I’m overheating.
Did the A/C break?
“Is it hot in here?” I ask, voice high and squeaky, flapping my hands in my face to fan my heated skin.
“Nope, not one bit. The air conditioning is set to a crisp sixty-nine degrees,” Jordan replies with a smug smile on her face.
That bitch.
“Sixty-nine? Why not seventy? You know the odd number is going to drive me crazy.”
“I’m manifesting,” she says, waving her arms around in what I think is supposed to be some sort of spell casting motion.
“God, Jord! What the actual fuck is wrong with you? We’re not doing anything!”
“But you’re going on a date with him,” she points out, unhelpfully.
“Only because I lost a bet,” I remind her, as if that changes the situation. Which it should. It should definitely change theparameters of the date. It’s not like he asked me out and I said yes in typical fashion. It was my punishment for losing the bet.
Punishment.
But why does this not feel like a punishment?
And why am I not upset about losing?
And why is itso hot?
“Doesn’t matter. It’s still a date with a man who has asked you out and been shot downmultipletimes. An incredibly hot, muscular, kind, sweet,obsessed with youman at that. If you don’t fall into bed with him, then?—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I snap.
She gives me a sly smile and my stomach drops knowing I may have accidentally revealed more than I wanted to. “I was going to say I would be terribly disappointed with you.” She crosses her arms over her chest and leans back against the doorframe. “But it’s good to know that was your reaction.”
I let out a frustrated breath. “Jordan, you know nothing can happen.”
“Fuck the rules, Isa!” she shouts, throwing her arms up in the air.
I reel back, shocked by her outburst. “Excuse me?”
“You deserve this. You deservehim.” She pauses to take a deep breath. “Isa, I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time. You hate sports, but you’re starting to become a baseball freak, respectfully.”
“I—” She holds up her hand, cutting me off from interrupting a tirade I assume she’s been bottling up for too long.
“We watchedevery single oneof their away games last week. And the away stretch before that. And the one beforethat. Do you see where I’m going with this?” I think I do, but I don’t want to voice that suspicion. So I slowly shake my head, which earns me an eye roll in return. “He makes you happy. He’s caused youto branch out your interests. How often do you guys talk?” She’s quiet now, indicating it’s my turn to speak.
I clear my throat and mumble my answer, “Every day.”
Her eyes sparkle at the answer I know she already knew. “That’s what I thought. And he takes care of you—you’ve told me about the protein bars and don’t even get me started on the snack deliveries that keep showing up. Isa, that man is so obsessed with you, and you keep pushing him away because you’re afraid.”
“Afraid of losing my job,” I quickly interject.
“There are other jobs!”
“But I love my job!”
“Do you? Do youreally? Because up until this placement, I feel like you’ve been going through the motions.” She folds her arms over her chest as she leans against the doorframe. “Your adventurous heart loved the travel at the start, but I can tell it’s starting to wear on you. You haven’t been living your life. We just had that conversation at the start of all this, and you mentioned the travel was becoming an obstacle with your dating life.” She pushes off the doorframe and sets her hands on my shoulders. “Maybe it’s time you start to look into other options. Ones that require less travel and truly make you happy, while also letting you pursue someone that is perfect for you.” She gives my shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“There’s no such thing as perfect,” I mutter.
