Page 48 of A Furry Thing Called Love
Pulling them into a hug, I kiss the side of their head.“Thank you.I love you.”
“Love you too.Shall we go home so you can talk to your man?”
Rolling my eyes, I let them go.“No.You got me to have my come to Jesus moment, or whatever it was you were aiming for, the rest is none of your damn business.”
“Fine, fine.Excuse me for wanting to see the fruits of my labor.”
“You’re annoying.”
“You love me anyway,” they sing-song.
I ignore them because we both know they’re right.That’s the problem with lovers turned best friends, they know you far too well.
Chapter25
Arlo
“I should just holdthe two of you hostage,” Val says.
I laugh.“I wouldn’t bet against my sister.She’s oddly attached to me.I already got a text saying I ‘better not think about moving to the other side of the fucking country, if I know what’s good for me’.She’s kinda scary when she wants to be, so…”
Valery sighs.“You’ll just have to come visit me again, that’s all.And soon.”
“We don’t even leave until tomorrow, Val.Don’t be so dramatic.”
Valery glares at Jordan.“I can still miss you prematurely!”They sniff.“It’s fine, you don’t love me nearly as much as I love you.”
Jordan groans.“What did I do to deserve such a dramatic best friend?”
“You stayed friends with your ex because you don’t know how to make friends otherwise,” I answer for him.
Jordan glares at me.“I should leave you here, since you fit in far too well.”
“I don’t see a problem with that.”I smile, trying hard not to snicker at Jordan’s exasperated sigh.
“As fun as this is, kids, I need my bed.I will see you in the morning, bright and early.”Valery stands from their chair and stretches, the bangles on their wrists jingling merrily as they do so.“Goodnight.”
“Night, Val,” we both call out.
Jordan waits until the door to their room closes before he scoots closer to me.Turning to face him, I watch as he bites his lip and fidgets, pushing his hair off his forehead and tugging at the strands before letting go.
A nervous Jordan isn’t something I see often, so he hasmynerves on edge.“What’s going on?”
Reaching out for his hand, I tangle our fingers together, hoping he gets some strength from me.
“I… Fucking hell, I don’t know if Val planned this or not, but I guess getting it out there now is better than worrying myself to death.”
Tilting my head, I watch him carefully, but whatever’s on his mind isn’t on his face.I can’t see anything except his increasing worry in his expression.
“Val and I talked when we took the dogs to the park yesterday and…well, they got me to confess some things I’ve been trying to ignore for a long time.”
My heart jumps to my throat and I part my lips, but no sound comes out.
Jordan looks down at our hands.“I’m in love with you, Ar.I have been for years now.I…I want to try again.You and me, we had something good, but we somehow convinced ourselves that we would be better off apart.”He looks up, his brown eyes full of hope and fear.“I know why you left.You had an entire life to get back to, but…I’m sorry for not doing more to convince you to stay.”
My throat tightens and, for a moment, I can’t speak.“You…want to try again?”I ask cautiously, not sure I can actually believe what I’m hearing.
“Yeah.I do.I love you, Arlo.I know that isn’t enough, that saying the words doesn’t erase the separation, doesn’t erase the pain we put ourselves through, but…don’t you feel it?I know we keep shoving ourselves into the friendship lane?—”
