Page 48 of When We Fell Again
Jordan reached across the table and covered his hand with mine. “What you were saying before you took Theo’s call? Did I understand you right?”
His touch on my skin felt good, comforting almost. After everything we’d been through on tour, it seemed like the tables had turned and Jordan was now the one trying to look after me.
“What did you think I was saying?”
“That if we were to get back together, I have to accept what you do for a living and…” He dropped his gaze for a moment before lifting it back and staring intensely into my eyes. “Rein in my jealous streak.”
He had read between the lines beautifully. I hadn’t explicitly stated that his jealousy had been a huge factor in our break-up, but I knew he experienced those feelings. Picking up my espresso cup, I took a mouthful of the now-cold coffee and made a face.
Jordan’s eyes widened. “What? Did I get that wrong?”
I almost laughed. “No. This coffee is horrible now. I need a refill.”
“Should you be drinking more caffeine? Wouldn’t a peppermint tea be better?”
The fact that he’d listened to what had happened the night before and seemed to care about how I might be affected made me warm and fuzzy inside. Little things like that showed me all was not lost, at least not yet.
Jordan waved over the waitress who had dropped off our drinks. “Can I get another flat white? And Lex will have peppermint tea. Thanks.”
There seemed little point in trying to argue with him, and I nodded to the waitress. “What he said.”
He turned my hand over in his and traced a fingernail across my palm. A gentle shiver danced down my spine. “But I wasn’t wrong about my jealous streak, was I?”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I shook my head. “I can’t have you turning up at gigs, demanding to know where I am, arguing with security, and kicking off when you don’t get your own way.” A particularly vivid memory of Jordan storming into an intimate show in a North London venue came to the forefront of my memory. The band in question was doing a rare acoustic show in front of a small audience. Until Jordan’s unscheduled appearance, off his face on who knew what, it had been a chilled-out, laid-back event. Threats had been made on both sides until security had finally escorted him out. The tongue-lashing Theo had delivered afterwards had been equally as bad.
Running his free hand through his hair, Jordan grimaced. “I know what you’re talking about, and for the millionth time, I’m sorry.” He swallowed hard. “And I’m clean now, as you know. So that won’t be an issue either.”
Our drinks arrived and Jordan released my hand to clear space. Instantly, I felt bereft, as if the contact with him was keeping me going. I poured a cup of the mint tea, inhaling the fresh scent. To give Jordan some credit, he was probably right about me not drinking so much caffeine.
“I’m glad to hear it.” The story Jordan had shared with me about Dexter would definitely be enough to make anyone stop taking drugs.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying being with each other without having to say anything. After a while, Jordan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the table and folding his arms.
“See, I had this grand plan to win you back, and it seems like I’m not going to need it.” The corner of his mouth curved up.
“Really?” I tilted my head. “Maybe I need to hear it to make sure I’m doing the right thing.”
“Doing the right thing about what?” Theo’s voice floated into the space between us. “I didn’t expect to find the two of you together.”
Jordan sat back in his chair, immediately closing down. Trust Theo to be early and find us together. “I didn’t think you were going to be here yet.”
“That’s pretty obvious.” Theo cast a disapproving gaze over Jordan.
The table we had was for two people, so someone would have to leave because I doubted the three of us would be making polite conversation. My heart screamed at me to tell Theo to go, that we could catch up later. Jordan and I needed some time to reconnect and putting a stop to it now could jeopardise whatever was meant to be. As always, my head won, knowing if I didn’t speak to Theo as soon as possible, then I’d lose my nerve.
“Can we talk later?” I addressed Jordan. “I’ll call you.”
He shrugged. “Whatever, Lex. I can see what’s more important to you.”
Hating the situation, because he was actually wrong in what was important to me, all I could do was nod.
Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and stalked out of the cafe, leaving me staring after him, disappointed to have left things between us still in the balance. Theo sat straight down into the vacated seat, waving someone over so he could place an order. “Do you want another drink?”
The mint tea was still warm, so I declined. Reluctantly, I pulled out my notebook and pen while Theo ordered and tried to regain my focus. I turned to a new page, thinking how apt it was for me and Jordan starting over. His grand plan to get me back intrigued me, and I wanted to know more about it.
Once the waiter had gone, Theo pulled out a sheaf of paperwork from his bag. Screwing up my eyes, I tried not to think about what that might mean. Before he tackled it, he stared me in the eye.
“How are you, Lex? Your voice note last night scared me.”
