Dallas’ question prodded, poking at Jordan’s insecurity. Once upon a time, he’d have been able to say that with perfect assurance. These days, not so much. And while the past few conversations that Jordan had had with EJ suggested she was finally back on the right path again, he suspected it wouldn’t take much before the distractions of this world started to appeal again.
“Okay. Well, I don’t know why you think that’s something worthy of our time when we’re working here.”
“She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
Jordan shot him a look. “I think you and I should be glad that we don’t have people racing around trying to take photos of us, then forcing us to justify to strangers every single person we ever talk to. It’d be hard to live in a fishbowl like that, don’t you reckon?”
Dallas eyed him for a moment, the glee in his face fading.
Jordan really didn’t need to give this any more oxygen. It was best to move on and refocus attention on what actually wasmeant to be happening. “Okay, so I’m getting back to work. Hey, did you have that report ready for Wade Warren?”
Dallas put away his phone, and Jordan successfully managed to get him to think about what he was paid to do.
But he was less successful in managing to do the same. Why was EJ talking with Eric? What was Eric’s interest in her? Was he interested in the app—or in EJ?
Clearly he was going to have to call her tonight after work.
That night when he got back home, James said the same.
“Hey, Rachael saw the weirdest thing. Your friend, EJ? Apparently there are all these rumours that she’s going out with Eric Churchill. Crazy, huh?”
“Super crazy.” Okay. That decided him.
He got on the phone. Sent her a message. Was surprised and relieved when she replied straightaway. Then he called her.
“I didn’t think I’d get the chance to actually talk to you.”
“Wonders never cease.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Much better, thanks.”
“I figured you must be feeling better if you’re well enough to go to the gym.”
“The gym? How did you know?”
He paused. Shot up a prayer for wisdom so what he said would come across right. “Look, let’s just say that there are photos floating around of you at the gym.”
“What?” she shrieked. “Where? Why?”
“Yeah, they’re not really the questions to ask. The better question is who.”
“Who?”
“Yeah. Who you were seen with.”
She paused a moment. Then, “Oh my goodness. You mean pics from last night? Don’t tell me people are thinking that Eric and I are an item.”
“So you’re not?”
“Of course not! No, we just happened to bump into each other at the same gym.”
Just happened, huh? He pressed his lips together.
“And Eric gave me some tips on the rowing machine.”
Jordan rolled his eyes. Of course he did.
