Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Jean heard the smile in her voice as she ignored that to ask, “Are you free now, or would sometime tomorrow be better?”
“No time will be better,” Jean said. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“I can do the talking until we are more comfortable with one another.”
Jean hesitated as a stray memory nagged at him. “You said Kevin gave you permission to tell me whatever it is he said to you. Yes?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Dobson agreed. “If nothing else, I think he wants you to know how much I already know about where you’ve come from. It potentially creates a safe space for you to work within until you are ready to branch out into new territory.”
Jean pressed his fingernails into his lower lip as he thought. At length he grudgingly said, “Later, then. I will listen only.”
“Would this time tomorrow work?”
No, Jean thought, but only said “Yes” and hung up.
If she called back, he might chuck his phone into traffic, but she only texted him a confirmation a few moments later: “Moreau – Dobson, July 3rd 7PM PDT”. Jean almost deleted it before deciding he’d need it as evidence for Rhemann. He started to put his phone away, then muttered rudely in French and updated her contact information before Rhemann caught sight of it. With that odious task out of the way, he finally rejoined his teammates inside.
They made a few token attempts to include him in the conversation, but Jean stayed out of it whenever possible. Studying them was more interesting, as they were bound together by an obvious and easy affection. Cody and Pat packed leftovers into plastic containers while Ananya settled the bill, and the four of them filed out of the restaurant in a short line.
“See you in a bit,” Cody said.
Ananya wound her arm through Pat’s. “Good night, Jean.”
She and Pat set off one way while Cody and Jean went the other. Every step Jean put between him and them made it a little easier to breathe. Maybe it was less their absence and more the destination, because when Laila’s house finally came into view Jean felt settled. Cody stopped beside him at the base of the stairs and held up a takeout bag in offering.
“The biryani,” Cody said, calm in the face of Jean’s disapproval. “You said you trust Cat with your meals, so ask her to go over it with you. If you don’t like what she has to say about it, feel free to toss it.” Cody waited for Jean to take the bag before turning away, but they slowed to a stop and turned back only a few steps later. “If no one’s home, is that going to be a problem for you?”
Jean glanced past them to where Jeremy’s car was still gone. “I was alone at Palmetto State,” he said, and grudgingly added, “Once.”
Cody’s expression turned serious. “I’ll stay, then. I heard how that ended.”
“I don’t remember,” was out before he knew it was coming, a quiet confession he’d avoided when his friends carefully tried to address that disastrous day. Jean thought about frigid water and shattering glass. He dug the teeth of his key into his thumb and said, “Most of it is a blur even now.”
“Maybe that’s for the best.”
“Maybe,” Jean allowed, and unlocked the front door to let them both in.
Cody waited just inside the door while Jean made a lap in search of Cat and Laila. Every room was dark and empty, so Cody toed out of their shoes and locked the door behind them. They ended up in the kitchen so Jean could put his takeout away. Jean was almost hungry to the point of irritation by now, but he settled for tugging the water pitcher off its shelf. Cody nodded when he held it up, so Jean went to collect two glasses next.
“Thanks.” Cody settled on a stool and pointed. “What’s behind your fridge?”
Jean didn’t have to look to know what Cody had spotted. “Their ridiculous cardboard dog. Jeremy keeps moving it into our room.”
“Damn.” Cody sounded admiring, but they weren’t talking about the dog. “Is that how you say it? Jeremy.” They sounded it out, trying to match Jean’s accent. Jean wondered if he ought to be offended, but Cody saw the look on his face and hurried to say, “No, no, it’s so good. Please don’t ever change it. Jeremy,” they tried again, slightly better this time. “I bet he hit his knees the first time you said it. I would’ve.”
Jean refused to go down that road. “Drink your water.”
Cody filled their glass. “Can I ask you something? You can lie if you want.”
Jean took one look at their face and said, “You cannot.”
The smile that tugged at Cody’s mouth said Jean’s prompt refusal was answer enough, but Cody was good enough to let it go with the subtlest of barbs: “Well, that still leaves us twenty-six other teammates to gossip about. Who should we start with?”