Make Your Move - By Samantha Hunter Page 0,34

the Great Chicago Fire. They were all beautiful, and she came here often, just to look at them and marvel.

And think. Right now, about Dan.

It wasn’t only sex between them, and she knew it. But she wasn’t ready to say what else it was. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Dan had always been the one she relied on to help her process things. His intellect helped her organize the quagmire of emotions, especially regarding things from the past, which often threatened to rise up and strangle her.

She saw Dan, touched him, and she could think again. Breathe again.

Had it always been that way? She reached out to press a fingertip to one of the gold frames, pulling back when some people came up behind her, as if they’d know.

Know what? That the great, untouchable, always-in-control Jodie Patterson was more fragile, more brittle than anyone thought? That she could have doubts, worries and fears—that she might even care more than she intended, opening herself up to the very thing she swore she never would?

“Jodie?” She was shaken from her thoughts, and turned to find a woman, part of the group behind her, smiling tentatively.

Jodie blanked for a moment, and then realized who it was.

“Donna, wow, how are you?” Jodie said, not having seen Dan’s sister in several years. When they were in college, she went to Dan’s house for holidays and sometimes for visits over summer break, but she hadn’t seen Donna, who was older and lived on her own, for a long time.

“I’m great, how are you?” Donna asked, smiling as she motioned to her group to move on without her, telling them she would catch up.

Jodie wished she hadn’t. Donna was always nice enough, and had been polite the few times they’d met, but Jodie always sensed some sort of disapproval from the woman, as if Jodie weren’t good enough to be friends with her little brother.

Not having siblings of her own, Jodie thought maybe that was normal, for an older sibling to be protective of a younger one, but it still had stung at times.

“You look gorgeous, as usual,” Donna said, and Jodie shrugged, smiling.

What now?

“You still working with the same firm?” she said, trying to fill the silence.

“No, I opened my own office a few years ago. Dan didn’t say anything?”

So she knew that she and Dan still saw each other. Jodie wondered if Donna knew how much of Dan she was seeing recently.

“Um, you know, he might have mentioned it, but there’s always so much going on, and you know—” Jodie hedged.

“I see, yes. Listen…I know you guys are…seeing each other,” Donna said.

Jodie straightened her spine. “Oh, um, I—”

She’d intended to say something slightly smarter, but had no idea what to say.

“He’s crazy about you.”

Jodie still stared in dumb silence, and Donna didn’t say anything back, but she held up her hands.

“Listen, I know he’s all grown up and it’s none of my business. I just hate to see him get hurt.”

“I would never hurt Dan,” Jodie said plainly. “He’s my best friend in the world.”

“I know. But you have to know he thinks of you as more than a friend.”

Jodie took a deep breath, wishing a big wind or wave or something would wash up over the pier and get her out of this awkward conversation right now.

“I do. But, like you said, it’s really not your business,” Jodie said stiffly.

“I know, I know. Listen, I don’t want to fight or have bad feelings. I just wanted to know that you know what you’re doing. Dan’s different. He’s a relationship guy, no matter what he says, not the guy whose name you don’t know who just leaves the next morning.”

Jodie barked out a harsh laugh. “Wow. So nice to know your high opinion of me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I do like you. I admire what you’ve accomplished, and even how you live your life. Believe me,” she said with a sheepish smile, “there have been times I’ve been tempted to ask you how you manage it. I can’t seem to come across a guy who either isn’t married or doesn’t drag me through some heartbreak.”

“Oh,” Jodie said, surprised.

“But I worry about Dan. I just want you to really think about whatever it is you guys have, what you’re doing and what the fallout might be.”

Jodie nodded, her pique deflated. “I know. I do. All the time.”

Donna looked like she wanted to ask more, but reined in the questions.

“Listen, if this does