Jordan rolled her eyes but enabled my asshole brother to cuddle against her, a dare on his face.Make me stop. Stop me.
The thing was—I was so used to Jordan flirting. She had charm and rizz that oozed out of her. She loved receiving attention and flirting back. It meant nothing to her, and it never really bothered me. Not when she was like this. Back at the hotel, she showed real interest in Liam. She had too many tells of what was real and not, and I hated that I knew them.
She was just having fun with my brother. I forced myself to look away and stare at the fire. The heat warmed my face, calming me down a bit.
“What were you two talking about that was bullshit? I love a good argument,” Jordan asked.
“Oh, just Preston saying he doesn’t want to date. I called bullshit. He’s the most romantic person I know.”
Fuck. My face burned.
“Romantic?” Jordan asked with a slight lilt to her voice. “No way.”
“Way, way,” Price said, his tone egging me on. “One time?—”
“This is why I don’t invite you over,” I interrupted. “You’re airing my shit.”
“Hello, that is why people have brothers?”
“That is true, Preston, but back to what Price said. You’re romantic? Ready to date?”
“No,” I said at the same time Price said yes. I glared at him, but his grin doubled. “Why are you the way that you are?”
“Genetics. Environment. You. I’m a gift.” He shrugged and shifted away from Jordan. “I’m grabbing a beer. If we’re gonna be stuck here for two days, might as well enjoy myself.”
“Sure, help yourself. Please.” Sarcasm dripped from my voice, yet my brother just gave me two thumbs-up before disappearing into the kitchen. “God, he’s the worst.”
“Nah, he’s fun.” Jordan scooted her butt on the floor to move closer to me. “Are you wanting to date?”
“He’s riling me up, that’s all. Ignore him.”
“Is it true though? You won’t answer the question.”
“It’s complicated.” I sighed. “I’m not…I’d date if it was the right person.”As in, if you wanted to give this a shot, then yes, I’d date you and be romantic as fuck.I said none of those things though. I twisted the end of my shirt between my fingers. “But when I’m into someone, I am romantic.”
“Flowers and candles and stuff?”
“Maybe.” I thought about what Jordan would like. “If it were you, it’d be weird shit, like the blanket you have or an embarrassing T-shirt or a folding your laundry for you since it’s your least favorite thing in the world. Being romantic is just doing kind, thoughtful things for people you care about.”
She said nothing, and I didn’t look at her. The only reaction was a slight intake of her breath. Then she asked, “Are you looking for… the right person?”
I scrubbed a hand over my face, my pulse skipping a beat at her question. She was either messing with me or trying to pluck the truth. She must’ve suspected I was in love with her, which wasn’t good. If she knew that, she’d run far away, fast. Chancing a look at her, she stared at me with wide, light blue eyes brimming withsomething.Fear? Lust? Want? I had no idea, but I had to change the subject. “Why? You thinking about setting me up with one of your friends?”
She blinked, and all traces of the emotion evaporated. She pursed her lips and gave me her bestfake flirtingsmile. “You name what you want, and I can find her.”
“There’s no need for that, alright? I’m good.”
I mentally groaned, wishing we could go back in time. If we were stuck two weeks ago, we’d be arguing and playing video games and poking each other. Now, there was this limbo. “We need a game.”
I stood up, desperate for things to go back to normal, where Jordan didn’t do her fake flirting with me or ask about who I wanted to date. “Price, you up for a game?”
“Hell yeah.” He walked out with three beers just as the lights flickered off. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
My breathing halted. The power was out.
“Hey, we’ll be okay.” Jordan gripped my forearm, her touch reassuring as she tugged. I faced her, my face frozen with worryas she ran her hand up my arm and to my face. “Let’s layer up and keep the fire going. I have a portable charger, so we can take turns on our phones.”
“Flashlights are in the kitchen counter,” I said, a bit monotone. “Everyone grab one.”
