Chapter Twenty Gavin #2
“You know that’s not the same as her moving in.” I paused. “Are you afraid of rushing it, or are you afraid she’ll say no?”
“Things between us have been in fast-forward since we started hooking up. I want her to live with me. Shit, I want her to marry me. But we’re good right now, Gavin. Really fucking good. There’s no reason to mess with that.”
I was beginning to feel the same about Emily. We were in this untitled phase that came with no pressure. And since I hadn’t inserted her into Ben’s life, I didn’t have to deal with any of his questions or comments about her. That right there would take our relationship to a different level.
“I hear you.” I locked my hands behind my head and sank even deeper into the chair. “And Ben’s in love with her. So there’s that.”
“I fucking love seeing them together. She’s going to be one hell of a mom.”
“She is, for sure.” I crossed my legs, foot bouncing in the air, a smile coming over my face as I thought of Emily being a mom.
Jesus, she was going to be the best. But this wasn’t about Emily and me.
This was about Jordan and Maya. “I just want to point out that it’s wild seeing you like this after all these years of being single and anti-relationship.
I know you were just waiting for the right woman—and, Jordan, you found her. ”
He took a deep breath. “I did.”
“I’m happy for you, my man.”
My phone vibrated from my pocket, and I looked at the screen.
Emily: The roses are still alive and gorgeous. Every time I walk by one of the vases, I think of you.
Me: That’s the only time you think of me?
Emily: No.
Me: When are the others?
Jordan brought the conversation back to work, bitching about our most pressing deal and how badly he wanted the transition to be over.
“It’s kicking your ass, isn’t it?” I asked, regarding how many hours he’d been putting in, but my attention was on the screen of my phone.
As he moaned about the details and decisions that needed to be made, I read Emily’s reply.
Emily: Every time I squat to pick up something, I feel you. That sesh last night when Ben was asleep was a wild one. Or should I say, another wild one. The wilds are multiplying.
Emily: And I honestly thought I was going to get banned from late-night sneak-ins after almost getting caught last time. I’m happy that wasn’t the case. Lol.
Me: That would mean I wouldn’t see you until the weekends and that’s a no.
Emily: Are you saying you’d miss me, Gavin?
Me: I miss you right now and I just tasted you last night.
As I watched the bubbles bounce beneath her name, I gave Jordan a random response, not even sure if it made sense. The ringing of his cell was what made me glance up at him.
He shook his head as he swiped the screen. “Hi, Grandma.”
“Jordan, my dearest, how are things?”
Jordan smiled at me. “I’m sitting at my desk in the office and Gavin is here with me, so you called at a good time.”
“Hi, Grandma.” I wasn’t going to ask about the hockey game.
I didn’t want her to think I knew much about it—even though I was positive she knew about us—or that Emily had returned to her seat looking like I’d just devoured every inch of her body, even though I had.
So I said, “How’s the dancing going?” instead.
“You know I’ve been giving this new knee a good run for its money. In fact, the other night, I put it to the ultimate test.”
“If you’re talking about your date with the girls, I heard all about it.” Jordan laughed. “Did you have a good time with Maya and Emily?”
Emily: How much do you miss me?
Me: I’m sitting in my brother’s office fucking aching for you.
“The best, darling. We had the loveliest dinner, and then I brought those two gals to the game, as you know. A night filled with laughter and wonderful memories. I’m surprised they want to hang out with a weathered bird like me.”
Jordan rocked in his seat. “According to Maya, it was one of the best nights she’s had in a long time. Her and Emily are already talking about your next outing, which they’re planning and insisting on paying for.”
Emily had texted me multiple times when she’d gotten home, telling me the same.
My family was already loving her, and they didn’t know how much she meant to me.
Emily: I feel the same way—minus the brother’s office part. You need to find yourself at the coffee shop across from the rehab center at some point this week.
Me: That was already in the works, baby.
“Who knew I still had that spunk.” She giggled. “I heard that you and Gavin were watching the game from the owner’s suite.”
My jaws ground.
Emily wouldn’t have told her.
The only other person who knew was our mother, because she’d been watching Ben.
“We were,” Jordan said.
“And you never came down to kiss your grandmother?”
I pointed at Jordan, silently letting him know it was up to him to answer.
“We wanted to give you time with the ladies, Grandma. We didn’t want to crash your party. And we didn’t want to take any of the attention away from you. It was your evening, not ours.”
I pretended to hold a glass and tip it toward my mouth, which made both of us laugh. Once I’d finished tasting Emily, my brother and I proceeded to get wasted in the suite. We’d been in no shape to go see Grandma.
“I understand that, but I want to spend time with my boys too. That means you and Gavin need to make your way over for some milk and cookies. I just made peanut butter kisses. I know how much you love those.”
Jordan patted his stomach like fucking Santa. “They’re my favorite, Grandma.”
“They’re not my favorite,” I countered.
“Don’t you worry, my pumpkin. I’ll make you some chocolate chip ones that I know you’ll love. They’ll be ready tomorrow afternoon at four. I’ll see you then.”
“I—”
“No excuses,” Grandma said, cutting me off. “I’d like you to bring Ben as well, and I’ll make my little one some cupcakes. Toodles.”
She hung up, and Jordan placed the phone on his desk.
I groaned, “That woman.”
“Did you hear how she just sold us? And gave us no choice? What if we had dinner plans? What if we had a business meeting?”
“It doesn’t matter what was planned or what wasn’t planned—when Grandma calls, we’re there. She allows for no exceptions.” I rested my arms on my legs.
“We should have used her to negotiate the Clover deal,” he said, referring to our most recent acquisition. “She’s a million times better than the both of us put together.”
I laughed. “You’ve got that right.”
Jordan looked at his phone again, and when he glanced up, I knew the message that had just come across his screen was from Maya.
“Dude, now that’s a look of love if I’ve ever seen one.” I created a gun with my fingers and pulled the trigger.
He nodded at me. “When is it your turn?”
There was no way I was going to have this conversation.
I rubbed my hand over the top of my head, ignoring the gel that was in there. “For love? Shit, I don’t know.” I didn’t know why, but I fucking hated saying those words to him. So much so, I stood to leave. “Right now, things need to be all about Ben.”
“He’s seven.”
“And?”
“And Ben wants you happy.”
Fuck, not him too.
As I was walking out, I looked at him from over my shoulder. “I am happy.”
A statement that couldn’t be truer.
“You’d be happier if you had someone like Maya in your life,” he told me.
But I did.
And when the time was right, I’d tell him about her.
“Jesus,” I moaned, annoyed that he wouldn’t drop it.
“So you’re the master of love now? Throwing it down everyone’s throats?
After going thirty-three years without it?
” I went to the door. “You know one way to get me to stop barging in without knocking? Keep bringing up love, and I’ll avoid your office altogether. ”
I sounded like an angry motherfucker, but that wasn’t the feeling inside.
The feeling was the exact opposite.
Jordan smiled, goading me. “You don’t think I know that?”
“Asshole.”
“See you tomorrow for milk and cookies.”
I flipped him off and walked out.