"No, this afternoon. I happened to find out that you're taking Miss Baker to tea."
"Do you mean you're in love with Miss Baker?"
"No, old sport, I'm not. But Miss Baker has kindly consented to speak to you about this matter."
Nick turned toward Gatsby and saw that he once again had the quality of choking his words. He wondered exactly what Gatsby felt toward Jordan but did not feel he would get an answer and so turned away from him and toward the glittering lights of the city in silence.
"And so that's how it is." Jordan took a sip of coffee from her cup before turning back toward Nick with a sour face. It was cold out, and so was her drink.
"You seem a bit curt tonight. Are you alright?"
She looked at him with an unconcerned face. "Honest as always I see."
"What is it? Honesty has a way of seeing things and Jordan- you're pretty easy to read."
"You'll think I'm terrible."
"Already do." He said with a light, affectionate tone.
She glared at him. "I'm being serious."
"Okay. I'm sorry. Continue."
"I don't want them to meet."
Gatsby looked at Daisy and felt his affections become stronger as he once again heard that lilting voice of hers and felt her silky golden hair brush against his neck. He walked his fingers along her arm lightly and she giggled softly at his touch and seemed to flourish. She hadn't felt this kind of love toward her in a long time and craved it, caving deeper toward Gatsby. Nick entered the room and Daisy pulled apart suddenly. The light jolt of her action reminded Gatsby briefly of Jordan and how she had walked so confidently toward him the last time they met at the party. He thought to himself how different the two women were and felt a tinge of guilt in the realization that he liked that. He reached toward Daisy's hand, desperate to absolve himself of the self labeled sin, though she pulled away.
"Jay. Jay, let's go to your house."
"Hm? Oh, yes." He stood near the porch of Nick's cottage and gestured to his mansion.
"Do you like it? The way the light shines down on it- I had bought it thinking that you'd like it. Do you like it, Daisy?"
"It's wonderful, Jay. We must go. Ab-so-lutely."
He turned from Daisy to his home and wondered if she would fit the home as well as Jordan had. He felt a little restless at the thought. All this time he'd been chasing that green light through the fog, Daisy- a past pushed into the future and suddenly he was wondering if time had changed. If perhaps he'd been chasing a dream. If perhaps his hands were too rough to hold flowers anymore.
"Nick. Come with us, old sport."
Nick turned from Gatsby to Daisy and wondered if everything would be alright. He saw a nervous quality that contradicted the wispy smile that ghosted Gatsby's face when he looked at Daisy. Why was it such a fickle quality? He stood a minute thinking to himself whether or not it had anything to do with Jordan.
"Nick?"
"Yes, yes I'll go. We'll all go. Now?"
"No time like the present, old sport." And Gatsby smiled with a soft surprised look that said he had meant it but wanted to take it back. He turned away from the both of them and swiftly grabbing his coat, lead the way.