Page 84 of The Incredible Ordinary

“I’m fine. It’s nice out here. I’d go so far as to say toasty.”

He laughs out loud, takes his wool beanie off, steps closer, and pulls it over my head.

“There,” he says. “Now you won’t die.”

Suddenly it’s difficult to remember how to make words.

“You’ll be cold, though,” I finally manage to say.

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about me.”

That’s the problem, though.

I want to.

He starts to walk, and I take a few quick steps to catch up to him and Dog. There are city noises everywhere around us, but this street is quiet, save for an occasional car passing by and people here and there.

“I once drove my bike straight into that tree.” Jordan points to a red maple.

“Was that on a dare or…?” I quirk my brow at him.

“A race. I lost control of the bike. Got a concussion and five stitches.” He points to a spot on his forehead, near his temple.

“You have a lot of history here.” I look around, almost like I’m expecting to see a screen with a film reel playing on a loop, showing a much younger Jordan getting up to all sorts of trouble.

“A bunch,” he agrees.

We walk down the street, both silent for a bit. We pass a small park, and Dog tries to chase after a squirrel with relentless determination.

“Obedience school,” Jordan says darkly once he’s managed to wrangle Dog into behaving again. “Be prepared. It’s in your immediate future.”

“Sorry.” I wince when Dog looks like he’s ready to go for another round with any willing bird or animal that has the misfortune of getting in his way.

“He’s young and dumb. We’ve all been there.”

“Yeah. I still kind of feel bad. I could’ve taken him out myself, so you could’ve stayed at home and spent Theo’s birthday with your family.”

“We’ve been out here fifteen minutes. I doubt I’ll be hopelessly missed,” he says with a laugh before he sobers. “Besides, I wanted to get a moment away anyway.”

“How come?”

He shakes his head. “Kira told me we need to talk, so I’ve been on the edge the whole day.”

“Talk about what?”

“Don’t know for sure.”

“But you can take a stab at what it is?”

He sighs and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Could be anything. Lately she’s been talking about what happens when Theo goes to high school. San Francisco has good schools.”

I scoff. “So does New York.”

He shrugs. “Sure. It might also be about me.”

“What about you?”

“She’s getting a divorce,” he says, eyes on the sky.