Page 91 of Limbo

Please.

“You going?” he asks.

I shrug and set the phone on the cushion. I’ve seen Pete on his birthday every year since he turned five. Even if only for a few minutes, like last year when I stopped by the party and made an excuse to leave right away. It’s one of the few things that has never changed over the years.

Jordan’s already dressed, his hair dripping from his shower when I step into the bathroom doorway. I take advantage of the mirror and stare at his reflection. Given the reaction he has to the mere mention of Pete, I can’t imagine he’ll jump at the opportunity to spend time in the guy’s physical presence. Not that I blame him. A few days ago, I almost ripped a girl’s hair out because she touched him.

He looks up and sees me behind him. I smile, and he reads me right away.

He drops his towel in the hamper and meets my gaze in the mirror. “What do you want from me?” he asks.

I chew on my lip. “Pete’s birthday party’s tonight.”

His eyes leave mine, and he runs his hands through his hair. Of course, it can’t be that easy. I slide my arms around him and press up against his back.

“Not happening, beautiful. I’m not going to your ex-boyfriend’s birthday party.”

I lay my cheek on his back and drag my fingers down to his stomach. “We can just make an appearance and leave as soon as you want to.”

His muscles tense under my touch. “I already want to leave, so no point in going.”

“Don’t you want to know more about who I used to be?” I ask.

It takes a second for him to answer, “Nah.”

Not ready to give up yet, I slip around, between him and the mirror. I usually break him down by pouting, but he looks too determined, so I’ll need a stronger argument.

My gaze lowers down his body, and I tug at the bottom of his shirt. “Not even if we fool around in the Jeep on our way?”

When I cast my eyes back up, I don’t need him to answer out loud. The hard swallow and heat in his eyes as he presses me against the sink says it for him—we’re going to Pete’s party.

Since Connor already has plans with his friends, I find a neighbor willing to watch Cate for a few hours.

We detour on our way to Sutterville, and in the middle of nowhere on a gravel road, I follow through on the promise from the bathroom. I’m still breathing hard when we crawl back in the front, and his hair’s a sexy mess. I love that every time I look at him tonight, I’ll think about the reason.

Before we left, Cate asked for the hundredth time about her book. She left it at Graham’s last weekend and has missed it every night since. Not wanting her to suffer any longer, I’ll bite the bullet and get it for her. So, instead of sending Jordan to Main Street, I direct him to the south side of Sutterville.

He parks behind Graham’s truck. I’m surprised to see it there since it rarely is on a Saturday night.

Jordan glances over with a serious expression. “Is this Graham’s house?”

I almost ask how he knows but remember he’s seen the truck before at the dorms. “Cate’s lived without her favorite book all week because she forgot it,” I say.

He grabs my hand when I reach for the door handle. “She’ll be fine until next weekend.”

The concern in his eyes almost stops me. “In and out. Two minutes, tops.”

After a few seconds, his grip on my hand loosens. I hurry across the yard, wanting to keep it under a minute if at all possible.

The light in the kitchen is the only one on in the house other than a strip coming from under Graham’s door at the end of the hall. With no plans on letting him know I’m here, I duck into Cate’s room and grab the book off her pillow. When I turn around, I suck in a breath, startled by him in the doorway.

“Jesus.” I press a hand to my chest. “You scared me.”

He says nothing at first, just stands there, arm braced on the frame. My eyes adjust enough to see his shirt haphazardly buttoned and his hair sticking up. Then I hear a high-pitched voice call his name.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, ignoring whatever guest he’s entertaining.

I hold up the book as an explanation.

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