Chapter 12
12
JORDAN
I t’s almost too implausible to be true, and yet... everything falls into place.
The Electrics. Paul Monroe.
Working together to take us down.
They tell me everything Logan Shock told them; the ten of us cramped into my suite. Some sit on the couch while others take their seats on the floor around the coffee table. Except Knox. He paces back and forth across the carpet in front of my bathroom door, one hand gently pinching his chin as he soaks it all in.
Bronson stands with his back to the door. Always listening.
After they explain their night, they demand I tell them what conspired between me and Mr. Monroe at dinner.
So, I tell them.
Every little confidential detail.
“This is nuts,” Addison says as she drops her head onto Harvey’s shoulder.
I nod in full agreement. “I feel so gross,” I say.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Jordan,” Katrina says beside me.
Knox snorts. “I wouldn’t say that.”
We all look at him as he stops, his glare locked on me.
“Why didn’t you tell us what you were up to tonight?” he asks.
“I already told you,” I say. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. Just a business dinner.”
“With Paul fucking Monroe,” he says.
“Knox,” Jonah says, warning him to keep his cool.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Knox,” I say. “When your boss flies into town and says he has something confidential to discuss with you, you go. I didn’t know what he was going to offer me. Nor did I know Logan Shock was going to crash our rehearsal.”
Knox crosses his arms. “Did you take his offer?” he asks.
My mouth sags. Everyone stares at me, awaiting my answer. I look at Bronson in the silence. His normally blank expression is... well, blank , but his eyes lock sharply with mine, eagerly listening.
“No,” I answer. “Of course I didn’t. Why would you even ask?”
“Well, you didn’t say,” Knox says.
“Because I thought it was obvious.” I push off the couch. “Of course, I didn’t accept his offer. I didn’t even consider it for a second.”
“So, you said no?” Knox says, pushing the topic. “Sorry, Paul. It’s not for me. Better luck next time?”
“Well... no.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I’d think about it.”
Knox sneers in disgust. “That’s called considering it, Jordan.”
“I just wanted to leave, so I told him what he wanted to hear. What else was I supposed to do?”
“Tell him to go fuck himself! That’s what I did.”
“Knox.” It’s Bronson warning him this time. “Back off.”
And this time, he listens. Knox bows his head and shifts a step back. “Sorry,” he says to me. “This just... really sucks.”
“I know,” I say. “It really does.”
He rubs his face before pushing his hands through his hair in frustration. As a new silence stretches between us, I look at Bronson, hoping to meet his gaze.
But his eyes are down now, locked on the floor.
“It’s probably good you didn’t shoot it down outright,” Addison says.
Jonah nods, his eyes sharp beneath his blue beanie. “I thought the same thing.”
“What do you mean?” Harmony asks.
“If Monroe is dumb enough to approach Jordan directly,” Addison says, “then he’s dumb enough to keep talking.”
“He’ll dig his own grave eventually,” Jonah says. “If you don’t mind playing along for a little while, Jordan.”
I shrug. “Sure.”
Knox snorts softly, but he says nothing. He doesn’t point out the obvious: that lying to the boss breaks a bunch of rules. Jordan doesn’t do that.
Jordan never does that.
As my eyes stray toward Bronson, Katrina clears her throat.
“Guess we’re working with The Electrics now,” she says, flashing a brief and nervous smile.
No one replies. It’s technically correct.
Doesn’t mean we like it.
“Harvey and I are heading out,” Addison tells me as the others trickle out of my room, their heads and shoulders heavy with thoughts. “As shitty as this evening has been so far, we made beach party plans with Drew and his Alpha Delta Zoo buddies.”
“Alpha Delta Xi,” Harvey corrects by her side, their hands locked together.
“Whatever. I’ll get it someday,” Addison says, lovingly rolling her eyes as she turns back to me. “That cool?”
“Fine with me,” I say with a shrug. “Have a good night. Breakfast bright and early. Eight o’clock.”
“Nine would be brighter, though,” she hints.
“But eight is an hour earlier, so...”
She deflates, then smiles. “Fine. We’ll see you at eight.”
“Goodnight, you guys,” I say.
“Goodnight!”
They leave. Thinking I’m alone, I plant my back to the door and release a heavy sigh toward the ceiling.
“Are you okay?”
I startle, noticing Bronson standing against the bathroom door. “I’m okay,” I say. “Just... tired.”
He nods, his eyes full of words I doubt he’ll ever speak aloud.
Or maybe he’s just waiting for me to say them first.
Don’t go, Bronson.
Stay with me tonight, please.
But we agreed before.
Just a one-time thing.
“Eight o’clock,” I say instead. “Bright and early.”
Bronson stares for another moment, then he pushes off the door and nods. “Eight o’clock.”
“Goodnight, Bronson.”
“Goodnight, Jordan.”
He leaves.