“Jordan, this is everyone. Everyone, this is my brother Jordan.”
He gave a little wave.
“You want us to set you a plate? We have plenty of food,” Abby offered.
“He’s not staying,” Sam said quickly.
The awkwardness ratcheted up a notch.
The hurt that flickered across Jordan’s face was unmistakable, but he covered it with determination. “I wasn’t playing around. I’m not leaving here without you. I’vealready bought us plane tickets for a 2 p.m. flight out of Missoula tomorrow.”
“Jordan—”
“Sam, please. Two weeks. That’s all I’m asking. Come home, see Mom, Dad, and Eric, and if you still want nothing to do with us after that, I’ll back off. I promise.”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Sam looked cornered and genuinely, desperately on the verge of panic in a way I’d never seen from her. Sam was always so bright and happy and carefree. But right now she looked like she was drowning.
“I…” Her voice cracked.
My heart squeezed.
“Okay, we’ll come.”
Every head in the room swiveled toward Gordy who was watching Jordan.
Jordan’s eyebrows rose at his statement. “We?”
“Sam and I.” Gordy’s hand rested on the small of Sam’s back, and Sam turned to look at him.
“You’re coming too? As her roommate?” Jordan clarified.
“As her boyfriend.”
The silence that followed was nuclear.
Then Abby sucked in a sharp breath beside me while Liam made a choked sound and Drew muttered “what the fuck” under his breath.
I was stunned. I’d known something was going on with them, but had they seriously been dating behind our backs? Why?
What the hell was going on here?
“I thought you said he was your roommate,” Jordan said carefully.
“Uh, yeah, he is.”
“And I’m her boyfriend,” Gordy said. “Who’ll be coming to Seattle with her.”
Jordan’s gaze darted between Gordy and Sam who did genuinely look like a couple as they stood there with Gordy’s arm around her and his hand holding her waist now.
“You’ll make sure she gets to the airport?” Jordan asked Gordy.
“I’ll take care of the seats since you’ll need another one now that I’m coming.”
“Alright, I’ll text you the flight details,” Jordan said, pulling out his phone. “We can all meet at the airport tomorrow.” He paused, glancing at Gordy with approval. “It’s good that she has someone. I’m glad she’s not… I’m glad she has you.”
Once he’d sent the details he put his phone away. “I should go,” Jordan said, heading for the door. “Let you guys finish dinner. But Sam?” He looked back at her, and his expression softened. “I really am glad I came. Even if you’re pissed at me.”
“I’m not pissed,” she said quietly. “I’m just…”
