Page 18 of Yours to Lose
He shrugs, looking uncertain, like he has absolutely no idea how he ended up on a bench outside a museum in a city where he no longer lives.
“Okay, let’s try a different question. Are you planning on going in?”
The uncertainty on his face deepens as he turns, eyes scanning the building. “I don’t know.”
I don’t know what Jordan’s doing here, but I do know he has enough friends in this city that he could absolutely have made plans with one of them today. Or, he could have found some fortress of solitude to hole up in for the day. But he didn’t do either of those things. Instead, he came to a busy museum to sit outside and look at it. There has to be a reason.
Taking a chance, I stand, holding out my hand to him. “Come on.”
His gaze moves from my hand up to my face. “Come on where?”
“Come with me into the museum. I want to show you something cool.”
“I’m not a member anymore.”
The confusion in his voice makes me laugh. And I like theanymore, because it means he was a member once, which means this is a familiar place for him. “You’re kidding right?” Picking up the badge still hanging around my neck I shake it. “Museum staff, remember? I have access to all the best places.”
I wiggle the fingers on the hand I still have extended in his direction. “Come on. You’ll love it; I promise. And if you don’t, you can always come back out here and keep staring up at the building instead of doing all the awesome things inside of it.”
Jordan heaves a sigh. “Does anyone say no to you?”
I flash a grin. “Rarely ever. I’m very persuasive, and if you say no, I’ll just nag you until you give in, so it’s really not worth the trouble. Now come on.”
He finally reaches up and takes my hand, standing to his full height ofextremely tall. I’m prepared for the jolt that comes when he slides his hand into mine. I felt it the other night in Hallie’s backyard when Jordan’s hand grazed mine accidentally. It surprised me then, but it doesn’t surprise me now. I’ve always thought some people were just drawn to each other, and something about Jordan calls to me. I believe enough in the mysterious and unknown to believe that. It doesn’t have to mean anything other than I’m going to be the best damn friend Jordan Wyles has ever had.
Jordan obviously doesn’t agree because he drops my hand instantly, the look on his face waffling between confusion and light terror. For some reason, that makes me smile.
“Let’s go, Jordan. Be prepared to be amazed.”
* * *
“Jo, go home girl,” Barb says when we run into her just inside the doorway to the museum. “You’re not leaving for six weeks. All your work will still be waiting for you tomorrow.”
“I had actually already left, but I ran into my friend Jordan here, and I want to show him the rocks.”
Barb sizes up Jordan, who is standing in the very crowded museum lobby with his hands shoved into his pockets, then turns back to me, eyes gleaming. “Friend, huh?”
Jordan flushes a little, which delights me, so I wink at him. “You bet.”
Barb grins at me. “Well, okay then. Enjoy the rocks, and nice to meet you, Jordan. You must be someone special. Jo doesn’t show the rocks to just anyone.”
Jordan’s mouth is set in a line as he watches Barb walk away, his entire mood giving,what the fuck is happening right now. Good. I think it’s been far too long since this man had any unexpected fun.
“Follow me.”
Five minutes later, we’re snaking our way through the winding, brightly lit hallways of the museum basement. Jordan hasn’t said a word, but I know he’s paying attention, peeking into the windows of the various labs and work rooms, because his pace slows, so I slow mine too, wanting him to have the opportunity to see whatever he wants to see. I get it. The museum basement is mysterious and a touch creepy, and it feels a little forbidden. It’s one of my favorite places on earth.
“You going to tell me where we’re going, Hurricane?”
I laugh and turn, my eyes meeting his. “Hurricane?”
He shrugs and shuffles his feet a little uncomfortably, as if maybe he didn’t mean to say that, but his eyes stay on mine. It’s the most adorable thing since his flushed face upstairs. “Seems fitting. You’re like a spinning vortex of energy. Do you ever get tired?”
“Nah, and even when I feel tired, I can never fall asleep. I’d much rather be up doing something than lying in bed being frustrated because I’m still awake.”
“Sounds familiar,” he mumbles.
It’s the first time he has offered up anything personal, so I’m immediately curious. “You don’t sleep well?”
