Epilogue Jordan
Epilogue
Jordan
Ten months later
I lifted the beer bottle to my lips and took a long drink before setting it back on the ledge next to us. “I don’t know why it took me this long to try this, but you’re right, baby—there’s nothing like having a cold Sam Adams in the bathtub.”
“I know.” As Maya lay in front of me, soaking beneath the warm water and bubbles, she shifted her head against my chest to look at me.
“And even though I was opposed to remodeling this whole bathroom to construct a tub this large, since we’re only in New York every couple of months, I’m so happy we did.
A relaxing bath after a game and just before bed makes for the most perfect evening. ”
I kissed her. “You’ve converted me into a bath guy. Something I never thought would ever fucking happen.”
She put her finger over my mouth. “Correction: a guy who will only take baths with me.”
“True.”
Her bubbly arm stretched across the back of my neck. “I love that about you.” She glanced around at the newly designed space that had just been completed a few weeks ago, which was why we’d been anxious to get back. “And I love what we did in here.”
“Correction: what you did in here. You designed the whole room, and you did a hell of a job.”
She laughed. “I’m just relieved you didn’t decide to sell it a few months back and buy the other penthouse we looked at.
There are so many memories for you in this condo—I don’t want to walk away from them.
Besides, I know you call our condo in Boston your ‘nest,’ but to me, this feels more like a nest. Tucking us away into a quiet pocket, with the bustling city below. ”
I rested my chin on top of her head. “I could certainly use some quiet, especially after a game like tonight’s.”
When she sighed, the air that came out of her nose caused the bubbles to part over her chest. “You aren’t kidding.
The Clovers against New York makes for an extremely rowdy game.
But man, it was fun. And I love comparing home games to away games, and seeing the changes you’ve put in place since the buyout and how they’ve impacted the team and the arena.
” She paused. “You know, I haven’t seen any other team or arena—and I’ve seen a lot at this point—that can even compare to Boston.
” She tilted her head again and kissed my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
My eyes closed as I said, “Do you know what made all those changes possible?”
“Tell me.”
I rubbed my hand over the top of her head, my eyes slowly opening. “You.”
“No.”
“Yes.” I lowered my fingers to her chin.
“By switching up the way you work and coming on the road with me and letting me bounce ideas off you and hearing things from a woman’s perspective—things I hadn’t considered—that made all the difference in the world, Maya.
You need to know that. And you need to take credit for that. ”
I sensed her smile even though I couldn’t see it.
“What I’ll say is, being here, in all the ways, has been the best period or quarter—look at me, with all these sport references”—she laughed—“of my life.”
I took some of the bubbles and added them back to her chest. “Best thing you could have ever said to me.”
The longer I sat here, the faster my thoughts were getting carried away, veering toward an idea that was completely fucking ludicrous.
What the hell am I thinking?
I shoved the idea away and said, “You haven’t seen much of Emily lately. You’re missing her, aren’t you?”
“I’m always missing her. Even when we lived together, I’d see her at work, and we’d need a catch-up at the nurses’ station, like I hadn’t just hung out with her the night before.” She traced her toes around the faucet. “Our relationship has been that way since we met.”
While I’d been trying to force the idea out of my head, this conversation only prompted me to spiral, an entire plan now unraveling.
“What if we didn’t fly tomorrow?” I suggested. “What if, instead, I flew Emily here to spend the weekend with us?”
She danced against my chest. “I can’t even express how much I love that idea.” She sat up a little, twisting her body toward me. “Emily’s as obsessed with Ben as I am, so what if you invited Ben and Gavin too? Wouldn’t it be so fun to experience the city through Ben’s eyes?”
And while I was at it, I was going to invite my parents, my grandmother, and Maya’s mom.
But I wouldn’t tell her they were coming. I would keep it a surprise.
The second surprise—tonight would be the first.
I was doing this . . . I was really fucking doing it.
“It would be a blast to hang with the three of them,” I agreed.
She rubbed some of the bubbles over her arms. “Em and I could sleep with Ben in one of the guest rooms, and we can build a fort. He’d love that. Gavin could have the other guest room, and you’d be in our room. There’s plenty of space for everyone to stay here.”
I wrapped my arm over her chest. “You’re telling me I’m losing you . . . to Ben? I don’t like that at all.”
She laughed. “You can give up a few nights of sleeping with me so your nephew and Emily and I can have a slumber party.”
“I don’t know . . .” My lips went to the outside of her ear. “You know there’s nothing I love more than waking up to you in my arms.”
“Mmm. Same,” she moaned. “But a weekend won’t kill us.”
“Speak for yourself.”
She hooked her fingers behind my neck. “Someone doesn’t like to share.”
“No, I don’t.” I kissed the inside of her arm. “But for Ben, I’ll make an exception.”
She lifted her chin and tilted her head fully back to connect eyes with me. “I’m already excited about the possibility of seeing my girl. When we were home last week, she wasn’t at the rehab center the two days I worked there.” Her head straightened.
“That’s not like her. It seems like she’s always working.”
“She was in Nashville. I guess she went there on vacation or something. I don’t know . . . she was vague about the details.”
I traced the spot on her arm I had just kissed. “Maybe she went to our game. Our guys were playing there last week.”
“I doubt it. She would have asked for tickets. She knows I’d murder her if she paid for them herself.”
“Why don’t you reach out to her, and I’ll get in touch with Gavin, and we’ll see if we can coordinate things. Unless he’s traveling for work—which I don’t think he is—it’ll be no problem for him.”
“Before you ask him, let me check with her first. Her schedule is not nearly as flexible as his. Actually, I can ask her right now.” She reached for the ledge, where her phone sat right next to my beer. She pulled up her texts, and there was a message from Emily at the top.
She held it so both of us could see it.
Emily: Hiiiii. So I know you’re in New York (yes, I’m stalking your location because that’s what besties do), but we need to talk . . . I have something to tell you.
Maya: Omg, I was just going to text you. Want to come to New York this weekend? With Gavin and Ben—assuming they can come—and stay at Jordan’s condo and have all the fun with us?
Emily: Ah . . .
Maya: Em?
Emily: We really need to talk first. Can I call you?
Maya: We’re in the bathtub. I’ll call you once we get out and you can fill me in on everything.
Emily: Put your phone down and go enjoy naked time. Silly girl. XO
She returned her cell to the ledge and cuddled back into my chest. “What do you think she’s going to tell me?”
“Who knows.” I chuckled.
She probably thought I was chuckling because when it came to Emily, there was no telling what could be up—anything was possible. But really it was because I had a decent suspicion of what Emily wanted to talk to Maya about.
If I was right, I was going to let Emily drop that bomb.
“I thought my mom would be reaching out, that’s why I brought my phone into the bathroom. Well, and I’m waiting to hear back from Carrie. She’s following up with the attorney to make sure all the paperwork was processed for our foundation.”
My body immediately stiffened. “Hold on. The paperwork hasn’t been processed? I thought Carrie took care of that weeks ago.”
“No, it has and she did, but Carrie and I made some tweaks after she submitted everything to the attorney, so she’s following up on version two.”
The thought that Carrie had dropped the ball on something as important as the foundation I was establishing with Maya had made my blood pressure spike, but it started to settle back down.
Maya and I had merged our passions, and we were developing a foundation that would provide after-school care for low-income children—a safe place for them to go, where sports and different arts would be available.
Once we waded through the legalities, which was taking longer than we’d anticipated, we would hire the staff who would spend time with these children, and purchase a building where it would all take place.
Something we were both so incredibly excited about and proud of.
She kissed the bottom of my chin. “Don’t worry, everything should be all wrapped up within a few weeks.”
“Good.” I relaxed even more. “Now, why haven’t you heard from your mom?”
“I don’t know. I texted her a couple of hours ago while we were at the game, but she must have gone to bed early. Worthington Enterprises is wearing her ass out and making her one tired lady.”
“One tired and very successful lady.”
“I’d say you have no idea how happy that makes me . . . but you do know.”
I pressed my lips against her head and breathed her in.
“I went to her new on-site office the other day and brought her lunch,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe it—she had a few plants and some art on the walls and a framed photo of us.
She’s never been one to decorate anything.
Her spaces have always been a sea of white walls and bare corners.
Yet there I was, in a five-by-seven wrapped in gold metal, right next to her computer. ”
“Your reason for being in that frame goes a lot deeper than a decoration.” I continued to exhale against her head. “She’s showing these prospective tenants who she is and what she’s gone through. Remember, you’re a huge part of that.”
Her body tightened before it relaxed. “You’re right.”
“HR couldn’t be more pleased with her performance.”
“You checked with them?”
“And with her boss. Since Debbie’s one-year review is coming up, I didn’t want there to be any surprises. There won’t be—well, aside from the raise she’s getting.”
“What? She’s getting a raise?”
“Yes.”
“Jordan . . .”
I kissed her hair. “I know, baby.”
I also knew my head was exploding and I didn’t want to wait another second to carry out this plan.
I picked up my beer and held it to my lips, swallowing until the bottle was empty, and then I moved her forward a few inches to give me enough room to step out onto the bath mat.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
I reached for a towel and quickly dried off, wrapping it around my waist. “I’ve got to do something.” I leaned across the edge of the tub to kiss her. “I’ll be right back.”
She smiled. “Hurry.”
I left the en suite and walked out of the bedroom, through the living room and kitchen, and into my office, the drips from the bath running down my back and legs as I took a seat behind my desk.
There was a keypad on the underside of the wood that took a series of six numbers before it unlocked the top drawer.
Once it was open, I looked inside, grabbed what I came for, shut the drawer, and went back to the bathroom.
But instead of joining her in the water, I stood in the doorway and watched her.
She was stretched across the porcelain tub, the tips of her toes sticking out, her hands folded over both edges, her hair floating around her. And the bubbles were like a blanket covering her body.
“What are you doing over there?” Her tone was sly.
My shoulder was pressed into the doorframe, my arms crossed. I could feel the smile moving across my face, the heat spreading over my skin. Despite the candles Maya had lit, the darkness of the bathroom was probably doing a good job masking my flushed flesh.
“I’m admiring,” I replied.
“The bubbles aren’t giving you much of a view, are they?”
“Any view of you is incredible.”
“Aww. You’re so cute.”
I moved over to the tub, but I didn’t climb in. “Get on your knees for me.”
She turned her head toward me a bit more. “My knees?”
“Yes.”
She lifted herself out of the water and kneeled upright. In this position, the light from the candles flickered on her skin, the glow just enough that I could see the fire in her eyes.
As she went to hold the edge of the tub, I picked up one of her hands. “I love you, Maya. I love you more than anything.”
“I love you too.”
I squatted to the tile, placing one knee on the bath mat, and looked up at her.
“Jordan . . . are you . . . ?”
“In my mind, every time I thought of this moment, the location of where I was going to do it held so much significance. What the scenery would look like. Having the sun shine on your face—or, even better, a sunset. But as I was lying in this bathtub with you, knowing this was a question I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while, I asked myself if any of that really mattered.
” I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand.
“All you’ve ever wanted from me was us. And that’s what I want to give you.
But I want to give you more.” I released her hand just long enough to lift the top of the box I was hiding behind my back, and when both arms were out in front of me, I retook her fingers and set the box on the lip of the tub.
“But more isn’t enough either. I want to give you forever, baby. ”
Her other hand was over her mouth; tears filled her eyes. “Oh my God . . .” she whispered.
I pulled out the ring that I’d designed, that I’d been taking with me to all the places we’d traveled to lately, waiting to see if any of the destinations felt like the right one.
I placed the diamond at the base of her ring finger.
The band was an infinity style made of all diamonds, the stone a round solitaire that had enough carats to please me, but not enough to displease her.
A ring that, as long as she said yes, would be on her finger when her best friend and our families came to New York this weekend to celebrate our surprise engagement.
“Maya Nolan, will you be my wife?”
She threw her arms around my neck and pressed our lips together. “A million times, yes.”