Brandon (Anderson Billionaires #3) - Melody Anne Page 0,49

very aware of what it feels like to be rejected. It might not happen often, but it happens, and it hurts. Male pride is real.”

“Are you trying to end our date?” she asked.

“Nope. We’re going to this concert and will have a fantastic time . . . and make your man jealous. Who knows? Maybe some woman will be jealous of you,” he said with a waggle of his brows that made her laugh. She was already cheering up immensely. Knowing there were no expectations of this evening ending romantically had lifted her mood considerably.

“Can we be friends forever?” she asked.

“Most definitely,” he assured her as they pulled into the busy parking lot of the arena where the concert was happening.

“Good, because you are definitely a person who brings light into a dark room.”

“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever gotten,” he said.

He stepped from the car and held open her door. As soon as she climbed out, he pulled her in for a bear hug. “I am still a man, though, so if you want to grope me or give me a scorching kiss to make him even more jealous, I’m your willing puppet,” he assured her.

She smacked his hand as it moved toward her butt. “You’re absolutely terrible,” she said. “And I love it.”

They laughed as they made their way toward the front of the crowd. Jordan had gotten them great tickets. Now that they had an understanding on the table, she was actually pretty glad to be there with him. She knew it would be a fun night.

The concert began, making talking impossible. It was a variety of country music artists putting on one heck of a show, singing some of her favorites and a bunch of crowd-pleasers. They had everyone singing and dancing along as they sipped on buttered rum and spiked eggnog.

They’d made it to intermission when she noticed Jordan wasn’t looking so good. She walked with him to the bathrooms and waited awhile until he came out. He wasn’t smiling any longer.

“Are you okay?” she asked. She hoped she wouldn’t have to leave. She was having a remarkable time, more fun than she’d had in a long time. She needed it with all the stress of the past month.

“I’ll be fine. Something I ate must be disagreeing with me,” he said, then winked. “Or maybe it was one too many glasses of eggnog.” They moved toward some unoccupied benches, and he sat with his head in his hands.

“We’d better get you home then,” she told him, trying to hide her disappointment.

He looked up, then looked behind her and smiled. “Not a chance, Chloe. You’ve been having a fantastic time. I want you to finish the concert,” he insisted.

“I’m not going to finish while you’re feeling like this,” she said. “I’m not that big of a jerk.”

“Be a jerk,” he said in a hushed whisper. “I think my replacement just walked in.”

Chloe turned to find Brandon walking up to the two of them. She sent Brandon a withering stare. “What are you doing here?” she snapped.

He smiled, ignoring her question as he turned to Jordan. “Is everything okay, bud?” he asked, practically giddy.

“No. My stomach isn’t doing so well,” Jordan said.

“I’m sorry.” She could see Brandon was torn. He’d been raised to not be gleeful in someone else’s misery, but he was sensing that things were about to go his way. She really, really didn’t want things to go Brandon’s way.

“Chloe, I hate to leave you, but since you have a ride home, I’m going to have to cut this short,” Jordan said.

“I’ll go with you,” Chloe quickly told him.

“I don’t want you to miss out on the concert. You’ve been having a wonderful time. Please, stay,” Jordan said. Chloe felt torn, but she really did want to stay at the concert. She looked back and forth between Brandon and Jordan. Ugh. “I’m not letting you go with me,” he finished as he stood.

“Fine,” she conceded. “But I’ll walk you to the car to make sure you can drive.”

“That’s a deal,” he said as he gave her a wink and wrapped an arm around her. “I could use the support.” His hand slipped low on her hip, and she knew he was doing it to goad Brandon. She let him, not looking at the man who had probably lost that smug look on his face.

She didn’t say anything to Brandon as she walked away. Maybe he’d get lost in the crowd, and she’d find