Page 53 of The Other Room

Shrugging, I took a sip of my beer.

“And what if she says yes?” Jenna placed a hand on my shoulder.

What if she says yes?

Images of life with Jo in my arms flashed through my mind. Her touch. Her kiss. Her laugh in my ear when we woke up in the morning. Like a whirlwind of happiness, emotions flooded through me and permeated every inch of my soul. Images I’d never dared to let loose in my mind galloped free as I pictured a life together if she said yes.

A life filled with more happiness than I’d ever imagined possible.

“So?” Jenna prompted.

“So...” I stalled. “So, I’m freaking scared, Jenna.”

“Matt. That’s my baby sister.” She pointed to Jo as she flew past carrying a plate of enchiladas. “Her happiness means more to me than my own. If I didn’t truly believe that she felt the same way about you, I would never say anything. Because if I was wrong, it would mean I would hurt her by damaging your friendship. I would never hurt her, Matt. Never.”

I tried to let her certainty dissolve my fears.

“Matt, you need to tell her. You need to tell her tonight... before you chicken out. You’re M.F.O.E.”

I scrunched my brow.

“Made for each other.” She went to flick my head again, but I caught her hand in mine, bringing it down onto my lap and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Are you sure, Jenna? Like a million percent sure? Because if I do this there is no going back.”

She returned the squeeze and smiled. “I’m sure. Tell her, Matt.”

Fear like I’d never known coursed through my veins when I looked up at Jo. She turned and locked eyes with me, a soft smile lifting the lips I was desperate to taste. Thinking of living a life beside her as only a friend and never knowing what could have been, I knew what I needed to do now.

Jenna was right. It was time.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

Jenna’s squeal rang my eardrums, and she pulled me in for a hug. “Yay! It’s gonna be great!”

“Just hold on to your celebrating there, Meddlypants. She hasn’t said yes yet.”

“She will,” Jenna whispered in my ear and then sat back.

God, I hope so.

Jo appeared holding my sandwich and just the sight of her sent my heart racing faster than if I’d flung myself out of an airplane.

“Here you go.” She set the sandwich down in front of me.

Normally my mouth would water when I saw my favorite pork sandwich covered in cheese, onions, and peppers, but one look at it and my already queasy stomach turned.

With the nerves I had right now, eating had gone from the first thing on my mind to the last. Not to mention if there was even a one percent chance of a kiss with Jo tonight, those onions weren’t my friend. “You know what? So sorry to be a pain, but can I get this to go?”

Jo shrugged and pulled the plate back. “No problem.”

Jenna kicked me under the bar, and I let out a deep sigh. “Hey, Jo?”

She stopped and turned back. “Yeah?”

“Um, what time are you off tonight?”

“Probably midnight?”