“I have a limited no-movement clause,” Jordy confirmed. “But it’s pretty broad.” Fortunately Kaira was still young enough that changing schools wouldn’t disrupt her life too much, and he only had a couple more years in him anyway.
“What? But how do you…?” Rowan seemed totally thrown. “How do they expect you to just pick up your whole life? I mean, you have a house, people have families….”
“Yeah, well, that’s why they pay us the big bucks.” Jordy couldn’t put his finger on why smiling was so difficult right now. He’d made his peace with his life. “It’s okay, really. I’m not losing sleep over it.”
“I couldn’t do it,” Rowan said. “I mean… maybe it’s just a me thing? I spent my childhood in dormitories. I barely saw my parents. Now I finally have a place that feels like home, you know? Even if it’s Toronto and not a specific apartment. And living your whole life knowing you might have to give it up any day?”
Suddenly the pizza Jordy had eaten wasn’t sitting so well, but he couldn’t think about why just now. He needed air. Space. Possibly some sobriety.
At that moment Baller rejoined them, took a look in the corner where Ryan and Nico were trading chaste kisses every twenty seconds like they couldn’t believe they got to do it, and then said, “You guys want to share a cab? I think the newlyweds should have their own.”
“Maybe one with plastic seat covers,” Rowan agreed just loud enough for Jordy to hear.
Baller settled the tab—Jordy would Venmo him their share later—and they stepped out into the warm August night.
They probably could’ve walked back to the hotel, but with Ryan and Nico barely able to keep their eyes off each other, never mind their hands, Jordy didn’t like the odds of them staying out of traffic. Wrangling them to safety would takeforever. They took a pair of cabs instead, the newlyweds in the first one and Rowan and Jordy sharing the second with Baller.
In the car, Baller was uncharacteristically quiet. It wasweird. Jordy suspected him of plotting something until he caught the reflected glow of Baller’s cell phone screen—he was in the front passenger seat with Jordy behind him—and realized he was… was he texting someone? Or looking through photos…? No, that was a flight app.
Baller took a left in the hotel lobby and headed toward the reception desk, leaving Jordy and Rowan behind with a wave.
“Where’s he going?” Rowan asked as they waited for the elevator.
“Checking out, I think.”
“At midnight?”
“I think he’s homesick. He probably got an earlier flight.”
They stepped into the car, and Rowan selected their floor. “Thanks for letting me come along tonight. It was… interesting.”
He still didn’t get it, did he? “You were invited,” Jordy said pointedly. “I told you, I didn’t bring you along so you could watch Kaira.”
He brought him along because—because Jordy enjoyed his company and thought he might enjoy the trip. They were friends. Jordy just wanted him around.
That wasn’t weird, Jordy told himself.
Rowan opened their hotel room door. “Yeah, yeah, I get it.” He put the key on the table and toed his shoes off, but when he attempted to nudge them under the table in the dark, he ended up cursing and staggering.
Jordy caught him by the elbow, picked up the key card with his other hand, and slid it into the holder on the wall, which turned the lights on. “You okay?”
“Apart from the clumsiness?” Rowan’s cheeks reddened. “I’m okay. Just tripping on my own shopping, apparently.”
It took him looking pointedly at his arm for Jordy to remember he could let go. His fingers didn’t want to cooperate, and complained about him forcing them by tingling afterward. Then Rowan ducked under the table and pulled out his purchase from the library to check in on it. “No harm done,” he announced.
Which reminded Jordy—“What did you buy, anyway?” Of course he knewwhat, but he wanted to knowwhy.
“Oh.” The flush renewed as Rowan reached into the bag and withdrew the books. “They’re just… well, they’re so lovely, and they were some of my favorites growing up. Classics, you know? I thought Kaira might like them. I know she’s too young now, but—”
Jordy’s heart beat furiously against his rib cage, like it had something to say.
“They should last forever,” Rowan went on. “Really nice bindings. They reminded me of the sets my grandparents bought me when I was a kid.”
Now Jordy’s lungs had joined in and struggled to pull in enough air. His brain was completely silent, as though to avoid splitting attention from the other two.
“It’s okay, right? I’m not overstepping?”
Jesus. “It’s perfect,” Jordy said, then immediately felt the urge to clear his throat. Why did his voice sound like that, hoarse and broken? “She’s going to love them.”
