“He doesn’t like my nicknameyet,” she says.
Shaking my head as she cackles maniacally, I pop my headphones back in, staring right back out the window, wondering what on earth has Jack acting so weird.
***
When Jack picks me up, I can barely get ‘good morning’ out before he hurriedly gives me a side hug and shoves me out the front door. I try to make conversation on the way to the diner, but he gives one-word answers, white knuckling the wheel like he’s worried it might fall off.
“I’ve never seen this place before 6pm,” I muse, sliding into a booth and picking up a menu.
He barely grunts in reply, and when I feel him staring at me, I lay the menu back down on the table, folding my hands together as I look at him.
“Can I help you?”
“Griffin and Katie broke up.”
My jaw drops. That’s the last thing I expected him to say.
“Did she say why?”
“No, he broke up with her.”
The rest of the diner drops away, and all I can hear is my own heartbeat thrumming in my ears.
Don’t freak out.
“Oh,” I say, fighting to keep my face neutral. “Didhesay why?”
The waitress brings a pot of coffee, and I pour myself a mug, willing my hands to stop shaking. Bringing the cup to my lips, I look at him, eyebrows raised as I wait for his answer.
He still doesn’t say anything as I set my cup down, and re-fold my hands on the table.
“Jack?”
“Don’t be stupid, Ellie. You know why.”
I suck in a sharp breath, my stomach somersaulting.
Dont. Freak. Out.
“If they got in a fight because she felt like we were mean to her, we can apologize,” I say cautiously. “I didn’t mean to make her feel–”
“You know damn well that isn’t why, and I need you to listen to me very carefully right now.”
Taken aback, I mime zipping my lips, sitting back and crossing my arms over my chest.
Clearing his throat, he starts, “Griffin has always been my boy. And now, you’re my girl.”
Arching my brow at him, he stammers out, “Not like that, like, my sister-girl or whatever.”
“Sister Girl is what Abby calls the kid she nannies.”
“Can you be serious please?” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he continues, “I love you both. And you love each other. Don’t try to deny it,” he says sharply, cutting me off when I open my mouth to protest.
“Youloveeach other. This has been brewing since freshman year, and you’ve never gotten it right. Both of you have done some pretty messed up things to each other.”
I nod silently, concentrating on where my mug sits on the table to avoid looking at him.
“He broke up with Katie because she’s not you. We all know it,” he says softly. “But he’s scared to death that you’re going to shut him down again.”
