Page 97 of How You See Me
“Hi, buddy,” he greets, excited to hear from me, and guilt pangs in my chest. “Thanks for the photo of Josie. How’d you get her to do that?”
The awe in his tone makes me chuckle.
“It took some coaxing, but she had a blast.”
“Good. Maybe you can get her in a real vehicle next.”
“That’s the goal.” I suck in a long breath, trying to calm the buzz under my skin. “Baby steps.”
“Did you make it to Oklahoma City?”
“Almost. We stopped to enjoy the park about an hour out.”
A beat of unbearable silence falls over us.
Jordan’s voice drops, sharper now. “Why does it feel like you have something on your mind?”
I force a laugh. “You can feel that over the phone?”
“You know I can’t come get her, right?” He laughs, thinking I’m tired of dealing with his sister.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
“No need for that. She’s been a great traveling partner . . . once we came to understand each other.”
“Not many people truly understand her.” Another pause. “What’s going on?”
I rake a hand through my hair, searching for the right words.
“Are you two . . .?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Nothing like what you’re thinking has happened.” My heart’s pounding harder than when I’m under fire. “But—” I clear the knot in my throat. Damn it. “We want your blessing to explore what’s building.”
He’s quiet longer than my nerves can handle. They’re an army of ants high on energy drinks under my skin right now.
“Josie wants my blessing?”
“Actually, she wanted to take the more straightforward route.I’dlike your blessing.” My jaw clenches against the sting of anticipation. I can still feel his grenade-laced glare from when Josie and I danced last fall. “You’re my best friend. I don’t want to fuck that up.”
“But you want to fuck my sister?”
The question lands like a slap, and I stagger for a response. “Dude.” All the oxygen rips out of my lungs. I’m drowning and making a bigger mess of things. “I’ve been nothing but respectful. I—”
He barks out a laugh, cutting me off. “I’m messin’ with you, man. Damn, Hayes. You really thought I’d be pissed?”
“It seemed like the only plausiblereaction.”
“Anyone else? Sure. But you?” A long exhale filters through the line. “If she likes you, you’re the lucky one and have my blessing. Not that you needed it.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“The fact that you were this worried about it shows how much you care. I know you’ll treat her right, protect her heart, and never let her down. And she’ll do the same for you. Probably better.”
“She already has. Thanks, man. I’d protect her with my life.”
“I know.” Another pause. “That’s what you do. Be safe.”
The call disconnects, and for a long moment, I just stand there under the stars, the tension bleeding from my body in heavy, crashing waves. Part of me can’t believe how easy he took it. The other part—the one deep-down that knows Jordan and all we’ve been through together—isn’t surprised. I just couldn’t risk getting my hopes up.
