Page 15 of Jealous Guy

“He’s so funny. Seriously, he cracks me up.” Jordan shoots me an intentional look that I understand to mean, say something funny.

Since no one’s ever been even remotely amusing under this kind of pressure, I crash and burn, coming up with nothing more impressive than a choked, “Uck, uck.”

Jordan gives me a solid pat on the back and nods like a proud papa, as if I’ve just proved his point.

The situation is making my headache significantly worse. It’s traveled all the way up the back of my head now, over my crown, and since Summer got here, it’s started digging its claws into my temples.

Mercifully, Summer and Sarah turn to each other, leaning their heads close together, and start talking about things that don’t involve the rest of us.

Thank God.

I finish my drink in relative peace and get started on the next one before the Summer situation raises its head again.

Something about her tone of voice changes mid-sentence, shifting from discreet to playful and charged. It draws the attention of everyone at the table. “…so, actually, we’re the crazy ones.”

Sarah cocks her head, smiling as though she has a pretty good idea what Summer is going to say next and is looking forward to hearing her say it. “How’d you figure?”

Summer raises her voice to make sure she’s heard. “Well, think about it, babes. Here we are, perpetually shocked and disappointed that straight guys can’t find our clits…”

Her use of the word clit renders every man at the table silent. West’s jaw drops slightly and Rowan clears his throat.

All eyes turn to Summer.

She continues undeterred, seemingly unaware of the attention, “It’s insane of us. Our expectations are so unrealistic. I mean, how can we expect them to find our clits”—she pauses and grins with pure evil intent—“when they can’t find their own.”

There’s a microscopic moment of stunned silence.

It’s quickly shattered by a raspy splutter that comes from Andy. He raises his hand to his mouth to catch the sound, but he’s too late. Raucous laughter bursts out of him and infects Sarah and then Summer in turn.

Mischievous shadows and lights dance in Summer’s eyes. She looks happy to have made Sarah and Andy laugh, but more than that, she looks glad that she’s made most of the guys at the table uncomfortable.

Riley and West titter, acknowledging her wit with good nature.

Jordan doesn’t get the joke. He mustn’t because he keeps smiling, a little vacantly. Summer notices his reaction, or lack of it, and pounces. “Isn’t that right, Jordan? Straight boys couldn’t find their clits if their lives depended on it.”

Jordan’s smile doesn’t flicker. It stays exactly the same. Relaxed and good-natured. “I know where my clit is,” he says calmly.

Oh shit.

He’s missed the nuance of the conversation.

I hate it when this happens.

The rest of the table erupts into a loud burst of laughter, and I’m instantly fuming. Summer has made Jordan look like a fool. I don’t know who the hell she thinks she is, making fun of him like this. Suddenly, I don’t care that I’m supposed to be all tongue-tied or whatever around her—I’m not letting her make him look idiot.

No one makes him look bad when I’m around. Not now, not ever.

Summer opens her mouth to say something, but I cut her off, nudging Jordan with my shoulder and speaking quietly to bring him up to speed on the joke. “She’s talking about your prostate, bud.” When that doesn’t immediately garner a look of recognition, I add, more quietly, “You know, the uh, gland in your ass.”

He turns his head to me and beams in that very typical Jordan way. That way that comes easily and doesn’t cost him a thing.

The fucker looks me dead in the eye, nonchalant as you please, and says, “I know.”

He knows?

He fucking knows?

What the fuck does he mean he knows?