Page 57 of Last First Kiss

Nic sighs and says, “It’s a great place. Braylon talks nonstop about how much STL changed his life and—I don’t know! I want that. For them and…” she trails off.

Jordan bites his lower lip to minimize his smile. “Nicola, are you becoming a good person?”

Nic points a butter knife at him. “Tell anyone and I will end you.”

He laughs.

“Those teens need things to occupy their time during the summer,” she explains while he forks up more frittata. “STL is a safe space for a lot of them. I want it to be fun too.”

“Fun how?”

“I’m organizing a one-day basketball tournament. We have a court behind the facility.”

“What do you need me for?”

Vaguely, Jordan remembers Denz assisting Braylon with a Skye’s the Limit event last April. Some sort of spring break gathering? The mayor might’ve been involved? He’s not sure. All he knows is Denz’s resources are what helped Braylon secure his promotion.

“To help plan,” Nic says.

“Oh, now I get it.” Jordan snaps his fingers. “This is your way of preparing for a future role at 24 Carter Gold.”

Nic retches. “Fuck no. I have zero interest in working there.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not my dad, sister, or brother.” She exhales, like she’s repeated this a dozen times to her parents and siblings. “I want my own thing, okay?”

Jordan swipes a piece of bacon from her plate. He crunches on it, leaning back.

This is what he means. HegetsNic. He knows exactly what it’s like to live in the shadow of his other family members’ achievements. Or failures. To constantly prove he’s better.

He also knows Nic’s never subscribed to that particular kind of torture.

“Why not ask Kami?” he suggests. “She’d love to—”

“First, she’s busy being a mom, a girlfriend, managing aForbes-ranked company, planning Audrey Hudson’s anniversary party,andmy dad’s birthday bash in August while avoiding her own thirty-first birthday the following week,” Nic recites.

“Sounds like her.”

“Second”—Nic holds up her index and middle fingers—“I need you for more than logistics. You’re a former trophy-winning player. A GOAT. Your high school records are all still unbroken.”

Jordan scoffs despite the growing warmth in his chest. “Flattery, Nic?Really?That’s how you plan to win me over?”

“It’s working, right?”

“A little.”

Nic pushes her plate aside. “Your insight will help. Plus, you’re the perfect role model for the teens.”

Jordan’s fork slips from his hand. The restaurant’s busy and noisy enough that no one notices. Not that he cares.

He’s too busy wondering how Nicknows.

To his family, Jordan’s still… Jordan. Assumed straight man. No neon question mark hanging over his head.

No weird, unexplained feelings about Jamie following him like a shadow everywhere.

That doesn’t sound like a role model. Not the kind Nic’s imagining.