Page 125 of Last First Kiss

“That blue-eyed, clumsy little shit gets me every single time.”

“Do you two need a moment?” Jordan teases. “I think I fell asleep watching that movie on a plane once?”

Jamie looks ready to hurl a pillow at him. If he had the strength, that is.

Jordan covers the pot. He sets another timer. “Have you gone to the doctor?”

“No,” Jamie whispers sheepishly.

Jordan chooses not to admonish him. For now.

Instead, he fills a clean glass with orange juice. Shakes two ibuprofens into his palm. On the sofa, he hands them to Jamie. With slight hesitation, Jordan presses the back of his hand to Jamie’s forehead, then his cheek. His bristly five-o’clock shadow tickles Jordan’s skin.

“No fever,” he says.

Jamie leans into the touch. “It might’ve broken? Mainly it’s been coughing, muscle aches. Some chills and congestion. No vomiting. The headaches keep me up, though.”

Jordan’s hand drops away. Jamie does a poor job of hiding his disappointment.

“Have you taken any medicine?” Jordan asks.

“Sounds like something an adult would do…”

“Jamie.”

“What? Don’t be mean to me. I’m very sick.” He pokes out his bottom lip. Jordan hates how effective it is.

He leans back. An empty bag of Lemonheads crinkles underneath him.

“Do you need me to call in to work for you?”

There’s a beat.

Jamie’s eyes lower. “Er, no?”

“Will it be a problem? With bills, I mean.”

Last time Jordan checked, Jamie was working at five different bars. All part-time. He can’t imagine Jamie gets any sick leave. His luxury apartment is in a great part of downtown. Denz never said it, but Jordan knows a place like this costs a significant amount.

Much more than his own.

Jamie rubs the back of his neck. “Thing about that is…”

Jordan waits.

After clearing his throat several times, Jamie says, “I’m kind of not working. Anywhere. I quit.”

“You quit?”

“All of them.”

“Allof them?”

With a sigh so heavy it makes him cough, Jamie manages, “Remember when I said my parents are the reason I’m hanging out with Sloane?”

Jordan nods slowly, confused.

“Since Denz moved, it’s been… difficult.” Jamie sniffs again. “Emotionallyandfinancially. I thought I could afford thisapartment by myself. Live up to the lifestyle my parents expect of me. But I can’t.”