Page 71 of The Keeper and I

“How d’you know about Laci?” he asked.

“I’ve kept up with you on social media.”

“Really?”

“Really. I watch all your matches on telly too.”

He blinked. “All of them?”

“Never miss one.”

“That’s…wow.”

“I did a selfish thing back then, but I’ve never stopped caring.”

“Yeah…”

She moved a little closer. “I’m happy you’ve found someone. And how remarkable that she looks so like that girl you used to draw all the time. Are you still doing that?”

“Art? Aye,” he said still recovering from learning she had kept tabs on him all these years. “I paint as well as sketch. Hardly get a fucking minute for either now that I’ve got a girlfriend, though.”

“I’d love to see your work sometime if you’re open to it,” she said. “I could hardly keep a pencil out of your hand when you were wee. And it was always that same girl. God, what was it you called her?”

He raised an eyebrow. “She had a name?”

“Aye, she did,” she said, looking thoughtfully at her coffee cup. “I know I know it. It’s just—oh! Caroline! That’s what you called her. It was definitely Caroline.”

Jordan’s blood went cold. “It was Caroline?”

Nina’s brow furrowed. “Am I wrong? I thought for sure—”

“No, no, I don’t remember her having a name. I just…” His mind whirled with questions. Not of her, but of himself. “Was it really Caroline?”

“LadyCaroline sometimes,” she said, amused. “You had a whole story for her too. She was an English lord’s daughter or something. I can’t remember the details, but I think there was a wee bit of romance? I dunno. I wish I’d written it down.”

Jordan wished that she had too. Perhaps his childhood mind had some answers to the mystery of Caroline. And maybe Samuel too. Because how did his imaginary story tie into the Colfield estate? How could there be a connection between that and a Scottish boy hundreds of miles away? Not to mention centuries?

He had an idea. One that formed after Laci mentioned the jewelry she got at the gala, and he remembered something Billie said to him that night.When I met Ethan, it felt like I’d met him before. It didn’t matter that he was from halfway across the world. I knew him. He had half a mind to call her up and demand to know what the fuck that meant. What had they discovered that made them so convinced they were meant for each other after just six months?

“Jordan?”

His mother’s voice drew him out of his racing thoughts. “Sorry?”

“You alright? You look like you’re gonna be sick.”

“Fine,” he told her. “Fuck, that brought up a lot.”

“This has been a lot,” she agreed. “If you want, we can stop. I'm in town for a few more days, and I’d like to see you again to catch up. Could we have dinner one night? Or maybe I could visit you at training?”

“Dinner is fine,” he said.

He was still adjusting to speaking to her. He didn’t want his teammates as an audience.

“Alright,” she said with a soft smile. “Dinner then. I’m looking forward to it, Jordan, really.”

“Me too,” he replied and checked his watch. “I’ve got to get to training, so how about I text you later and we can plan something?”

“Perfect.”