Chapter 10 #2
With my elbows braced on the kitchen island, I switch the call to hands-free and set my phone down in front of me, resting a cheek in my left palm. The second I do, I remember Jack sitting on the opposite side with his cocky grin as we discussed grocery shopping.
“I ended it a couple of weeks ago,” I say. “I’ve kind of been ghosting him, but it’s not been deliberate. I just haven’t had a lot to say. He wants his stuff back, and I literally just agreed to meet him on Friday, so he shouldn’t bother you again.”
There’s a long pause before Ollie replies.
“I thought you were in love with the guy?”
I shake my head to no one. “I think I got over the breakup way before I actually ended it, Ol.”
I hear the faint sound of a turn signal as he continues to drive.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m fucking relieved. You knew my thoughts on that asshole were similar to Mom and Dad’s. Speaking of which, you plan on telling them anytime soon?”
I shrug a shoulder. “At some point, yeah. I’ve been waylaid by trying to find a new place since mine was condemned.”
“What?!” Ollie blurts out. “Kendra, why the fuck am I only hearing all of this now and after I called you?”
“I’m sorry,” I groan. “I’ve been so preoccupied with getting everything organized. I’ve been off the grid.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Ollie replies. “But you’re all settled now, right? Where are you living?”
I look around Jack’s lavish apartment, sunlight creeping in through the expansive windows. The place is stunning for sure, but somehow, it feels different without him here.
“Kind of,” I answer with zero intention of divulging my current whereabouts to my brother.
“Listen,” he says as I hear the road noise fade out to silence. “I might be a guy with absolutely no dating experience since I can’t seem to hold down a relationship to save my life, but I wasn’t born yesterday, Kendra.” His tone is a touch sharp, and it catches me off guard.
“Huh?”
“Well, let’s look at the evidence, shall we?
First, you tell me you split with the long-term boyfriend you’d moved across the country for.
Now, you’re telling me your place has been condemned …
” He says that word in a doubtful way. “And suddenly, you’re being all vague and shit over where you’re living.
Why don’t you just go ahead and tell me without telling me that you’ve met someone else? ”
My heart rate picks up. I guess it does sound like that.
“That’s not true,” I reply, struggling for a plausible alibi.
I rarely spoke to Ollie about any of Tyler’s teammates, but he is a huge ice hockey and Seattle Scorpions fan, and I know Jon Morgan was his number one player back in the day. So, telling him I’m shacked up with his stepson? Well, let’s just say, I hope he’s pulled his car over.
“So, what is true, Kendra? And what’s with the secrets all of a sudden? We’ve always told each other everything.”
The hurt in my brother’s voice has me questioning—and regretting—my previous decision to withhold the truth from him.
“If I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe me,” I say, taking another sip of coffee now that it’s had a chance to cool.
“Try me.”
“Okay,” I say, figuring this can be the trial run for when I break it to Jenna later today. “So, you know Jon Morgan?”
“No, Kendra. Never heard of the guy. Wait. Fuck me, he’s married! Kendra, I never thought I’d say this out loud, but please tell me you aren’t involved with my hero. Because if he’s cheating on his wife, then I’ll never look at him the same way again. My childhood will be ruined.”
I burst out laughing and then halt abruptly. “But you wouldn’t be bothered about my behavior?”
“Details, Kendra.”
“I’m living with his stepson.”
Like he’s choked on his own breath or something, Ollie starts coughing. “You’re getting into it with Jack freakin’ Morgan? Fuck … I don’t know whether to slap you or salute you. You’re straight out of one relationship and st—”
“We aren’t dating,” I interject. “He offered me a place to crash for a few weeks since I can’t afford alternatives right now, and I took it. He’s a nice guy.”
“I’m not even going to get into the reasons why you didn’t come to me or our parents with your financial woes since I know you’re as stubborn as a fucking mule, but, Kendra, Jack Morgan? Didn’t you once tell me he was Tyler’s rival?”
“Still is.”
The laugh that rings down my phone is enough to hurt my ears, even when on loudspeaker.
“And I assume Tyler has no idea about this?”
“Zero, and it needs to stay that way. The plan is for me to live here for a few weeks, save up some cash, and then find something else.”
Silence.
“Ollie?” I say, checking the line is still connected.
“I’m here, Kendra,” he replies after a few more seconds. “But I gotta ask, are you sure you aren’t sweet on him? It’s a pretty big deal to just accept something like that. From a guy’s point of view, it’s an even bigger one for him to offer.”
I pause, not knowing how to answer. I know what I should say, what my head is screaming internally, but there’s something else stopping me from denying that I don’t feel something between us.
Crazy thinking, Kendra. He’s a nice guy, helping a girl out.
“No,” I reply. “He’s being a gentleman, and I’m simply grateful, nothing more.”
My brother exhales a long breath when I hear the engine on his Maserati fire up again. “All right. Can’t say I’m not a little gutted about it, but that’s just me being selfish. Tell him I said thanks for helping my stubborn, secretive baby sister out.”