Page 29 of The Road Trip Romance

“He likes you,” Jordan states and I stop walking.

“What?”

Jordan stops and turns back to me. “I know we’re all on team Tacey as the media calls them, but…he’s different with you. I’ve never seen him be so…himself before around a woman anyhow. You’re good for him.”

Whoa! No, he just means as friends. I am reading way too much into this statement.

“Well, I’m really glad that I have four awesome new friends,” I say so fast the words run together. And then I start walking again. “Hey, there’s the art museum. We should go have our own Ferris Bueller moment.”

I take Jordan’s hand and pull him across the street, hoping to end this mortifying conversation.Focus, Sophia, focus!We are on a mission, and nothing is going to happen between you and Tate. And you certainly don’t want Jordan to know you have a big, fat crush on Tate. Stop living in your romance author brain.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Tate

The people look like little ants from up here as I peer down from the observation level of the Willis Tower. Penn makes a joke about dropping a penny and I roll my eyes.

I feel his eyes on me, and I turn to face him. “You alright, Brooks?”

I know he’s being serious because he’s using my real name even though we aren’t near anyone else.

Sticking my hands in my pockets to keep from fidgeting, I shrug. “I don’t know, bro. I…appreciate you all trying to make things right with Lacey and me, but…” I trail off as I try to find the words.What do I say?With each passing mile, I grow more concerned that I’m doing the wrong thing? Every minute that we edge closer to this big grand gesture, I question whether it’s the path I should be taking. Maybe I want this whole family thing for the wrong reasons. Maybe I’m forcing it at the wrong time or with the wrong person.Damn, my family really screwed me up.

“You having second thoughts about Lacey?” he asks with a frown.Fuck, am I that easy to read?

“I…no, I just…it’s complicated as fuck, you know?” I try to explain but words fail me.

He nods his understanding. “I’ve never had a real relationship, so I don’t get what you’re feeling, but I’ve seen you two together and I know you love her.”

He’s right. I do love Lacey. Even now, even after she hurt me. I care about her. I want her to be OK. But does that mean I want a life with her still? Would she even change her mind? Everyone has been preaching their advice and encouragement to me since we got in the car back at Sophia’s house, but I can’t squash the feeling gnawing at my gut that maybe Lacey and I are not meant to be.

“I do love her. But what if she says no? What if all of this is for nothing?” I ask, stating my fears out loud. I look him in the eyes. “I don’t want to go through all of that again.”

He claps me on the shoulder. “You won’t, man. We’re going to fix this. It’s salvageable. She hasn’t been dating anyone. That speaks volumes. She still loves you, I know it,” he assures me.

“Maybe,” I mutter as I look down at the floor again. I feel anything but like the famous man I’m supposed to be. I feel like the little kid whose mom fucked up way too many times, and whose grandparents took him in. The kid who never had new clothes. The kid who didn’t have a dad at any school activities. I feel less than adequate. Deep down, I never feel good enough.

“Come on, let’s go grab lunch,” he says. I follow him to the elevators. I know he’s trying to cheer me up. Penn is a little boy and an old man all rolled into one. I decide to distract myself by asking him about his latest dating conquest.

“How’s Sherry?” I ask as we ride down.

He groans. “I don’t know. I mean, the sex is…hot as fuck, but I just don’t feel a connection.” He shrugs and I wonder if he’ll ever find someone who gets him. There are so many layers to Penn. He just needs to find someone willing to stick around and peel each one back.

I change the subject to a recent baseball game we both watched, and we chat about it while we walk down the street to a restaurant he found on an app. We get a few looks, but I’m grateful we haven’t had anyone come up to us for autographs. I hate that we have done all of this with no security. My team is going to murder me when I get home.

We’re ushered to a back table after the hostess asks us for a photo. We ask that she wait a few days to post them, which she agrees to do. It’s surprising how many people agree to that when we ask. It sometimes restores my faith in humanity.

We eat in relative silence, both of us deep in our own thoughts. I realize my mind keeps wandering to Sophia and wondering what she and Jordan are doing.

By the time we finish eating, I know what I want to do for the rest of the day.

“Let’s go find Sophia and Jordan,” I suggest.

Penn grins. “Sounds like a plan.”

* * *

I look ahead and see her. Sophia is leaning on a railing and laughing at something Jordan is saying. She looks so relaxed. Now that I think about it, she’s handled all of this way better than most people would. Even after all these years, I sometimes forget how unnerving it can be to be around one of us, let alone all four of us.

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