Mrs. Tucker had explained when he’d looked shocked at her invitation. “It’s been very clear to us that you’re like the older brother Chandler needed, and that he and his siblings love and respect you. We would be more than pleased if you’d consider us part of your family from now on, as well.”
Jordan felt a weight settle in his chest now as he answered Mac. No one, other than Mrs. Salvietti and Rod, had ever bothered with him, or been interested in making him part of their group. Well, aside from his buddies, but that was different. He’d met those guys in college, when he’d been learning to be his own person.
“Thanks for the reminder. I’d better put it in my phone. When is it again?”
"It’s Friday night at seven. Didn’t you get the invitation?”
Jordan looked over at the pile of mail stacked neatly on the little end table by the living room door. He sighed…this is why he did important business online. He was dreadful at dealing with snail mail.
“Probably. I dunno,” he answered honestly. “I haven’t really been checking my mail.”
“You need a keeper, Jay!” Mac said impatiently, but Jordan heard the underlying affection in his voice. “Just make sure you call to confirm,” he continued.
“Yeah, I will.”
He got up and walked over to pick up the pile of mail, going back to sit in the armchair with it on his lap.
“So, what’s going on with you and Bennett?”
Jordan had been dreading this moment since he’d left Bennett after their date. He assumed Bennett would tell Ryland about it, even if he didn’t give specifics, because he knew that their friendship was just like his was with Mac. He was surprised it had taken Mac this long to ask about it.
“Nothing’s going on. Nothing we need to discuss, anyway.”
He was older. He didn’t have to discuss his love life with anyone, most especially not his younger friend who was already married and wouldn’t understand why he was shutting down something that he wanted as much as he feared it. He couldn’t handle advice from a man fourteen years his junior right now when he was so raw with self-recrimination and regret.
“I know you went on a date with him,” Mac continued. “I hope things didn’t end awkwardly, because he’ll be at the party as well. He’s been part of their family gatherings since he and Ry were kids.”
Damn! Just my fucking luck! “We’re fine,” he said. Liar! You’re far from fine.
He felt the moment of hesitation before Mac spoke again. “How are the guys? Maybe we can hang out on Saturday night? It’s been a few weeks.”
Jordan thanked him silently for changing the subject and readily agreed to change their friends’ bar night to Saturday.
“I’ll see who can make it. They’ve all been asking after you. They seem to think you won’t ever hang out with us again.”
It was a relief when Mac chuckled with him at that absurd notion. “Let me know what they say,” he said. “Who knows? Maybe I can persuade Ry to come and meet them.”
That wasn’t a bad idea and it would keep them off his back about the date with Bennett. Jordan agreed enthusiastically.
“Sure thing. I’ll call you in a couple of days. Give my love to the kids.”
“If I were you, I’d find my way over there and deliver that message yourself,” Mac advised him. “Chantal isn’t too happy with you.”
Jordan felt a twinge of guilt. Since Mac’s wedding, he’d been MIA at the McKenzie home. Before the wedding, he’d been there at least once a week for dinner and games. But he realized now that even though he loved those kids like they were his own siblings, he hadn’t felt like he could retain that same relationship without Mac there to be the bridge between him and them. How twisted was that?
“Yeah. You’re right.”
He shrugged off the shame that began to grow in his chest. He was an adult. He shouldn’t need a reminder to act like one from someone so much younger than he was.
“Tell her I’ll bring dinner on Wednesday, if she’s free.”
Mac laughed out loud this time. “When is my little sister never free for you, Jay?”
“When she has her girls’ days out and such,” he answered at once with a grin. “And now that’s she’s eighteen and in college, who’s to say she doesn’t also have dates to keep her too busy for me?”
“I guess you’ll find out when you see her on Wednesday, then,