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“What is…this, anyway?” I asked, then quickly shook my head. “No. Don’t answer that. I’m not sure I want to know yet.”
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, I lifted the phone to my ear. “Hey, Momma!”
“Hey, sweetheart.” Mom’s voice soothed some of my frayed nerves as I sat up. “I know it’s not our usual time to chat, but I’m getting ready to board a plane for Seattle, and I wanted to hear your voice.”
“What’s in Seattle?” I asked, brows lifted.
“Long story,” she said with a drawn-out sigh. “Anyway, how was your day? Physical therapy kick your ass?”
“Basically. I just had dinner with two of my new friends, though, so that’s a nice way to end the day,” I said, looking right at Barrick as I stressed the “friend” part. But I wasn’t sure if I was putting emphasis on it for his and my benefit or Momma’s.
His lips tilted up in a grin, and he finally sat back down beside me.
“I’m so glad you’re making new friends. Speaking of which, Jordan’s mother called me just the other day, saying she was worried about him. Then today, Gabriella said she didn’t think you two were getting along. Is everything okay between the two of you?”
“Yes, everything is fine with Jordan and me.” I was glad I didn’t have to lie to her about it. “Well, there was this thing, but we sorted it out and made up earlier tonight, actually.”
“So, everything is good now?”
“It’s getting there,” I assured her just as Barrick picked up my free hand and started playing with my fingers. Watching him made me smile, but his touch was distracting me. “Is Daddy going with you to Seattle?”
She made an annoyed sound. “No. Jagger has a show he’s been asked to sit in on as a judge, and you know I always want at least one of us there with him. I hate that I’m going to miss this.”
My brother was following in our father’s footsteps, and he and his best friend Cannon had already started their music career as a duo. They had an album in the works and had been promoting it like crazy.
“You’re not going alone, though, right?” I was allowed to worry about her just as much as she worried about me. It was worse for her, though. She tended to step on a lot of toes professionally as well as personally, and there were plenty of angry people in the world who would love to take a swing at her.
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I have Marcus with me.” A voice in the background was announcing the boarding call for Seattle, and she groaned. “I have to go. We can talk tomorrow, and you can tell me all about these new friends of yours. Bye, I love you.”
“I love you too, Momma,” I whispered before she disconnected.
For a long moment, I just sat there, staring down at my phone while Barrick continued to play with my fingers. I missed her so much that my heart was literally throbbing.
“Who is Jordan?” he asked after a minute or so had passed.
I lifted my head, confused by the tone in his voice. “What?”
“Jordan,” he repeated. “Who is that?”
“Oh.” I shrugged. “He’s my best friend.”
“Gay?”
Heat filled my cheeks because I knew for a fact that Jordan was anything but gay. Even before our moment of insanity, he’d gotten around with half the girls in high school. “Nope. Definitely not gay.”
His hold on my fingers tightened. “But he’s your best friend?”
I lifted my brows at the hardness in his voice. “Yes. Since we were little.” I tugged on my hand, but he didn’t release me. “What? Do you have a problem with that?”
“What kind of friend is he?” he demanded, and it hit me that he was jealous.
“I’m not answering that.” Because I knew exactly what he was asking. Friends with benefits.
“Mia…” His tone held a warning, but I wasn’t even goin
g to attempt to explain my friendship with Jordan. I shouldn’t have to. What happened between us was just that. Between us.
“It’s getting late,” I announced as I stood. “I should head back to the dorm.”
