Chapter 16 – Jordan
SIXTEEN
JORDAN
Back to school shopping is easily one of Mom’s favorite traditions. It’s a big deal in the Carmichael house, even in college. She’s forced Cooper and me the previous years to appease her obsession by spending an entire day dedicated to selecting the perfect notebooks and folders.
Over the years it lost its luster. Once there’s no need to discover who your teacher is by locating your name, triple checking every grade list to see which classroom your friends landed in, and using that list to shop, what’s the point? Somehow, Mom always made it a point.
Truthfully, we enjoy it. I think Cooper loves it.
Mom couldn’t squeeze it into her busy work schedule this year. A mishap with a new event coordinator led to double bookings and overtime to create florals for nine weddings.
Xanie had the entire day off, and since I’m not supposed to meet Jaxon till this evening for a training session, she deemed it school supply day.
Our first stop was coffee. Then to the University bookstore—can someone explain to me why buying and renting textbooks cost so much? When the cashier rang us up, I almost vomited when he said what I owed him. Four months with these books, only to rinse and repeat in the spring.
Now we’re at the store, meandering our way through every aisle in the back-to-school section. An oversized pencil and composition notebook hanging from the ceiling.
Greene
would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf?
I fire off a response.
Me
thought you were going to ask me about my hair
Greene
changed my mind (but i’m still curious so you should tell me)
Me
you’re pretty smart, you can figure it out
Greene
you think i’m pretty?!
Me
pretty (emphasis) smart
Greene
*attached a GIF*
i think you’re pretty too
you’d be a pretty ________ too
^^ fill in the blank: vampire or werewolf
wait…let me guess
Me
you’re exhausting
Greene
vampire!! You already wear a lot of black…so your bedroom must be the same. Easy to transform into a bat and hang upside down or do you not sleep and when you “wake up” in the morning, you’ve been awake all night, haven’t you?
Me
you caught me
Greene
knew it. I’d be a werewolf. Grow the mustache and some
ur turn!!!
“I think I’m going to try taking notes by hand this semester. Do you—what are you smiling at?” Xanie drops a collection of spiral bound notebooks into the cart.
I’d tell her I’m not smiling, but my cheeks hurt and are hot.
“Holy shit, you’re blushing too.” She rounds the front of the cart. I pull my phone tightly into my chest so she can’t snoop. It buzzes twice. “Who are you texting?”
“No one.”
“Luka?” I give her a pointed look. She saunters off, muttering something under her breath about how she’ll get it out of me eventually. Immediately, I swipe to unlock my phone and read Jaxon’s messages.
Me
first off, i would be neither. if i could be any mythological creature, it would be a mermaid
Greene
halfway there with your hair. You could have a matching tail!!
Me
ha. Ha.
By the time there’s a lull in messaging with Jaxon, Xanie’s filled our cart with everything we both need. My makeshift list in her hands, a pen cap dangling from her mouth as she checks off the items.
“Thank you,” I tell her, laying my chin on her shoulder which is the equivalent of a Jordan hug.
“Uh huh.” She checks off the last box on both our lists, opening her purse to put away the lined paper.
“Do we need anything else while we’re here?” I take the cart. Xanie isn’t allowed to be captain of the cart. She’s run into the back of my heels enough times I have a permanent mark. “I’m out of face wash.”
“Probably some cleaning supplies. Oh, and cereal, I had the last bit this morning.”
“Lead the way.”
Our route to the opposite side of the store is stopped by the new release books. And as if we don’t already know what each other is reading, we feel the need to point out and talk about our latest book boyfriend.
Xanie’s still going on about a TV adaptation of her favorite series as we turn into the cereal aisle. Her critique of the casting is interrupted by familiar voices.
“Little Carmichael.” Jaxon pulls a family-sized box of Fruit Loops off the top shelf.
“Jords.” My brother is behind the cart.
“They didn’t have any cilantro. Do you think Dawson would be okay with dill or parsley?” Chase comes up behind them, holding a container of each. “Oh, hey.”
“Parsley is more comparable,” Xanie tells him. He drops that container in the cart before disappearing around the endcap.
“What are you two up to?” Cooper asks.
“Honorary Mom’s back-to-school shopping.”
Cooper curses under his breath. “I forgot you texted me about that.”
“No worries.” I check out their cart. Besides groceries, there’s a decorative tub filled with miscellaneous supplies. Colored pencils, markers, crayons, folders, packages of erasers—all things that would be good if you have an elementary student. “Looks like you got what you needed?”
“That’s mine.”
“Taking up craft time?” I arch a brow at Jaxon. A corner of my mouth works into a slight smirk.
“Art class is on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
My brother pulls at one of Jaxon’s cheeks. “You’re looking at the newest Bensen elementary fourth grade student teacher. Mr. Greene is a cutie patootie isn’t he?”
“The cutest,” I reply as Jaxon mouths pretty. You think I’m pretty.
Cooper gets a call, walking down the aisle to take it.
“Is that your favorite cereal?” I ask, gesturing to the second box in his hand.
“Is that your question for the day?” I nod. “Forever and always. Fruit Loops and I go way back.” He adds them to the cart. “Dawson doesn’t let me have them during the season. I tried to tell him that red dye makes you faster but he didn’t believe me.”
“Weird. I heard it makes your wrist shot better.”
“Hey, now. That was one time.”
Xanie eyes Jaxon and me. “I’m gonna go grab the dishwasher gel and paper towels,” she dismisses herself.
“Three times,” I correct. Jaxon is a great coach, but he likes to show off.
During one of our ice sessions, he went to do a trick shot.
Something that included a wrist shot. He managed to hit himself in the head the first time.
The other two times, that he doesn’t remember, went over the plexiglass and into the stands.
Apparently that’s what was supposed to happen.
“Maybe you’re supposed to eat a bowl right before. ”
“Well, duh. Pre-workout meal of champions,” he jokes. “What’s your favorite? It better not be Wheaties or plain Cheerios.”
“Honey Nut or Golden Grahams.”
“Phew. Thought we were gonna have a problem.”
I roll my eyes. Jaxon grabs a box of both, adding them to my cart. “You were the one that said I wasn’t boring. Assuming I’d go for the blandest cereal?”
“You’re right. Living on the edge with Honey Nut Cheerios.”
I roll my eyes again as my brother comes back, Chase at his side. “Got everything you need? Someone called off at the marina and boss needs me to cover. Oh, Jords. I was supposed to make candles with Sutton tonight, but can’t anymore. If you want my spot, it’s yours. I’ll tell her to text you.”
“I have plans.”
“Oh, okay.” His tone is full of surprise.
“Sorry?”
“Don’t be. Elliot can probably go.” He checks the time. “Shit. Really gotta go. See ya, later.” He takes the cart from Jaxon, running and jumping on the back, Chase right behind him.
Jaxon lingers behind.
He dips his head, gaze flicking between my lips and eyes. I have blinders on, solely focused on the movement of his mouth. My tongue slips between my lips, wetting them before tugging on the bottom one.
Did the heat suddenly turn on?
The cereal aisle would be where he’d kiss me. With Fruit Loops as our only witness. Not how I’ve pictured it, or dreamt of it last night.
Jaxon gets closer…and closer…and I think it’s going to happen. I root myself into the tiled floor, praying my sore legs don’t give out, bracing for—
His heads dips further, bypassing my mouth, skimming my cheek to my ear. Still my breath catches.
“No need to act like I’m your dirty little secret. I’ll see you later, Little Carmichael,” he whispers, pausing before taking a step backward. When I can see his face, forced to look up at him, he fucking winks goodbye.