She smiled, as memories flickered of times when they used to sing that eighties song at family and church talent shows back in high school days. Almost like putting a seal on stamping out any speculation that they were more than friends. A bit like she had done tonight.
“So, uh, what does this week hold for you?” she asked him.
As she stroked Charlie, Jordan told her a bit about the latest happenings at Donwell, and she paid much closer attention than the last few times.
“So Lionel is struggling, huh?” Was it unchristian of her to be glad that the man who coasted off other people’s hard work was finally having to pay the piper? Probably. Oh well.
“You don’t need to sound so glad about it. Especially when it means I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces he keeps missing.”
“Oh. Well, thatisbad. I’m sorry.”
He sighed. “It’s not the same as when you were there—”
She opened her mouth to remind him he’d encouraged her to quit.
“—but I think it’s good, because it’s proving to Dean, yet again, how much load you actually carried.”
His words, far from being a reprimand, only proved how much he encouraged her.God bless him.
“So I suspect Dean is rethinking how much responsibility he’s given to the undeserving,” Jordan concluded.
“And that perhaps some others are due a little more responsibility?” she suggested.
“Maybe.”
A cruise ship’s lights snagged her attention as it slowly drifted past. “Are you sure you don’t want to come work for Dream Match?”
“Do you miss me that much?”
“You know I value your steady head.”
There was a pause for a moment. Then he cleared his throat. “That’s me. Steady head.”
“I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
“It’s okay. I know exactly what you mean.” He made a noise halfway between a sigh and a yawn. “Look, it’s getting late. I’m glad you’re okay, but I need to go.”
“Thanks again for coming in tonight. I really, truly appreciate you.”
Another moment lengthened into two beats, three beats, four.
“EJ, do you ever think—?” He coughed. “No, forget it.”
“Forget what?” she asked, curious.
Another couple of seconds passed before he chuckled. “I see what you did there.”
Huh? It wasn’t a joke.
“I need to go. Talk again soon. Have a good sleep, EJ.”
“You too,” she murmured. “Sweet dreams.”
The call ended, and she was left looking at the phone, at the image taken last year of Jordan and her looking intently at the camera, like they were models for fashion week. Serious, yet also not.
A little like how Jordan had sounded. Serious, then not.
What had he been about to ask? She wished she knew. He’d really gone above and beyond tonight, and she truly was appreciative.
