was inviting Jonah into the circle. The second, and final, circle of trust. It was pretty much shocking.
My grandpa didn’t give me a chance to soak it in because he kept on talking.
“Did you know he’s the third highest paid rugby player in the world? His brother is the first? I looked him up while you two were upstairs giving Mo a bath while I eavesdropped on his mom on the phone complaining to his dad. Did you know he had sixty-three caps on the New Zealand national team? Except for some people who were pissed off that he left the country, and the bad coverage he got two years ago when everyone thought he was done—and all the criticism he got this past season with people saying he wasn’t playing like he used to—I couldn’t find anything bad about him. A couple of pictures of him with two different girls a long time ago, but that was it. I’m going to offer to train him before he leaves, but I don’t want to tell him too soon. I’m going to wait maybe three days before I do.”
Was I doing this?
Yes, I was, I told myself for about the fifth time over the last fifteen minutes. I’d been going back and forth since I was in the shower. Was I doing it or not?
Fuck it.
I was doing it.
I grabbed my phone and found Jonah’s contact info and sent him a message.
Me: Want to go out with my friends this weekend?
Me: And how do you know the character names to that vampire book?
If that wasn’t the invitation of a lifetime, Jonah wasn’t who I thought he was.
My phone started vibrating fifteen seconds later.
“JONAH” flashed across the screen as an incoming call.
I was already smiling when I answered. “Hey, Dimples.”
His laugh made me smile even more into the receiver. “Hello, love,” the calm, controlled voice came over the line.
I lay back against the pile of pillows behind my back. “Can I help you with something?”
“Can’t I call to see how you’re doing?”
“Considering I saw you an hour ago, just sent you a text, and this is the first time you’ve called me at night… no.”
“First time I’m calling this late because I don’t want you fed up with me,” he replied. “I can call you every night if you’d like.”
I grinned like an idiot at the white ceiling. I could get fed up with him, but I figured it wouldn’t be that easy.
Then his words settled in, and my inner jealous bitch reared up.
But just as quickly as she did, she disappeared.
But I still asked anyway, “Do you talk on the phone a lot once you get back to your hotel room?”
His chuckle filled the line, making me smile again. “I talk to my grandmother every other night. I take turns calling my father and sisters. I was thinking about calling one of my brothers when your message came through.”
The message.
He could tackle starting that conversation, while I thought about how cute it was he called his grandmother so often.
“I would like to accept your offer before you change your mind,” he said.
“You’re sure you’re up for it?” I asked. “You can come by and hang out with my grandpa and his friends instead. Or take Mo with you if you want to do something.”
He hummed. “I feel like I’m obligated to go to fill your requirements.”
“Requirements?”
“Your best friend. No asking questions. You said.”
My cheeks hurt from my smile. “You’re right,” I said right before a yawn tore its way up my throat from out of nowhere. “Speaking of questions, did you read those books?”
His laugh warmed my heart. “I watched them on marathon with my sister once on holiday.”
“Ah.”
He chuckled again.
So I went for it. “How would you feel about saving hotel money and coming to stay with us the rest of the time you’re here?”
Honestly, it sounded like he dropped the phone, or himself, but he was back on the line so fast, I wasn’t sure. “Stay? At your house? With you?”
“There are three more people here than just me….” I trailed off, still stunned by my grandfather’s offer.
“Are you sure?” he asked with so much hope it hurt. “Your granddad—”
“Is the one who brought it up,” I cut him off.
It sounded like he dropped his phone again, and that time I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Granddad Gus told you to invite me?”
“Yeah.” But he still had no idea just how much trust and respect went into the invitation.