“How come you didn’t take the school bus?” I knew Reid had made arrangements for it to drop him off at the end of my long driveway.
He turned his head to the side, avoiding my eyes.
“I asked you a question,” I said evenly.
A muscle twitched in his cheek. “I got kicked off, okay? I had to walk to my house and get this stupid bike.”
I studied Jordan for a moment, taking in the tension in his shoulders and the way his fingers curled at his side. He was holding something back. That was clear. But he’d still shown up, despite the extra effort it took. That counted for something. Probably more than he realized.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.” His voice was clipped, and his posture was rigid.
He looked like he was about to blow, so I waited him out. Sometimes silence was better than demanding answers. Finally, he jerked his attention to me, his eyes blazing in defiance.
“This morning some jackass thought my shirt was too ‘girly’, so I tripped him. He fell and busted his lip.”
I glanced at his shirt. The logo was faded, but I recognized it—an old rock band that had been around for decades. The black fabric was soft from wear, like it had been a favorite shirt, but the pink lettering still stood out. Definitely not worth being singled out.
I studied him, noticing first his defiance, but underneath, there was something else. Frustration, maybe.Definitely something raw. Something deeper than just a stupid comment on a bus.
“You like that band?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
He shrugged, but there was something guarded in his expression. “Yeah. So what?”
“I like them, too. Who gives a damn about what some kid on the bus thinks?”
He raised his eyes to me as if my answer surprised him.
“People are always going to have something to say,” I continued. “You either let them get to you or you don’t. So ask yourself, was it worth it?”
I thought he’d come back with a defensive answer, but then his lips twitched. “Maybe just a little. He’s an asshole.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, not feeling like correcting his language. It was accurate. “Remember that when you’re huffing and puffing up that stretch of road tomorrow then.” But even as I said it, I knew I’d be meeting him in my truck after school.
Jordan rolled his eyes just as Anna stepped onto the porch.
“I know you have work to do,” she said in her easy way. “But I thought a snack might give you more energy to get it done faster.” Her attention zeroed in on Jordan’s shirt, her expression lighting up. “Hey! I love that band! Where’d you get that shirt? It’s classic!”
I had no idea if she’d heard our conversation or not, but it was definitely the perfect thing to say with incredible timing. Jordan’s entire demeanor shifted, and he looked at her with something close to adoration.
“It was my mom’s.”
The words hit me like a rock to the gut, but Anna didn’t miss a beat.
“She had great taste, and apparently, so do you.” She held out a sandwich and a bottle of water.
Jordan accepted it eagerly, taking one huge bite after another as we watched, before washing it down with the water. He wiped his hand across his mouth.
“Thanks.”
Anna watched him closely, concern creasing her brow. But she merely said, “You’re welcome. Since you’re not here for lunch until school is out, I thought maybe you could stick around just a little longer and have dinner here. Unless, of course, you’re expected at home.”
Good job, Anna. Fishing for answers without being obvious.
He barely glanced up. “Nah. No one’s waiting for me,” he answered before shoving the last bite into his mouth.
Anna’s expression barely changed, but I saw the way her hands tightened as she crossed her arms in front of her.
