Page 179 of ClickBack

“What’d I say?”

Jarrett looks at him. “You still here?”

Javon laughs and gets up. “That’s all you had to say.”

He walks away while Jarrett pulls me closer. I put both hands on his shoulders and let him look at me.

“You had fun,” he says.

“I did.”

“I could tell.”

“Could you?”

His hand moves to my hip. “Don’t start something you want to take your time finishing.”

The warmth in his voice reaches places the dancing did not. I bend and kiss him, deliberately, then step away to help Bellamy clear the plates.

Behind me, he says my name.

I keep walking. Bellamy takes one look at my face and hands me a stack of napkins without a word.

Later, when the food is packed away and people have settled into smaller conversations, Jarrett finds me near the railing. He takes my hand and leads me beyond the last string of lights, where we can still hear everybody without having to answer them.

“Bellamy treat you right?” he asks.

“She did.”

“What did y’all talk about?”

I look at him.

He smiles. “Worth a try.”

I lean against his arm. “I like her. And I bought the dress I almost left behind.”

“Then I like her, too.”

“You haven’t seen it.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I can see the hotel from here now that he has pointed it out. I know the road we took to Jawn, where Bellamy shops, which corner Nina says gets backed up in the morning. I don’t know enough to call any of it familiar yet. I am beginning to want the chance.

“Tell me about the meeting,” I say.

“Parker knows what he wants. He showed me how he thinks Cole and I could work together. Devin didn’t pretend the deal was done.”

“Did they answer your questions?”

“Most of them. Enough for Cam to keep going.”

“And Toronto?”

“Video call tomorrow at four. From the suite, before we leave.” He rests his forearms against the railing. “Philly likes what they can offer. That hasn’t changed.”

“So it could still be Toronto.”