“Shame that he couldn’t make it,” Madeline said, glancing at Jordan with knowing eyes. Jordan was both amused with her teasing and disappointed from his absence. It pained him to say it, but since Rex had been around, Meet Cute Club had felt different. More exciting. They had a new perspective, from a guy who’d grown up hating these kinds of books but was now willing and eager to talk about them.
He was what they needed, a single spark to rekindle their burning love for the club, and without him, things felt off, like they were missing a key component. Even with being so new, Rex had come in and shaken up even the way Jordan saw the club.
“Well, let’s all get into it then, yeah?” He reached for his copy of the book they’d read, flipping through it. “So. That cliffhanger.”
“Ugh,” Madeline said, rolling her eyes. “I wish there had been a note or something in the front that said that this was a series! I was so looking forward to Darrek and Zane getting together and then bam, end of the book. The cliffhanger alone made me almost throw my Kindle across the room!”
“Those were my thoughts,” Charles said, nodding enthusiastically. “I want them to make it through this, but the way she ended that last chapter? I don’t know if there’s any way for them to repair the damage and fall in love again!”
The club dove headfirst into the conversation about the way the author had ended the first book in what was apparently going to be a series. He personally preferred to start series when they were finished, that way he could binge them all, but Gloria didn’t seem to mind that they’d have to wait for the next book.
“It gives me something to look forward to! People to root for, really,” she said, shrugging.
“I just don’t know how I feel about ending things so hopeless. I’m sure Krista will turn the story around in the next book, but I’m impatient,” Jordan said, pouting.
After the meeting, Jordan helped his friends pack up their treats in small plastic containers, chattering about what he wanted to make for the next meeting. They buzzed with possibilities, and it made him that much more excited for the following Saturday. Charles was the first to leave, quickly followed by Madeline. Gloria stayed back to talk about other books they could read for next month’s schedule, and he quickly wrote down the titles in his phone.
To his disappointment, there was still no message from Rex. Not even an explanation as to why he hadn’t shown up for Meet Cute Club.
“Everything okay, hon?” Gloria asked, lightly placing a hand on his forearm.
“Yeah, I’m fine!” He put on a bright smile and stuffed his phone into his pocket. “I’ll make sure to see if they have these books at Millerstone next week.”
“I’m so excited,” she said, giving a small happy dance. Jordan laughed and grabbed her coat from the rack for her. Jordan walked Gloria to the front door, giving her a wave as she headed out to her car. Movement drew his attention to the curb across the street. Rex sat on his motorcycle, propped up like he’d been waiting there for a minute. As Jordan approached, he climbed off the bike and let down the kickstand.
“You’re late,” Jordan noted. There was no animosity in his voice when he continued, “How dare you.”
“I wanted to come, but…” Rex’s sentence trailed off, and he looked away, his eyes following Gloria as she drove home.
“What’s wrong?” It was obvious whatever was on Rex’s mind was bothering him. Very rarely did he miss the chance to shoot back at Jordan’s light jests.
Rex pressed his lips together in a tight line before he looked back at Jordan. “I… I don’t know how to say it, so I’ll just say it. I’m not really into the club very much these days.”
“Shut up,” Jordan laughed, rolling his eyes. When Rex’s serious expression didn’t break into a grin like it always did when he was joking, Jordan’s face fell. “You’re for real?”
“Yeah.”
“I—why?”
This didn’t make sense. Just a few days ago, Rex was leading book discussions and getting excited about what they were scheduled to read next month. Now, out of nowhere, the club wasn’t for him and he wasn’t all that interested in it anymore? That didn’t sound like Rex at all.
“I’m just being honest here. I’m not into this whole romance thing like I thought I was.”
The way he said it, Jordan wasn’t sure whether he was talking about the books or what was going on between the two of them. “I don’t get it. You know you like the club, Rex.”
“I don’t, Jordan. I thought I did, but it feels like I’m wasting my time. I have shit to do. I have someone interested in buying the house. I’m still not even done cleaning out everything inside of it, and I can’t keep letting you and the club distract me.”
Jordan’s throat squeezed tight. “I didn’t realize this was all such an inconvenience.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I should’ve never gotten involved in any of this.” He gestured to both Jordan and his house. “I knew I wouldn’t be here long, but I still went with it. That was a dick move on my part. But now I have a buyer, and when the house goes, so will I. Sweet Rose is…it’s not for me. There’s nothing here for me in this town. Nothing and no one.”
It felt cruel to say these things to Jordan, like telling a kid Santa wasn’t real or building up someone’s hope only to let them down. The truth was, it was easier to tell Jordan that he was just leaving town than it was to admit that he himself was aware that he’d never be enough. He wasn’t the “cinnamon roll” everyone in Meet Cute Club talked about.
He was an asshole. He was a coward who knew he would only be wasting Jordan's time and effort, were he to stick around. He was his father’s son, and no matter how far he ran or how often he cursed the man, they shared similarities that he would never be able to shake. Indivisibly tied by the tainted blood that ran in both their veins.
“Is this because of what Amy said?” Jordan asked softly. “The boyfriend stuff? I was only joking when I repeated what she said.”
“What? God, no,” Rex groaned. “I just can’t do this anymore, Jordan. I have to focus on what I’m doing. What we had was fun, but it’s time for both of us to be serious. I’m not a good guy, and you’ll never get the happily ever after you get in all of your stupid books.”
That seemed to do the trick. With agonizing satisfaction, Rex watched Jordan’s demeanor change. That painful look on his face cracked, revealing anger beneath the surface.
“I see,” Jordan said. Without another word, he turned and headed back to the house. When Rex grabbed his arm, Jordan jerked back, pointing a finger in his face. “Don't touch me.”
“I—”
“Get the fuck away from me, Rex. Since you don’t want to be here, go! Run away like you said you would. Like your dad said you would. I knew you were an asshole, but I didn’t think you were this cold-hearted.”
“Jordan…”
“You made me actually care about you, and then you tell me it never happened. That’s awesome, Rex. Really, thank you so much for wasting two months of my life that I could’ve been focusing on this club. Thank you for reminding me once again why these books are only fairy tales. For a second, I was starting to think one of those endings would happen for me.”