robbie would probably kill me if he knew I thought about his sister like that.

The phone continues to ring as I stare at it until Jess taps me on my shoulder and mumbles, “Babe, make it stop.” She whines the last word, and I quickly mumble, “Sorry”.

I unplug my phone and take it into the bathroom. “Al, what’s wrong??”

The screech from the other end makes me drop my phone from my ear and I fumble with it, catching it at the last second before falling in the sink.

“Jesus, Al, don’t scare me like that,” I whisper angrily.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m just so excited, J! We’re gonna be aunt and uncle!”

I sigh, not knowing why I needed that reminder at three in the morning. “Yes, we’ve known this for months now, Al.”

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