“I didn’t call you up for a lecture. That isn’t what this is about. I need you, Jodi. Like I said, you’re the only one who can save me. I’m really fucking scared that I’m going to die.”
“I can’t keep getting you out of holes, Lucas. It doesn’t work like that.”
“What if I promise to listen to you? To keep on trying? To be better? Just one last help, and I’ll change?”
“One last time, you say? This really will be it for me. How much is it going to cost me this time?”
“Meet me. I need to talk to you about this face to face. Please. Don’t let me down, Jodi.”
7
Brock
“What is with you, buddy?” Josh laughs and shakes his head at me. “You’re always smiling these days.”
“Oh, and that’s a bad thing, is it? You don’t want me to be happy? That’s a weird thing to say.”
“No, it isn’t that. You’re just extra happy, that’s all. You seem like you’re . . . I don’t know, in love.”
The L word makes my heart soar more than anything else in the world. I should be scared after the last time I threw myself into commitment and got my heart burned, but I’m not. It’s weird—I’m happy to put the playboy to bed and to start something new. For Jodi, I would give her anything in the world.
“Yeah, I suppose I might be. I don’t know, it’s weird. I kinda feel like I might be in love.”
“With who?” He screws his nose as we continue to walk around the casino, checking everything as we do every so often. “I didn’t even know you were dating someone. I can’t believe you’re in love.”
I give him a look. “You did know. I haven’t exactly been discreet about my feelings, have I?”
“You don’t mean . . . you can’t mean Jodi, can you?” All the color drains from his face.
“Yes, why? Why are you being really weird about it? I know it isn’t right, but—”
“Yeah, it isn’t right. You shouldn’t ever fuck someone you work with. That’s so wrong.”
“Maybe. You know I wouldn’t normally do anything like that, but she’s special. There’s something about her.”
“But I . . . I tried to warn her against you. I told her it would be a bad idea.”
“You did what?” I stop dead where I am and grab his arm. “Why the fuck would you do that?”
“Because it’s a stup
id idea, and because of her past history. I know she’s hot, but she’s trouble.”
“Trouble in a good way! Not in a bad way. You’re making a judgment based off nothing. And you definitely shouldn’t have said that to her. If you have a problem, you should’ve come to me about it.”
“But you’ve got stars in your eyes about her. I knew you wouldn’t listen.”
I shake my head, disappointment racking my whole body. “I dread to think how she reacted.”
“Oh, she didn’t take it well. But I thought I’d gotten through to her. I can’t believe it still happened.”
“You can’t believe we’ve slept together? Well, we have been for a while, and now I’m falling for her.”
“You do need to be careful though, Brock. I’m serious. I don’t think she’s right for you.”
A warmth absolutely fills me, from the bottom of my toes to the tip of my head. Thinking of Jodi always makes me grin. I can see where Josh is coming from. I know he’s only concerned for me, but he doesn’t need to be. I’m slowly but surely peeling away the layers of Jodi, and I think she’s amazing. She’s everything.
“I appreciate your concern, but I know what I’m doing. I’m not too concerned.”