It wasn’t hunger. Not quite admiration either.
It was… hesitation. Like there was a question caught behind his teeth.
Atticus slowed just enough to fall into step beside him. “You okay?”
Jordan nodded, eyes still tracking Jericho’s back.
“Did you need something?” Atticus asked again, gentler this time.
Jordan hesitated, then halted, finally looking at him. “You’re… kind of like Cree’s foster dad, right?”
Atticus stopped short, blinking at him. “What?”
“Like, I know you’re not really his foster dad,” Jordan rushed on, “but he’s no-contact with his adoptive parents, and he doesn’t know his real ones, and he talks about you and Jericho more than any other…adults.” He made air quotes around the word, like it tasted strange.
“Okay…” Atticus said carefully.
“What is it with you people and that word?” he muttered under his breath.
Atticus genuinely had no idea where this was going. “Did you want to ask me something? Or tell me something? Are you okay?”
Jordan started to nod, then stopped himself. “Yeah—never mind. It’s nothing. Well. Not nothing, but not important. Not when there’s a pregnant lady about to pop any second now.”
Oh.Ohh.
“You like him,” Atticus said before he could stop himself.
Jordan’s eyes went wide. “No. Well—yes. But, like, I don’t reallyknowhim either. Just that he’s really quiet and likes movies and Lake and he’s really sweet and—” He swallowed. “And really pretty. So. Yeah.”
Atticus felt something click quietly into place, like a puzzle piece he hadn’t known he was holding. They’d all been focusing on whatever they thought might eventually unfold between Lake and Matty if they were ever in the same room again, but had failed to miss the ship sailing right in front of them.
Atticus bit back a smile. “You’ve just summed up about all I’ve learned about him in the several years I’ve known him. If you managed to glean all of that from him in the short time you’ve been here, I’m guessing he likes you back.”
“Really?” Jordan asked, voice cracking just a little.
Atticus nodded. “Really.”
Jordan’s face split into a grin that transformed his whole expression, like someone had turned on a light behind his eyes. It was clear he wasn’t trying to be cool or guarded. It was true joy. Atticus could see why Cree liked him immediately. He was Cree’s opposite in almost every way, open where Cree was closed, expressive where Cree was reserved. Loud where Cree was quiet. Light where Cree was dark.
Cute.
“He’ll be here later,” Atticus added.
Jordan flushed, hugging himself and rocking slightly on his heels, like he was trying to physically contain his excitement. “I know,” he said. “He told me.”
Yeah. Very cute.
“Anything else you want to ask me?” Atticus asked gently.
Jordan shook his head quickly. “No—I’m—I’m good. Thanks.”
“Okay,” Atticus said, but he lingered, instinct kicking in, the same one that kept him hovering near kids who looked like they might bolt if left alone with their thoughts.
“I think I’ll just… go wait for the others in the kitchen,” Jordan said, pointing vaguely in that direction.
Before Atticus could respond, a voice rang out from the front door.
“Hello?”
