Mine • Jaren Jackson Jr.

•32•

After leaving Ja's house, she went home and waited patiently for Jaren to drop Kayla off. That was awhile ago so she was expecting him any minute.

While she waited, she chatted on the phone with Jordan.

"I gotta tell you something." Jordan admitted through the phone. "All jokes aside."

Arielle calmed down her laughter and focused on the man on the other side of the phone. "Alright?"

"I actually do have feelings for you."

Her eyes widened slightly but she calmed herself down. "Um, why?"

"Jaren was absolutely right in not wanting us be around each other." He said. "I'ma let it go, though. Y'all love each other and you're my friend. You gotta be happy."

Rielle sighed softly. "Jordan."

"I know it's Jaren and it always will be." Jordan smirked. "So, I ain't gonna cross no boundaries. You a good girl and Jaren is good for you."

"But, you know..." She cleared her throat. "We're still friends, right? And that won't change."

He smiled goofily. "You my twin, for real. The girl version of me. We always gonna be friends."

Arielle continued. "Good because I actually really enjoy talking to you. We have a lot in common. That's rare, you know?"

"It's just weird."

"What do you mean?"

Jordan didn't wanna be cocky but he had to be honest. "Usually when I want a female, I can have her. You just different."

She rolled her eyes, laughing him off. "Whatever, Jordan."

"When's the next time you in Cali?"

"That's one of Jaren's favorite places so we'll probably be out there for his birthday. I'll pick a time when we'll get to hang, though." Rielle explained, stirring honey into her tea. "It depends on Jaren. I think he's coming around."

"That's what's up." Jordan said, knowing he wasn't. "If not, that's cool. We still gon' be homies so I ain't much sweating it."

"Alrighty." Rielle laughed. "Or on Christmas. When the Grizzlies play the Warriors."

"Possibly." Jordan said, licking his lips. "What you up to?"

Rielle heard Jaren's key in the door, making her smile. "I was waiting for Jaren but he's here now."

Usually, Jordan would've been bothered by the idea of Jaren and Arielle but he'd taken a bit to think it over and decided that he shouldn't and wouldn't pursue Arielle. She and Jaden were happy and he shouldn't step in the way of that.

The point guard was realizing that he should've come to that conclusion a long time ago but he was blinded by how good of a person Rielle was. So, he convinced himself that it's be okay to wait on her but he'd changed his mind.

So, they were just friends. That's all they were gonna be.

"Oh, aight." He nodded. "Well, I'a get up wit' you later on."

"Mkay. Maybe, I'll invite you to Jaren's birthday party. I'll try and talk to him about it." She said. "He will most likely say yes."

Jordan chuckled. "Aight."

"And don't forget about the tea I told you to try." She reminded him as Jaren walked into the kitchen. "I can order it and send it to you if you want."

Jordan thought for a moment. "Depend on where I got to buy it from. You ca' send a list."