Page 35 of The Keeper and I

“I mean, someone else might have—”

Jordan didn’t get to finish that thought before the women joined them.

“What are you two whispering about over here?” Billie asked.

“Nothing,” Jordan answered. “You alright, Billie?”

She held his gaze and nodded. “Yeah, I’m wonderful. Thank you.”

He cleared his throat. “Ethan, have you met Laci?”

“Not officially,” Ethan said, turning to smile at her. “I’m Ethan Knight. Real nice to meet you.”

“You as well,” Laci replied. “Gosh, you’re friendly. You always seem to be on the telly, but it’s good to know it’s in person too.”

“Laci’s a Chelsea supporter,” Jordan added.

“Hey, you’re especially welcome now,” Ethan joked.

“Good to know,” Laci chuckled, then shot Jordan a starry look. “But now that I’m with Jordan, my loyalties have shifted.”

His chest grew heavy at the look in her eyes, and he pushed down the desire to kiss her again. It took more willpower than he thought.

“That’s sweeter than apple pie, right there,” Ethan said.

Laci grinned. “I may have fallen out of favor, but could I bother you for an autograph? My brothers will kill me if I don’t.”

“I’d be happy to,” Ethan said and followed her to their table.

Jordan watched them go, and Billie remained behind. She caught Jordan’s eye.

“Laci seems nice,” she said.

“She is,” he replied.

“I was a bit shocked to hear about you two. Happened rather fast, didn’t it?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Says the woman who’s engaged to a man she met less than a year ago.”

She smirked and shook her head. “It seems mad, but we’ve known each other longer than that.”

“How do you mean?”

“It’s difficult to explain, but we really are soulmates.”

“Soulmates?”

“Yes. When I met Ethan, it felt like I’d met him before. It didn’t matter that he was from halfway across the world. I knew him. That’s why I’ve got his ring on my finger now. Maybe you’ve found that with Laci?”

Jordan failed to hold back a scoff. “No offense, Billie, but I don’t believe in soulmates. Even if I did, it’d be way too fucking soon to be saying that.”

“Believe what you want.” She shrugged.

He considered her words while remembering the night he met Laci when she asked if they’d met before. Never mind that her face had been in his mind since before he could remember. Then there was when they kissed outside and the things he saw. They sort of felt like memories. He shook his head. It was ridiculous. The stuff of fairy tales and novels.

“I don’t believe in it,” he said, half to himself.

“Are you sure?” She looked him over, her brows drawn up with skepticism. “Because I worked at Stanmore for years and never once saw you in a relationship.”

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