Chapter Thirty Maya #2
Jordan: I just got in. It’s too late to call, I know you’re already asleep since you’ll be up in a few hours to go for your run. Fuck, I wish your head was on my chest right now and I was smelling your hair. Good night, baby, I love you.
Me: Aww, sweetest message ever to wake up to.
I’m sure you’re sleeping, at least I hope you are.
I’ll be out of work sometime early this afternoon and then I’ll rush home and attempt to pack?
At least cosmetics? And pjs? Sigh. Can you maybe give me a hint at what time you’re picking me up? Or if you’re picking me up? xo
Jordan: Don’t worry . . . you’ll know soon.
Me: “Fine” used to top the list but “soon” is becoming my most hated word ever.
Jordan: Lol.
Me: At least give me a range of when I should expect something to happen so I’m not out wandering or shopping or guzzling beer at the bar down the street.
Jordan: 2pm.
Me: Finally! Thank you.
“Maya, I think there’s someone at the door for you,” Emily shouted.
While I stood in the back of my bedroom, looking through my closet to decide what to bring on this trip, the destination and weather still unknown, I checked the time on my phone.
It was ten minutes before two. I shoved my cell into my pocket and rushed to the door.
Emily was there, holding it open for Bruce.
Jordan’s driver had a fairly large rectangular box in his hands that he was holding in my direction. “For you, Maya.”
The moment it was in my possession, he turned around to leave.
“Bruce, wait,” I called out. “Where are you going?”
He smiled at me from over his shoulder. “You’ll find out soon.”
“Soon!” I looked at Emily. “So help me God, if I hear that word one more time . . .”
“Soon, I think, is finally coming to an end,” she squealed.
Bruce laughed as Emily shut the door, and I heard her follow me through the apartment and into my room, standing in the doorway as I sat on my bed.
“I’m dying right now,” she said. “Hurry. Open it.”
The box was gold leaf, the texture of it was speckled—not wrapping paper, this was the material the box was made of—and I lifted the lid, setting it down to grab the small envelope inside. My name was written on it in tall, thin, all-capital letters—Jordan’s handwriting.
My Maya,
I thought long and hard about where I wanted to take you on our first vacation.
Did I want to show you my favorite mountains or dip you in my favorite ocean?
Did I want to spend the trip exploring every inch of the beautiful outdoors?
Or did I want to give you the quietness and relaxation you don’t get at home?
I’m not going to tell you yet what I chose.
But what I’m going to tell you is when I get to hold you, I want you to be wearing this . . .
(open the box beneath this)
Love,
Jordan
“What’s the note say?” Emily asked.
I handed it to her, my stomach a mess of excitement as I took out a small box from the nest of tissue paper and slowly removed the lid.
“Ah,” I gasped as my eyes fell upon the diamond necklace, my hand immediately going over my mouth.
“Emily, oh my God.” As she took a seat next to me, I pulled out the dainty silver chain, setting it on my palm, lowering my other hand from my lips to hold the large round solitaire that hung from the center.
“I cannot believe what I’m seeing right now. ”
“Babe, it’s stunning. I can’t wait to see how it looks on you. Give it to me, I’ll put it on you.”
As my eyes unexpectedly filled with tears, I handed her the jewelry, moving my hair out of the way so she could clasp the chain behind my neck, the cold stone landing in the center of my collarbone.
Emily turned my shoulders so that I was facing her. “There are not enough words to express how gorgeous it looks on you.”
“He loves my collarbone. It’s one of his favorite spots on my body.
I bet anything that’s why he got me a necklace.
” I gave her a weepy smile and walked over to the full-length mirror on the inside of my closet door, my reflection one I barely recognized.
“I’ve never worn anything this beautiful in my life. ”
“He seriously couldn’t have picked out anything more perfect for you.” She held up the box and reached inside. “Come back, there’s another card in here for you to open.”
I’d been so shocked by the sight of the second box, I hadn’t even noticed there was an additional envelope. I returned to the bed and peeled back the top flap, taking out the card from inside.
A couple more things . . .
1/ Why a necklace? Because your collarbone is one of my favorite parts of your body and I can’t wait to see this on your neck.
2/ Don’t shoot Emily . . . she’s just the messenger.
3/ Bruce is waiting for you downstairs.
4/ Don’t bring anything. Just you.
See you Soon, baby.
I glanced up, and Emily was holding my passport.
“Listen, I was given one job: to make sure you had your passport. Since I know where you keep it, I told him I’d give it to you.
” Once she handed it off to me, she put both arms in the air.
“Don’t ask me where he’s taking you. I swear on my life, I have no idea.
I asked him no less than a thousand times, and he wouldn’t tell me.
Which was probably smart on his part because I don’t know if I’d be able to keep that secret even if I really, really wanted to. ”
I threw my arms around her and hugged her against me. “I love you.”
Her hand went to the back of my head. “There isn’t anyone more deserving of this than you. And there’s nothing better in this world than seeing my best friend in love and knowing she’s found the absolute best man to share her life with, who will care for her, protect her, and love her endlessly.”
“Em . . .” I cried.
“If you shed one more tear, I’m going to spank you, woman. You can’t show up a hot mess when Bruce takes you to who-knows-where.” She leaned back to look at me. “Text me the second you land. Send pictures. I want to hear everything, and don’t you dare leave a single detail out.”
I gave her another hug, and then I grabbed my purse, sliding the passport safely inside, along with my phone, and draped the bag across my body. “I have nothing. No pj’s. No makeup. No cosmetics. No—”
“And that’s exactly how he wants you.” She blew me a kiss. “Now, go. Toodles—or whatever that fancy word is that Bettie always says to us.”
I laughed from the doorway and gave her a final wave; then I hurried out of the apartment and down to the street where Bruce was standing outside the SUV.
“Don’t worry,” I said as I climbed in, “I’m not going to ask you where you’re taking me. Knowing Jordan, he’s probably made you swear on your children not to tell me.”
He chuckled as he shut the door behind me. When he got in the driver’s seat, he said, “I’m actually allowed to tell you where we’re going.”
“What?”
He continued laughing. “Do you want me to tell you?”
I thought about it. “You know what? The secret has gone on for this long. It won’t kill me to wait a little bit longer.”
“If you change your mind, just say the word.”
That mind he’d referenced was far too busy bursting over everything that had happened since he’d just shown up at our front door.
I had no idea what to expect; without Jordan giving me any information, I couldn’t even guess what he had planned.
But the way Jordan had presented it all—the boxes, the notes, the necklace—it was so thoughtful. So planned out. So centered around me.
I couldn’t wait to hug him.
I couldn’t wait to love him.
I couldn’t—
My thoughts halted as Bruce turned into the entrance of Logan Airport.
But instead of heading toward departures, he veered around the side, to an area I’d never been before.
After at least a mile of winding down a back road, he slowed as he approached a gate, the chain link sliding open for our SUV.
Once we were through it, a massive stretch of tarmac was in front of us.
Bruce drove to what seemed like the middle of a runway and parked.
I poked my head into the front seat. “Where are we?”
“We’re waiting for Jordan.”
“Where is he?”
He pointed through the driver’s-side window. “He’s there. Should be pulling up any second.”
Since I was sitting on the other side of the SUV, I followed Bruce’s finger. A jet—all black and sleek, with silver accents—was making its way toward us. It halted several feet away, and the door toward the front of the plane opened, and a set of stairs came all the way to the ground.
I climbed out of the SUV just as Jordan appeared in the entryway.
His eyes took me in, and he smiled. “Hi, baby.”
His handsomeness was completely overwhelming. So was his grin. The way his scruff had been trimmed, his outfit polished—but his hair was just messy enough that it gave him that rough edge.
I held on to the railing at the bottom of the staircase, somewhat frozen with emotion. “That was quite an entrance you just made.”
“I had a meeting this morning that I couldn’t miss. So I’m coming straight from New York and thought it would be quickest if you met me.” He licked his lips. “Come here.”
I held on while I climbed the stairs, and once I was within reach, his hands went to my cheeks, and he pulled me toward him and kissed me.
He tasted just the way I remembered.
But better.
My entire body tingled as we stood on the second stair from the top, the wind blowing all my hair in our faces.
“God, I fucking missed you.” His hand went to my neck, his gaze focused on my throat. “I knew it would look breathtaking on you. I was right.”
“I love it. I love you. Thank you.”
He gave me a small kiss. “Are you ready to take off?”
“I was ready the moment you told me we were going on vacation.”
He gripped my fingers and led me onto the plane. “Welcome aboard Worthington Air.”
I took a glance around the space. There weren’t any rows of seats; instead, there were chairs on either side, two love seats, and a couch. The interior was outfitted in white leather and matching walls, with a black floor and silver hardware. “Is this your company’s jet?”
His tongue paused at the corner of his mouth, and he huffed out a few laughs. “This is the jet I share with Gavin.”
My feet stopped moving. “Hold on a second. I knew you flew private, I just assumed Worthington Enterprises owned a plane. But are you telling me that you and Gavin own this jet?”
“Did I forget to mention that?” His smile grew. “Come sit and have a drink. We have about a three-and-a-half-hour flight ahead of us.”