You Promised Me Forever (Forever Yours #1)(10)

No way am I going to answer the phone and talk to him while out with Cade. That sucker knew I was going on a date tonight. It’s like he’s purposely trying to sabotage my evening.

“Have you ever been to Washington?” Cade asks after our server delivers our drinks and takes our dinner order.

“No.” I shake my head, reaching for my glass of wine. “I’ve barely been out of the state.”

“Really? Well, I guess I get why. Everything you need is here in California,” Cade says. “I like to travel, though, so…I’ve been lots of places. Moved around some, too.”

“How long have you lived here?” I ask.

“Almost a year. I was working at another physical therapists’ office, but it wasn’t what I really wanted. I was settling while waiting for a spot to open up at a place with a sports medicine focus, and luckily enough I found Atlas.” He smiles.

I smile in return. “More like we were lucky to find you.”

“How about you? Where did you grow up?”

“Oh, in central California. I moved here for college—went to San Jose State my junior and senior year.”

“Went to community college first?”

I nod. Take another sip of my wine, which is crisp and delicious. Not too sure if I want to get overly liquored up tonight. Girl has to have some limits.

My phone starts incessantly buzzing again and I kick my purse, wishing I could send it flying. But I can’t. And I swear Cade can hear/feel it too, because he sends me a concerned look, and I finally give in to see what’s up.

It’s not just a call from Jordan, he’s trying to actually FaceTime me.

Un. Real.

Grabbing the phone, I clutch it in my hand with the screen against my palm as I rise to my feet, sending Cade another one of those apologetic smiles. I hope this isn’t a habit I’m going to start. “I really need to take this. Give me a minute and I’ll be right back?”

“Everything okay?” he calls after me as I leave.

“Everything is great. Don’t worry,” I tell him as I move through the restaurant. I hit the answer button just as I walk out the front door, and I glance at my phone, watching in disbelief as Jordan’s handsome face fills the screen.

“Why are you FaceTiming me?” My greeting is rude, but I don’t care. The past twenty-four hours has been filled with nonstop Tuttle and I’m kind of over it.

Well. I should be over it…

He raises his dark brows and I allow myself to really drink him in. His hair is cropped close on the sides but longish on top, and currently a bit of a mess. There’s dark stubble on his face, giving him a bad-boy air, and his eyes are as blue as ever. He’s wearing a plain black T-shirt that stretches across his broad chest and shoulders, and I’m instantly annoyed. It’s so unfair that he’s somehow gotten better looking over the years.

“Why so hostile?” he asks, sounding genuinely surprised.

I glance around, thankful no one is nearby. “I told you I was going on a date.”

“Must not be going so well if you answered me.”

Now he just sounds smug. And no way can I dignify what he said with a direct answer. “You need to stop.”

“Come on, Mandy. Aren’t you curious?”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted to see what you looked like. Your Instagram profile doesn’t have enough photos of you on it,” he says, being so blatantly honest it’s downright disconcerting. He leans in close, like he’s really checking me out, and I’m tempted to end the call.

But of course, we know I don’t.

“You look good, Mandy,” he says, his voice low. Sexy. “I like your hair.”

I flip my long, wavy hair behind my shoulders so he can’t see it anymore. “Thanks.”

“Nice shirt.” He sounds amused and I glance down at myself. I’m wearing a silky oversized shirt with a deep V-neck, and wouldn’t you know it, there’s a hint of cleavage going on. Not too much because I wasn’t going for obvious, but just enough so that Cade would catch a glimpse and hopefully be…what? Intrigued?

Looks like I intrigued the wrong person.

“You’re a perv,” I mutter, bringing my hair back forward with my free hand so I can cover my chest.

He chuckles, and the sound ripples along my nerve endings, making me shiver. It’s like he’s actually with me, but he’s not. It’s weird. It feels…normal, talking to Jordan like this, even though it’s been years.

“I have to go,” I tell him when he still hasn’t said anything.

“Where’s your date?”

“Waiting for me.”

“Where are you at?”

I almost swing around and show him the restaurant, but decide against it. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“I would.” He’s very serious. “Talking with you like this is…strange. But nice. I’ve missed you. Our friendship.”

Ah. The two words that are like a splash of ice cold water in my face. Just the reality punch I need to get me out of this confusing conversation, so I can escape staring at his stupid gorgeous face. He just misses me as a friend. Nothing more. Gotta remember that.

“Right. I’ll talk to you later, Jordan.”