Nets and Lies(62)

“Who is he?” I asked.

Jordan’s face flushed. “Just a friend. I’ve sworn off men.”

I snorted. “You guys don’t look at each other as ‘just friends’.”

The corners of her lips curved into a small smile. “He’s totally not my type.”

“Meaning he’s our age?” I asked, with a grin.

“Hey!” she protested, wading up a napkin and tossing it at me.

I laughed. “So what is he like?”

“He’s like me.” At my confused look, she continued on. “He’s been f**ked up, but he’s getting his act together.”

I nodded. “He sounds like a keeper to me.”

Jordan glanced around the restaurant before lowering her voice. “You wanna know the kicker?”

“Sure.”

“We’ve only kissed.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“I’ve finally found someone who is interested in me for me—not for my body.” She smiled. “It’s a good feeling.”

I returned her smile. “I’m sure it is.”

“He’s even got me going to church. He’s going to make me gain ten pounds because he’s always cooking for me. And sometimes he calls me for no reason, just to make sure I’m okay.”

“That sounds like love.” When she shrugged, I grabbed her hand. “It’s okay to have a guy love you, Jordan.”

“I know that,” she snapped.

“So maybe you should let him in your heart,” I said, softly.

She bit down on her lip. “Our pasts make it complicated in more ways than one. Plus, I don’t know. Coach T’s still there…Nick deserves more than what I would have to give him.”

When I started to protest, she questioned, “So what about you and Will?”

“What do you mean?”

She sighed. “You know, after everything that’s happened, are you guys going to be okay?”

“I hope so. We’re just taking it day by day. And he’s going to Tech next year, so he’ll be close to home.”

“That’s good,” Jordan said.

“I think so. I guess time will only tell.” I nudged her with my leg. “Just like with you and Nick.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay, I get the message.” As I reached to take a sip of water, Jordan asked, “Speaking of time, what happens now with the investigation?”

“Well, the Detectives said it would be up to the district attorney about when we would go to trial.”

“I see.”

Now it was my time to nervously drum my fingers on the table. “The main reason I came here today was to make things right with you. But I always wanted to ask you something.”

Jordan arched her dark eyebrows. “What is it?”

“I want you to testify at my trial.”

She snorted. “I’m the last person on earth you need to testify! I’m a lying whore, remember?”

I shook my head. “No, you’re not. The very fact you had an affair with Coach T shows his pattern of young girls.” Staring down at my lap, I said, “You can also tell about how you found my panties and how I looked that night after practice.”

Jordan didn’t respond for a few seconds. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

My head snapped up. “You will?”

“Of course I will.”

I reached over and hugged her. “This really means a lot to me.”

When I pulled away, she said, “Really, it’s not that big of a deal.”

We sat there for a few moments before I asked another question weighing on my mind. “Do you ever think of coming back to Newton?”

Jordan shook her head. “No, I’m done there.”

“But things could be different.”

“Face it, Melanie. It’ll be different for you when you go back, but not for me. They will never accept me—even it was true about you, I’m still the liar. The lying slut who started it all.”

“Stop calling yourself those horrible names!”

She shrugged. “It’s what they would say.”

I sighed. “I just hate the thoughts of you not graduating from the school you went to all these years.”

“Trust me, any rah-rah spirit I had for Newton is gone.” She raked her hands through her ponytail and looked at me. “Besides, I kinda like St. Catherine’s.”

I gasped. “You do?”

Jordan laughed. “And why are you so shocked?”

“Well, I don’t know. I guess, I’m just surprised that you enjoy being at an all girls school.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes you end up liking things you never could imagine.”

I smiled. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“I’m getting my act together…you know, going to class, making pretty good grades, staying out of trouble.” She grinned. “Nick talks about me getting a degree in business or management. He wants to own his own restaurant someday, and he wants me to manage it.”

“Jordan, I know it probably sounds stupid, but I’m really proud of you.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Seriously?”