Page 137 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
“Fuckinggetout.”
Jonah’s gruff voice makes me jump backward, breaking the kiss with Torren. When I whip around to face him, he’s scowling from the bathroom doorway, chest still wet from a shower and his bottom half wrapped in a low-slung towel.
“I have company coming. You two can’t be dry-humping in the suite unless you’re gonna make it a group project.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but Torren chuckles. “Don’t worry. We’re leaving now.”
He takes my hand in his and leads me toward the door.
“Fucking finally,” Jonah shouts, then a door slams, and when I look over my shoulder, he’s gone.
“What company does he have coming at nine in the morning?” I ask as Torren ushers me out the door and toward the elevator. Since I’ve started staying with Torren, Jonah has never been up before noon. “I’ve never seen him up this early.”
Torren presses the elevator button. “Honestly, it’s probably a video chat with his therapist.”
“It’s not Thursday.”
“Sometimes we schedule more if we need them.”
His brows slant slightly as we step into the elevator, and I watch him through the mirrored walls. When his lips purse, concern tightens my chest.
“Is he not doing well?”
Jonah’s back to being distant and standoffish, and I’ll admit that it bothered me at first. I thought we’d somehow be closer after that night in Miami, but the next morning, and every morning since, Jonah’s proved me wrong. He doesn’t talk to me on the bus. He doesn’t spend time around Torren when I’m with him. He’s back to rarely looking at me. Forget any chance of a smirk or a smile. He’s ArtFusion Jonah again, and before this moment, I thought it was just...normal. Torren’s silence tells me it’s not.
“Tor, I can move back to Sav and Mabel’s bus. I don’t mind Levi. He’s nice.”
“No. That’s not necessary.”
“Obviouslysomethingis wrong with Jonah. All signs point to me.”
He sighs and turns to face me, cupping my face and running his thumb over my jaw. “It’s not you, Cal. Trust me. He’s just...he’s moody. He gets like this. He’ll be fine. He just needs space.”
I bounce my eyes between his, and the concern I see there makes my heart ache. I’m not always sure what to think of The Hometown Heartless, but one thing I’m learning is that they care about each other fiercely. They’ve been through a lot together, and when one hurts, they all hurt.
“Maybe we should start getting our own room in the hotels, then? To at least give him the space he needs.”
Torren’s jaw clenches and he shakes his head. “That won’t work. I need to...”
I nod and force a smile. He doesn’t have to say it. He needs towatchhim. The realization fills me with dread instead of hope.
“Anyway, let’s stop talking about this.” The elevator door opens, and Torren leads me into the lobby. “I’ve planned a really fun day for us. I want your first experience of New York to be great.”
Excitement starts to consume my worry, and I flash him a grin.
“Are you going to give me any hints?”
“Nope.”
When he winks at me, my stomach does another backflip, and I have to bite my lip to keep from giggling. They’ve been consistently growing, but since Miami, it’s like my feelings for him have multiplied substantially overnight. It’s...overwhelming...to say the least.
He keeps surprising me with these thoughtful gestures, small and large alike. Grabbing me coffee in the morning without my asking. Making sure the scones I’ve started to love are always on the breakfast menu. And now this day-jaunt through New York City all because I mentioned on the drive here that I’d never been. Tonight is the last show at Madison Square Garden before we have to catch a flight to Los Angeles, but Torren insisted on blocking out the entire day for us. It’s been a long time since someone has taken care of me, since someone has worried about my happiness, and I’m starting to really enjoy it.
I recognize how reckless that is, but I keep circling back to Levi’s confession in Miami.
I trust Torren.
If he can trust him, I think I can too.
