Page 84 of Last First Kiss
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“So, Sloane’s not… a girlfriend?”
The second the question leaves his mouth, Jordan winces, his face agonizingly hot.
Their walk has been quiet. Just two men on a casual stroll through the park on a still-warm summer evening. The problem is, Piedmont Park is over 180 acres. They’re not even a quarter way through andthoseare the first real words Jordan’s chosen to speak?
He’s the worst.
“I mean,” Jordan stammers, “yourgirlfriend. She’s not, um, your girlfriend?”
Without looking at Jordan, Jamie says, “Nope.”
“And you’ve only been on a few dates?”
“A few,” Jamie confirms.
“Nothing else?”
“Nothing else.”
“So, it’s not… like…” God, why is Jordan still talking? Why hasn’t someone—anyone—put him out of his misery yet? “It’s not serious?”
Head thrown back, Jamie barks a laugh out to the slowly pinking sky.
“Shit, Jordan, how long have you been wanting to ask that one?”
Too long, Jordan thinks, but says, “It just came to me,” instead.
Jamie shoots him a doubtful look.
Whatever. He can’t prove anything.
“No,” Jamie says, a smile moseying across his mouth like his amusement is barely being contained. “It’s not serious.”
They sidestep a group of teens fresh from the aquatic center’s pool. Their shorts drip all over the path and a chlorine-and-coconut-sunscreen scent trails them.
“Is there a reason you’re asking?” Jamie asks.
Jordan shrugs. “Nope. Just being a friend.”
“A friend,” Jamie parrots, his smile turning sly.
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“No, no. Please continue. Be a… friend.”
“I will.”
“Good,” Jamie says.
“Good,” Jordan repeats a little too enthusiastically.
They fall silent again. Jordan shoves his hands into his pockets. Jamie kicks a loose rock into the grass. On a nearby bench, someone’s reading a well-loved copy ofOne Last Stop. Jordan looks off into the distance, pretending he doesn’t want to know what Jamie’s thinking.
As if sensing Jordan’s reluctant curiosity, Jamie says, “For the record: I’m the reason Sloane and I aren’t serious.”
Jordan doesn’t comment. He half turns his head so Jamie knows he’s listening.
