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“With all due respect, it’s Jordan’s decision, and I’m going to honor it.” I shrug. “I’m doing things differently than the last guy. If it makes you feel any better, I can promise my answers won’t be dependent on whether she’s in the room or not.”
Her dad’s lips curl up in the corner for a split second. He purses his lips and leans back on the sofa. I might be winning points with him.
Mrs. Landry pastes on a stiff smile. “Fine. I need to know you aren’t playing around with our daughter. Like Frank said, you have a reputation.”
“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves as we’ve gotten closer over the last couple months, there’s been a lot of change—for both of us. I think we’ve brought out the best in each other. She’s a wonderful person, you should be very proud.”
Her dad pipes up. “Our friends have been asking about you. Obviously, they know the wedding didn’t go through, but what would you like us to tell them?”
She rolls her lips together and laughs. “Tell them I found a better man. Thebest man.”
“Jordana.”
“Oh, come on!” She crosses her arms with a big smile on her face. “There’s no other chance I’ll get to use that joke. It’s solid gold. And it’s true.” She glances at me, and my heart thumps harder.
Mr. Landry nudges his wife, and they smirk. “She’s happy, Patricia,” he says to his wife.
“I guess it’s good she’s making jokes again,” she replies, pleased.
“You don’t need to come home early. I’m happier than I’ve been in the last couple years, and I’ll get better about staying in touch.”
Her dad looks back at us. “We need to know you’re all right. We worry about you. You’re no longer engaged to your fiancé, you’re living with his best friend... this is strange.”
“I get it, it looks bizarre from the outside. But really, I’m in a good place.” Jordan sits back, satisfied. “I will ask for help when I need it.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
32
I’m staying up to watch the game. The Lakes are playing in California, and they went into overtime. It’s a nail biter; I’ve got the chipped polish to prove it. The camera lands on Camden a few times, his chest heaves, and sweat rolls down his forehead, dripping from his brows. He squints when he blinks. His eyes look tired, but I know he’s focused.
I scurry over to the kitchenette in my apartment, tear into a fresh bag of anxiety-relieving Sour Patch Kids and leap back onto the couch in front of the TV, tucking my legs up under me as they begin the second shootout. Chicken Salad whines at my side.
“These are mine. You won’t like them, they’re spicy,” I lie. As if she’s a child asking me to share my snack. California gets one on goal, and my shoulders fall.Shit.She hops off the couch and paws at the door, whining again.
“I’ll take you out, one second. I gotta see if they make it.”
Cam’s up, he shoots, and I hold my breath. The goalie blocks it.
“Nooo! No, no, no.” Ugh, that shot is probably eating him alive.
Chicken Salad barks at me, and I stand, slowly walking toward the door while I keep my eyes fixed on the TV. I grab the leash and attach it without looking down. I can’t peel my eyes away.
A right winger for California takes the next shot, and it gets by Strass.
“Fuck.” My heart sinks for him and the rest of the team. They’ve played their asses off tonight. “Okay, pup. Ready to go outside?” I ask glumly.
With Chicken Salad leashed, we head downstairs. I don’t feel like crossing the house to get my jacket from the laundry room, so I grab one of Cam’s from the closet in the foyer. She impatiently circles while I slip on his slides in the entryway.
“I know, I’m sorry I made you wait.”
When I open the front door, the crisp, cold air makes me wish I had on something longer than these pajama shorts, but Cam’s jacket smells like him and provides warmth from more than the cold temperatures.Like when his arms are around me.
Chicken Salad wanders the frost-covered yard, looking for the perfect spot to pee. “Any spot’ll do... I’d like to give a friendly reminder that you’ve got fur pants, I don’t.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I wonder if it’s Cam. He must be so disappointed. When I dig it out, I see the text across the lock screen.
