Page 52 of The Plus One
“Oh?” Jude’s heart dipped. When had that happened? As kids, Indira always loved being outside. And why did it bother him so much that he didn’t know how she’d changed?
“She literally once told me she thought the ocean sounds from a white-noise machine were more beautiful than the actual ocean. So, no, I don’t think she’d be that interested.”
Jude nodded, trying to swallow past the sudden lump in his throat, and ignore the odd aching in his chest, that little voice whispering that he’d missed so many important things right in front his eyes.
It was for the best Indira wouldn’t go. They could probably use some space from each other. Like, miles of space. And protective barriers from touching. Or looks. Or any of the countless tempting aspects of her. They’d been awkwardly scuttling around each other the past few days, little hermit crabs retracting into their shells.
Plus, Jude didn’t like how much he’d started to enjoy being around her even pre-make-out-that-shall-never-be-consciously-thought-about-again-(dreams-don’t-count-because-he-has-no-say-in-those).
He had another GHCO assignment looming in a few weeks, and being thrust back into that terrifying world where people relied on him to live or die—where every moment felt like water slipping through the cracks of his fingers—wouldn’t be made any easier by missing Indira’s presence.
Space was good. Necessary. Protective.
The best thing for them both.
“This looks great on you, by the way,” Collin said, brushing his hands over Jude’s shoulders.
Jude snorted, glancing in the mirror. The suit did look nice. Crisp lines and a striking hunter green.
He wondered what Indira would be wearing as they walked down the aisle. How peeks of skin would glow against a similar green or how the skirt might hug her curves and frame the sway of her hips, his hands itching to trace down the path of her spine to rest on the small of her back. Jude’s heartbeat echoed in his ears as he imagined gauzy fabric draping along her collarbones, accentuating her long neck. Falling to highlight the swells of her—
“You good?”
Collin’s voice cut through Jude’s haze, and he blinked rapidly out of his daydream, smacking his overeager imagination on the nose.
“Yeah, sorry. Zoned out for a sec.”
Collin shot him a look ofYeah, I’ll say.
“Are we done with the try-on?” Jude asked, not waiting for an answer as he darted for the fitting room, almost plowing over a short old man organizing ties on the display table.
“Uh. Seems like it,” Collin called from the other side of the curtain. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Fine,” Jude wheezed out, collapsing onto the bench, biting his knuckle then burrowing his head in his hands, willing his inconvenient boner to fuck off.
He wasn’t supposed to be fantasizing about Indira or her… neck… among other areas… all of which Jude was officially banishing from his brain because holy shit he needed to stop getting a half chub from his best friend’s little sister. Especially when said best friend was standingright there.
What was wrong with him? What was this bizarre obsession with Indira?
She’s safe.
The thought rocketed through Jude, zipping away before he could even find its source. But it was kind of… true?
Indira was familiar. And funny. And regularly annoying as hell. But there was something undeniably safe about being around her.
Which all makes sense, Jude reasoned, clawing for his rational brain to take over. That was the crux of the reason they’d started this arrangement. He’d known her for so long, she was a natural anchor for him when the world started tipping.
That was all.
And that’s all she would continue to be.
Jude arranged himself as he got changed and then met Collin at the front of the store.
“I was able to find my second tent in the basement for you to use this weekend,” Collin said, picking up the thread of conversation Jude had long ago lost. “It’s old, but should do the trick.”
“Thanks. I really am so excited.”
Collin clapped Jude on the back. “Glad to hear that. It’ll be great. Super low-key and chill.”
