Page 22 of The Unravelings

“I’m sorry, you said… Gah!” he hollers when the waitress shrieks, accidentally spilling coffee all over his lap. “Hot, hot, hot!” he hisses, grabbing a napkin and dabbing the front of his pants.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry!” Mona cries out, grabbing a large linen napkin from the front of her apron, and cleans up the mess on his lap with a pained expression.

“It’s okay,” Jordy squeaks out, attempting to bat her hands away, and gently grabs her wrists. “I promise,” he says, looking deep into her eyes. He swallows hard and then breaks his hold on her by shaking his head.

“I’ll get you more coffee,” she squeaks, turning bright red.

“How’s the flagpole?” I smirk when Mona is far enough away behind the counter.

“Hurting,” he grits out and blows a breath. “I swear…” He looks at the counter again, licking his lips. “I know her from somewhere.”

“Maybe she looks like someone you know?” I ask, taking a sip of my coffee and setting it down. “God, you didn’t boink her, did you?

“What? No! At least, I don’t think so. My girl was a brunette,” he huffs, darting his eyes toward the counter and taking in Mona, our blonde waitress with assessing eyes. His head shakes. “I think I’d remember her. But baconnnnn,” he groans, shoving two pieces into his mouth at once. “God, so good,” he garbles through a mouth full of food.

A man approaches the table. “I am so sorry, sir. Here is your new cup of coffee, and consider this on the house. I’m Charlie. The manager.” His voice shakes slightly with fear.

Jordy waves the manager off, pouring three sugar packets and a cup of creamer into his new coffee. He groans when he swallows down a few gulps, finishing with a loud “Ahhh.”

“It’s cool, dude,” Jordy says unbothered. “It was an accident.”

The manager swallows hard, twiddling his thumbs in front of him. “You’ll be okay, right? I’m so sorry she dumped the coffee on your lap. She’s new and…” His brows furrow as he looks over his shoulder, probably searching for the poor soul who made the mistake.

“No problem at all,” Jordy grins. “I want to enjoy this bacon and pancakes.” He demonstrates this by taking a huge bite. Syrup drips over his lips and down his chin.

The manager physically deflates. “Thank you, sir,” he says, nodding toward me.

Jordy chuckles when the waiter walks away behind the counter. “Sir,” Jordy chuckles. “Maybe you’re more convincing than I thought, because you sure as hell don’t look like Oliver today.” He takes in my shirt with a wrinkled nose. “I mean, that T-shirt is hiding your boobily boobs.” A mischievous grin spreads across his lips when I frown at him and sigh.

“Ugh. Shut up, Jordy. I swear,” I groan, shaking my head. “So, what about your case? You’re still chasing the thief?” I shove a large bite of pancake into my mouth, humming at the delicious taste, despite the stomach acid churning in my guts.

“Yup. I thought I had her in my sights, but she’s slippery. But I’m Jordan Van Horn, agent of the damn law,” he groans out, basically having an orgasm with his pancakes.

“And that means what exactly?”

“That I’ve got a tracker on the vehicle she was using. I hope, at least. I don’t know what she looks like, though…” His nose wrinkles when he takes another bite. “But I’m so close. I swear if Jonathan sends Remington and Colt, like he threatened⁠—”

Ah. Agent Eight and Agent Nine. The twins that came right after Jordy was saved. We all trained together, Jordy and I more than them. And for some reason, he loathes them both.

“Uncle wants this case closed like yesterday. It’s too bad I can’t find the thief to drag her away,” he continues through a mouthful of food. “But what does he expect me to do? It’s only been like two weeks,” he grumbles, swallowing his mouthful and piling another bite in.

I snort. “Well, you’d better get it done then, slowpoke. What have you got on them? Pictures? Videos?”

Jordy swallows his bite. “After we eat, I can show you. You’ll be blown away.” He gives me a syrupy grin. “It’s in my SUV. I think my thief is on the move. So, I’m about to report in and be on my way.”

“You think? How do you know?”

He snorts. “I’ve got my ways, Livy Poo.” He taps the side of his head several times.

By the time we’re done eating, I’m feeling a lot better about my situation. I’m not the only agent in the field having a hell of a time. And although I don’t want to go back to Greenwood, Jordy says he has faith in me not to die. Reassuring? Not exactly. But I know I’ll survive this entire ordeal. At least, I hope I do.

“All right,” Jordy mumbles, wiping his face with his napkin, and stands. “Let’s go. I’ve got everything I need in my SUV. Maybe your smart brain will save the day. Plus, I need to change my pants,” he grumbles, gazing at the wet spot on his crotch.

“It looks like you peed yourself,” I chuckle, grabbing the check. “I’ll pay. You go pull around?”

Jordy blinks a few times, feeling his pockets, and frowns. “Yeah… You do that… I’ll…”

“What’s wrong?” I look him up and down.