Page 72 of Make You Love Me
“Hi, Jo Jo.” I use her nickname to settle her nerves.
“How are you?”
“Better.”
“That’s good. I’m sure you got my texts, but I wanted to call and apologize again. Please know that I never—”
“I know. You were just looking out for me like you always do.”
She lets out an audible exhale. “You’re not mad?”
“Not anymore. I’ve had time to think about it, and with the way things are working out, I’m grateful you made that decision.”
“You are? What’s worked out, exactly?” The caution in her tone makes me smile. She’s never been a fan of Nora’s, but after the sacrifices Nora’s made recently, I expect that’s changing.
I glance toward the closed bathroom door and lower my voice. “I think Nora and I have turned a page. She seems to finally be coming to terms with her feelings for me.”
“Oh, Jordan. How many times are you going to let her hurt you?”
“As many times as it takes.”
“Don’t say that.” The words come out on an exasperated exhale.
“I know you don’t want to see me crushed again, but I don’t think that will happen.”
“Jordan, you never think that. That’s the problem. You never see it coming.”
“Even now you believe she’d turn her back on me?” Josie hasn’t experienced Nora’s transformation over the last two days, yet her opinion matters to me.
“What makes you think this time will have a different ending?”
“For starters, she stopped lying. She looks at me differently. We’re going out in public together. We’re no longer sleeping together, which—”
“No longer? Did you sleep with her before you remembered?” Her raised voice shrills through the tiny speaker. I recoil at the assault on my ear, holding it away from my face until she’s finished.
“Josie, calm down. Isn’t that what couples do? I thought we were together.”
“But she knew. The little floozie.”
“I’m not mad it happened. Why are you?” The question only fuels her fury, but it was too tempting to resist.
“Of course, you aren’t, and you know why.”
“Well, we were two consenting adults, and I’m not a child, so…”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll shut up now.”
“Thank you.”
She sighs into the phone again. “I’m happy to hear you’re happy and not angry with me.”
“Oh, I was furious.”
“And I’m happy I missed that, too.”
“When are you coming home?”
“Well, that’s another reason I’m calling. It might be a few more days than expected. Grant is working on getting media interviews after the show, and if all goes well, I might even be onThe Today Show.” Her voice squeaks with excitement.
