She pulls the lids off the curry and opens the boxes of rice. “Well, it’s notwhatshe said, it’showshe said it.”
I smother a laugh and sit on the edge of the couch, pulling the coffee table closer. “I’m gonna need an example.”
She straightens, tilts her chin, cocks a brow, and drags her gaze over me with that judgy up-and-down that women do best. Then, in her most condescending voice, she says, “Who are you? Do you have an appointment?” She huffs. “And then she smirked at me, Matt. Shesmirked!”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Give her a break. She’s young. And you’re intimidating.”
“I’m not intimidating. I’m a very nice person.”
“The nicest,” I say, spooning a heap of rice onto my plate. “And maybe a little jealous.”
She rolls her eyes. “Please.”
I glance at the array of curries. “Which ones have meat in them?”
She points to the red and yellow dishes. “These two.”
“Perfect.” I dig my spoon into the yellow one. “You’re a lifesaver, by the way.”
She just grins. She knows me. She knew I wouldn’t stop to eat.
The intercom buzzes again.
“Mr. Grayson, I have Lukas on line one for you.”
I exhale, walk to the desk, and press the intercom button. “Tell him I’m busy. I’ll call him back.” I glance at Jordan. “And hold my calls while Ms. Demetriou’s here.”
A slow smile spreads across her face as she fixes her plate, andfuck,my chest tightens.
I sit back down, ready to dig in when my cell phone rings. I start to stand, but Jordan stops me. “Stay. Eat. I’ll get it.”
She walks to my desk, picks it up, and grins. “It’s Cole. He’s FaceTiming.”
“Just let it ring. I’ll call him back later.”
“No way! I haven’t seen this kid in forever.” She plops down beside me, propping the phone on the table so we can both see. She answers, and Cole’s face fills the screen, his eyes lighting up when he sees us.
“Hi, Cole!” we both say.
“Hi, Uncle Matt. Hi, Jordan. I haven’t seen you in forever.” Cole’s always called me Uncle Matt.
Jordan smiles. “I know. It’s been a long time.”
“Hey, buddy,” I cut in. “How ya doing?”
“Good.” He doesn’t even pause before adding, “Will you take me to the new arcade next time you’re here? And I want to see that movie I told you about last week.”
I belt out a laugh. I don’t blame him. I spoil the shit out of this kid. “Sure. I can take you to the arcade. But didn’t your dad say no to that movie? If he gives the okay, I’ll take you.”
Nate’s mom and mine are sisters. He’s my only cousin, and since I don’t have siblings, he’s pretty much the only real family I have. We didn’t grow up in the same city, but he’s always been one of my bestfriends—the kind where no matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen each other, it’s like no time passed at all.
He knocked up a one-night stand in his early twenties, and nine months later she showed up on his doorstep with a baby he didn’t even know existed. Paternity test came back positive. Then she asked if he’d take the kid because she didn’t want him.
Props to Nate—he took Cole in and never looked back. She signed away her rights, and he’s been raising him solo for twelve years. He’s a badass. And he’s done a hell of a job.
I’d probably just let the kid see the movie, but only because I was doing way worse at his age. I was definitely stealing my dad’sPlayboymagazines by twelve and kissing Jordan not long after.
I still remember the first time I got brave enough to touch her boobs.
