My phone pings in my pocket, and I take it out, looking at the text.
Colton: Change of plans. I’ll be home for a few weeks before school starts back up. Count me in for rafting.
Jordan: That’s awesome, man. How’d you work that one?
Colton: My dad’s having knee surgery, so I have a couple of weeks of freedom. When Dad said he wanted to help me network in DC this summer, he conveniently forgot to mention the choke hold he’d have on my schedule. I’m so burnt out.
Jordan: Sounds like rafting will be just the thing.
Colton: You have no idea.
Jordan: We’ll count you in.
I pocket the phone. Colton Downing is the son of US Senator Downing and—if his dad has any say—his dad’s protégé. Colton and I have been part of the same friend group since I moved to Colorado in high school, and he’s one of my closest friends. But since he’s getting his law degree at Yale during the school year and has been networking in DC over the summer, we rarely see each other in person. It will be nice to have him on the rafting trip with me, Paige, Ji, and Missy. If only our friend Miles could make it, then the old gang would be back together again. But Miles is in Ecuador for the summer, doing humanitarian aid.
I scoot my camera bag over and rummage through my trunk until I grab Paige’s light-blue jacket, which is soft and still smells like her, something warm with a hint of coconut. I close the trunk before jogging back upstairs with it in tow.
When I reach Paige’s row of cubicles, I’m surprised to see Zia standing next to Paige. I’d almost forgotten about my literal run-in with Zia—not that she’s easy to forget. Zia is beautiful and has this confidence that just drew me in, but after watching Paige flip over her chair in the conference room, I got so worried about her that everything else seemed to vanish into the gray space of my mind.
Seeing Zia again, I’m reminded of how easy our back-and-forth was in the hallway. She’s flirty and has that mythical “it” factor. I know that if we were to go out, and I hope we will, the best part wouldn’t be the dinner or the movie but the conversations, the kind where even mundane topics seemexciting and no matter how long you talk, you’re left wanting more.
I mean, I’m not getting on one knee anytime soon—I just met the woman. But she’s the type a guy puts into the you-better-not-mess-this-up category before even getting her number.
When I get closer to Paige and Zia, I notice Zia is handing Paige paper towels from the stack in her hand. “I’m so sorry about your spill in the conference room,” Zia is saying. “When Vanessa told me, I came running.”
A slight blush tinges Paige’s cheeks, but her tears are gone. “Thanks, Zia,” Paige says as she takes another paper towel from her.
Paige’s outfit is nearly dry, and whatever would come out was probably dabbed out in the bathroom earlier, but Paige still presses the paper towels to her clothes as if they’re helping her in a big way.
When I step in front of the cubicle, both sets of eyes look up at me. I smile at the two of them before handing Paige her blue jacket. “I thought this might be better than the stain.”
Paige sighs with relief. “You’re the best.”
Zia’s eyes narrow and her bright lips part as if she’s doing math in her head. Then she seems to solve the problem. “You’re Paige’s Jordan!”
I open my mouth to respond, but Paige cuts me off like a motorcycle in rush hour traffic.
“No, no, he’s not mine. He’s his. He’s just Jordan. We’re just friends,” she says, making her feelings on our relationship clear as day.
“Well, that’s perfect, because I’ve been meaning to set you up on a date with my cousin.” Zia beams at Paige. “I was talking to him the other day about his type, and he pretty much described you. I just knew I had to get you two together.”
Paige blanches, and her nervous gaze shifts over to me as if she’s suddenly uncomfortable with my presence.
Squirminess works its way up my body.
Paige and I have been through a lot, and we know quite a bit about each other, but one thing we’ve steered clear of these past months is discussing our dating lives in front of each other. The night of high school graduation, Paige told me she loved me, and I didn't react well. What was supposed to be one of the most fun nights of our lives turned out to be the night that nearly broke our friendship for good. And even though Paige and I are clearly just friends now, somehow, the idea of discussing love and all its intricacies pokes at a tender spot in our friendship.
“He’s been living abroad for several years and even did a stint in the Peace Corps. He’s just moved here to get his company established in the States,” Zia continues, completely oblivious to the fact that Paige and I are about as comfortable as ice cubes on hot pavement. “His company helps make water more accessible to villages in third-world countries. He’s awesome.” She smiles at Paige. “And looks-wise, he’s a ten.”
Zia’s eyes spark as if she’s been struck by an idea, and she grabs hold of my arm. I flinch at the suddenness of her touch, and my arm muscles shift. Suddenly, Zia’s hand squeezes my bicep several times, and she raises her eyebrows, suggesting that she likes what’s there. I’m not one to blush, but an unexpected heat works its way up my neck.
Zia grins then looks from me to Paige. “We have to go on a double date,” she says excitedly. “We can totally plan it.” She looks at me, and I realize I’m part of the “we” in her idea. “And Paige can go with my cousin. Oh, you two would just be so cute together. Wait,” Zia says, “I have a picture of him on—”
“Paige, I forgot to tell you. Colton texted and said he’s in for the rafting trip.” I know I’m being rude to Zia, but a double date with Paige? We need to derail that train of thought beforeit gains traction. I reach up to my collar, half expecting there to be a tie I can loosen, but I’m not wearing one. Instead, I pop the button nearest my neck.
“Oh, that’s great.” Paige turns to Zia, trying to make up for my lapse in social etiquette and include Zia after I basically boxed her out. “We have this rafting trip we’re doing this year with some friends from high school, and it sounds like our friend Colton can make it now.”
“Oh, fun,” Zia says. She doesn’t press for more information, but her deflated smile tells me she wants to say more.
