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I don’t know what she’s done, but the way JD’s making it a point to ignore her tells me I’m supposed to be mad at her too. I don’t usually take kindly to anyone who makes my brother feel bad, anyway. That’smyjob.
I stand across from them and continue staring Tenley down as JD squats in front of the tire and begins loosening the lug nuts. Her eyes are heavy-lidded and glued to his arms, and I nearly laugh out loud when she swallows so hard that it looks like she’s choking on her own desperation.
“You okay, Tenley? You seem … thirsty,” I ask, amused. But JD shoots me a look that says he’s abandoned the original plan, so I leave it at that.
“I’m fine,” she replies defensively as Ethan tries to stifle his laughter.
JD finishes up, and Ethan and Tenley both thank him, though I can tell he’s still upset by the way he avoids eye contact as she apologizes for bothering him. Then he makes a quick retreat, and I follow him back to the field to help him lock up the home gate.
“Did you see that, kid? It actually worked. She’s totally into you,” I remark as he fixes the lock.
He huffs. “Whatever. She doesn’t wantme, only my help, as usual.”
I grab him by the arm. “I’m serious, JD. I wish you could have caught the look on her face while she watched you change that tire. You flipped that switch when you came out with someone else. Make no mistake—Tenley Robin absolutely wants to jump your bones, man.”
But he only frowns harder. “Then why does she keep saying the opposite? If she liked me half as much as I liked her, she’d already have given in.”
“Maybe she’s just stubborn, I don’t know. But you can’t give up now. You’re finally wearing her down.”
He shakes his head. “No, you were right before. I can’t keep doing this to myself. If all she wants is a friend, then that’s all I’ll be. The last thing I want is to force something that isn’t there.” He sighs, lifting his ball cap and scratching his head. “If I were able to do that, then I wouldn’t be pursuing Tenley in the first place.”
I furrow my brow when I realize he’s referring to Loren. But my chest floods with relief once I grasp his meaning, despite knowing I should be sharing in my brother’s pain right now.
“I’m sorry, bro,” I say after a while, and we turn back to the parking lot together. “Maybe you just need to sleep on it and see how you feel about everything in a day or two.”
“Yeah,” he agrees halfheartedly. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to pray about it too.”
“You do that, kid,” I mumble before climbing into my truck and immediately taking out my phone.
Blake Bourgeois
Listen, thanks for doing this, Reed. It was really cool of you to help him.
Loren Reed
No worries.
Your brother is a good guy. I’m sure he’d do the same for me.
Or any of his friends.
Blake Bourgeois
Yeah, sure.
But ftr, if you ever need help making a guy jealous, I don’t mind taking one for the team.
Loren Reed
Right. I’ll keep that in mind.
Goodnight, Blake.
Blake Bourgeois
Goodnight, Loren.
CHAPTER 30
