“Jordan,” I said, just loud enough for him to hear but without disrupting the group chat.

He turned to face me, like he’d been snapped from a trance, and that’s when I saw a tear escape to run down his cheek. He scrubbed it away and shook his head, but I was on my feet already. I pulled up a chair on the other side of him and took his hand, encouraging him to face me, away from the group.

“Jordan,” I said gently. “Are you okay? Is there something you need to talk about?”

He shook his head but his eyes welled with fresh tears and he started to cry.

Chapter Three

Jordan

I didn’t even notice that the room had cleared out. Merry had pulled up a chair at my side, but Hennessy sat with his knees between mine, holding my hand while I cried.

I fucking cried.

Through my stupid, traitorous tears, I caught the end of a silent conversation between Merry and him, my Headphones Guy.

Hennessy.

And then Merry rubbed my back before she walked out, and Hennessy squeezed my hand. “She’s just gone to get you a drink of water,” he said gently.

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” I said, wiping my face with my free hand.

“Because it can be overwhelming,” he said. His voice was calm and soft. “Because it can be life-affirming and scary as hell, all at the same time.”