Free Seducing Jordan: A Second Chances Novella by Andrea Dalling

have to fill both roles. His instinct was to avoid a confrontation. But if he was pushed, he’d stand up for himself. Rick had taught him that.
    A young woman exited the restaurant and came running up to them, a man following slowly behind. “I’m sorry that happened.” She pushed a strand of long, chestnut hair behind her ear. “We canceled our order and left. I won’t give my business to an asshole like that.”
    “Thanks,” he said. “Appreciate the support.”
    Her companion caught up, a thick, tatted arm flexing as he slid on his sunglasses. “Sorry, dudes, that was not cool, what he did.”
    Rick smirked. “That’s okay. I just gave him a one-star review on Yelp for losing his temper and swearing at customers.”
    “Good idea.” The woman smiled and took out her smartphone.

Chapter 8        
    Rick remembered another sandwich place a half mile away. It was mostly a general store, but it had a few tables, and the food was good. He pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car. As he and Jordan headed toward the entrance, he took Jordan’s hand.
    Jordan paled. “Are you sure—”
    “I won’t let some asshole change my choices.”
    Jordan smiled and squeezed his hand.
    The woman at the register rose from the stool where she sat. Her short, wispy hair was streaked black and white. She wore square glasses on her round face. “How can I help you boys?”
    “Still serving lunch?” he asked.
    “The kitchen’s open another ten minutes.”
    He looked over at Jordan, whose eyes were scanning the menu board. “See anything you like, babe?”
    “I don’t want anything fancy. Roast beef with provolone on a hoagie roll,” Jordan said to the woman.
    “And I’ll have a ham and Swiss on rye. Unseeded if you’ve got it.”
    “Sure thing.” The woman disappeared into the kitchen.
    “That wasn’t too painful,” Rick said.
    “Still, we should pick our battles. No point being reckless.”
    He nodded. He was a hypocrite, insisting on being open about Jordan with strangers, but terrified anyone at home would find out. How would it change people’s perceptions of him? It wasn’t just people like that asshole at the café. How would his buddies on the football team react? What would his parents think?
    And Cyn. She’d be crushed. They weren’t even officially broken up. If she found out that not only had he been with someone else, but it had been Jordan…No. He had to protect her from that. After everything they’d been to each other, everything she’d put up with from him, he owed her more than that.
    The woman emerged from the kitchen. “Can I get you boys some drinks? The iced tea is fresh brewed.”
    “Sounds good,” he said.
    The woman filled the Styrofoam cups. She set them on the counter and pressed on the lids. “You two make a cute couple.”
    “The guy at Mountain Grill didn’t think so,” Jordan said.
    She chuckled. “Don’t let Morton bother you. He’s the unhappiest man I ever met, and wants everyone else to be as miserable as he is.”
    “Any more like him around here?” Jordan asked.
    “A few. If you’re looking for a nice gay-friendly restaurant, try Mia Kristina’s. Mia’s the cook, Kristina’s the manager…and yes, they’re a couple.”
    “Lesbians in rural Pennsylvania,” Jordan said. “Who’d have imagined?”
    “It’s a resort town,” the woman said. “We get lots of artistic types around here.”
    Jordan turned to him. “Are you an artistic type?”
    He grinned. “I’m going to major in business.”
    Jordan laid his hand on his. “Then I could open a design firm, and you could run the business end. Just like Mia and Kristina.”
    The idea made him ridiculously happy. He could picture them at thirty, working together, free to make their own choices with no one to answer to. Could this be his future?
    They found a table. The woman brought their sandwiches and headed back to the register. Jordan reached over and brushed his arm. “Thanks for