Page 30 of A Furry Thing Called Love
“You know,”Sunny says, with a glint in her blue eyes that I’m not a fan of.“I’m surprised Jordan didn’t try to convince you to go on vacation with him.After everything you’ve said about him, it seems like the type of thing he’d do.”
I shift in my seat, clearing my throat.“Well, uhh, he did, actually.”
“Oh?”She tilts her head and then looks away from the camera, frowning as she, I’m assuming, studies her computer screen.“I don’t have a request for vacation time from you?”
“Because I didn’t put it in.”
She meets my eyes through the screen.“You’re not working on your vacation, Arlo!”
“I’m not going, Sunshine.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Uhh…because it’sJordan’svacation?And while I’m sure he’d love to have me, I don’t really need to ruin his time off by tagging along.”
She huffs.“I wish you were here so I can slap some sense into you.”
“I can’t hijack his vacation, Sunny!We’re just getting to a place in our friendship where it feels…lasting.”—no way in hell am I telling her about the kiss—“There’s no way I’m ruining things between us.”
“Arlo…dear sweet, younger brother of mine, you’re an idiot.You’ve been in love with this guy for years, and from what I’m hearing, he probably still has feelings for you, too.He invited you on his vacation, for fuck’s sake!That means something.”
Jon interjects.“Gotta agree with Sun here, Arlo.You said he has family back East?”I nod.“Right, so I’m going to assume he’ll be seeing them while he’s there?”
“Yeah…” I reply slowly.
“So if he’s inviting you along, it means you’re important to him, and he thinks of you as family, or damn near enough that he wants to introduce you to his.”
I shake my head.“I can’t…”
“Bullshit,”my sister says.“Youwon’t.Look, if you just want to be friends with him, fine, I’ll back off.But if you don’t…if you want more, if you can see a future with him, then give it a shot.What do you have to lose?”
I look down at my desk as my heart starts to race, and all the reasons why I shouldn’t start something with Jordan—more than we’ve already started, that is—run through my head.
“We’re friends.We tried to be together once, and maybe it’s on me for being a coward, but…things are good between us now,reallygood.I need a friend more than I need a boyfriend.I… Hell, maybe it’s me.First, I went and broke Jordan’s heart, and then everything with Will?—”
“Fuck Will!”they say in unison, making me look up and smile a little at them.
“Seriously, Arlo,”Jon says.“The guy was an asshole.He didn’t deserve you, and you are a thousand times better off without him.”
“Yep,”Sunny agrees.“I stood back and watched you slowly suffer in a relationship we all knew wasn’t for you, while you mourned the person you actually cared about.And now, well, you moved back to where he is, for fuck’s sake.What does that tell you?”
That Jordan will always be part of me, whether I admit it or not.
“Will wasn’t…that bad,” I defend my choices.They both scoff.“Yes, he wasn’t right for me, and the only compatible thing about us was that we’re both sides, but we’re all allowed to make stupid choices, okay?Need I remind you of how many ‘not right for you’ people you dated before Jon?
“Anyway, just…please stop harping on about him, okay?Yes, he wasn’t right for me, and our relationship lasted longer than it should have, but it’s over now.”
“Okay.I’m sorry.I’m just maybe a little protective of you, call it big sister privilege.”
I smile.“I know.And I appreciate the concern.I really do.”
I look between my sister and her husband.“You really think I should go?”
“Yes,”Sunny says, sounding serious for once.“If nothing happens except you getting some time away, well, that’s fine.But if there’s a chance this is the opening you dumbasses need…then you’d be a fool to pass it up.”
I take a slow, deep breath and let it out.“Okay, I’ll talk to Jordan, see if he’s even still interested in having me go along.”
“Yes!”Sunny cheers.“Let me know the dates ASAP, so I can put your vacation in.”
