Chapter 9
Nine
Two Weeks Later
“Well, isn’t this a blast from the past?” my old English teacher calls out from behind the counter as my best friend and I step up to grab our online order.
“Girl, don’t make me call your mama,” she grunts, trying to hide the smirk on her face.
“What she meant to say was, it’s good to see you, Mrs. Morrow.” I smile, even though she wasn’t always the friendliest of teachers. Maybe her alter ego as a summertime barista is more fun.
“Yes, for sure.” Symone bats her lashes, and I try my best not to let out the laugh I’m holding in.
We thank her for the drinks, and I swear she huffs something about me being the nice one under her breath as we walk away.
The coffee shop is busy this morning, so we walk toward the back, seeing a few more familiar faces along the way.
We live in a small town outside of Mountain Ridge called Bryson Lake.
Think Stars Hollow meets a southern-mountain town in a Hallmark special, and that’d be us.
We find a seat against the back window that looks out at our downtown area, with much less hustle and bustle than we are used to these days at Mountain Ridge.
Sy huffs dramatically. “Still not over that final grade she gave me senior year.” She rolls her eyes before taking a sip of her caramel macchiato.
I laugh at that. This girl can hold a grudge like no other. Thank God, she decided I was going to be her bestie on the first day of sixth grade.
We couldn’t be more different. She’s brunette to my blonde. 5’0” to my 5’9”. Cheerleader to my basketball player. But I’ve never had a more loyal friend in my life.
Besides my family, she’s always been my biggest cheerleader, both literally and figuratively, which is why I know exactly why she wanted to catch up today. And in true Symone fashion, she wastes no time getting to the point.
“So, Jordan?” She purses her lips.
She asks the question I know she’s been dying to ask me since I told her he surprised me on my family vacation. “What’s the deal with all that?”
“Things are good right now. Really good.” I smile at the memories we made in Florida.
It was the first time in a while I felt special and like a priority to him.
“Shay come downstairs, hun.” My mom’s voice sounds through the beachfront condo we’re staying at.
“Be right down!” I holler back while finishing pulling my hair in a high ponytail.
We just got in after a day at the beach, and we’re heading to join Dad and Joey in the cute little downtown that’s within walking distance of our place.
I hop down the stairs and head toward the kitchen, stopping in my tracks when I spot who’s sitting at the kitchen table.
“Jordan? What are yo— How did you?” I stumble on my words, in shock by his presence. Initially, Jordan was supposed to join my family and me on this trip, but when I decided we needed space, I uninvited him.
He stands up, and I take note of the small bouquet in his hand.
“Hey, pretty thing,” he greets and kisses me softly on the cheek, passing me the bouquet.
“Oh, uh, thank you,” I say, my voice sounding more hesitant than I mean it to. If I’m being honest, I haven't thought much about Jordan since we got here.
“I missed you… I texted your mom and said I was coming to surprise you. Then got in my truck and came straight here.”
My eyes dart to my mom, who’s standing on the other side of the room, pretending to tidy up the kitchen counter.
“This is such a surprise,” I say as I wrap my arms around him. The Jordan I’ve gotten used to would never have gone through all this trouble. He barely makes an effort to see me on days we both had practice in the same facility.
His arms circle my waist, and he holds me close, whispering in my ear, “I really have missed you, Shay.”
I release a sigh at the familiarity of his embrace. “Can we talk?” he asks as we break apart.
“Sure,” I say, then peek at my mom, who’s suddenly found a spot on the counter that needed scrubbing.
“Mom…I’m going to take Jordan for a walk real quick. If we’re not back by the time y’all leave, text me, and we’ll meet you at the restaurant.”
I swear this woman should earn an Oscar with the way she’s acting like she isn’t listening to our entire interaction.
“Oh! Oh yes, of course. Take your time. Here, let me get those into some water,” she says, grabbing the flowers from me.
Jordan walks toward the big living room windows that showcase the shoreline. My mom takes the opportunity to pull me aside.
“Don’t be mad at me. I didn’t see his text till we got back from the beach. If I had, I would’ve told him hell no! Do you want Dad to tell him to leave?” my mom whispers, close enough that only I hear her.
I shake my head. “If Jordan took this initiative to come here and wants to talk, I definitely want to hear what he has to say.”
“You sure? I have no problem telling him to go fly a kite.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “I promise I'm good.”
“Alright, well, hear what he has to say, but make sure whatever you decide, you do it from your heart,” she says and steps away to find a vase.
“Thanks, Ma, we’ll see you in a bit.”
Jordan and I head out the back doors and down toward the beach. His hand slips into mine as we walk. We find a secluded spot on the beach and settle down.
He fusses with the sand in front of him for a few moments before speaking. “I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. I know you uninvited me, but honestly, I felt that not seeing you or spending this week with you would only further shove the wedge between us.”
I go to open my mouth to respond, but he holds up his finger. “Please, I need to get this all out before you tell me to leave, and I will if you want me to after we talk.”
I nod, heart beating a little faster, and he continues.
“I know I’ve been a really shitty boyfriend, like really shitty.
And our time apart has given me a lot of time to think.
Think about us, and how I can do better, be better.
.. because that’s what you deserve. You deserve so much more than I was giving you.
” He grabs my hands in his and angles himself to face me.
“If you give me another chance, I would love to prove to you that we belong together. That I can be all that you need. I promise never to give you another reason to doubt my love for you. Because I do, with every fiber of my being.” He finishes by bringing the back of my hand up to his lips and placing a gentle kiss.
Stunned isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I'm feeling at his revelation. His eyes search mine, sincerity shining through. He looks so hopeful, so determined. It reminds me of the Jordan I fell in love with, the Jordan who made me feel like his priority.
The first guy who ever paid any attention to me, and wasn’t intimidated by my athleticism.
Tears spring to my eyes, and he wraps his arms around me.
It’s everything I’ve been wanting to hear for so long.
I just pray he doesn’t prove me a fool for believing him.
I swallow the liquid heat of my chai tea latte before continuing. “Yeah, he surprised me and wound up staying for a few days after we talked. He was so sweet and helpful the whole time he was there. I think he knows even before…the accusation, he started to neglect our relationship.”
Deep down, I can’t help the uneasy feeling that I’m making the wrong decision by giving him another chance.
Symone blows out a breath, likely having the same thought.
“What?” I ask, even though I know what’s coming.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. I just hate that he was giving another girl his attention. Even if he’s telling the truth and nothing else happened.
I wish I hadn’t lost him in the crowd when I noticed they were leaving together.
You know I would’ve punched him in the balls right there for even entertaining anyone but you. ”
I let out a small laugh, imagining my fierce little bestie doing precisely that. “I love you.”
She’s quiet for a second before she continues, “Doesn’t that bother you? He shouldn’t disrespect you like that by even letting another woman think he’d give her the time of day.”
I shrug. “Yes, and no. It pisses me off to imagine him humiliating me in that way. But also, I know that I’ve had some not-so-innocent flirty conversations with my very hot friend of the opposite sex as well.”
She raises her eyebrows suggestively at that. “Very hot, indeed. Just letting you know that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you admit Maverick’s ridiculous hotness.”
I smirk, pursing my lips. “Of course you’d be keeping tabs on that. Between you and Darby, I can’t catch a break when it comes to Mav.”
“That’s because we know you. And we’re willing to admit the things for you that you aren’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Symone shrugs again with a mischievous smirk on her lips. “Aren’t you going to see him today?”
I hesitate, not knowing what trap I’m entering here.
“Yes, I’m taking Joey there in a few hours.”
I bite my lip to hold back the smile, not wanting to add fuel to her fire, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see Mav. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks because of our vacation.
“So, things with Maverick are still completely platonic?”
I’ve been trying desperately to keep my thoughts about Maverick from wandering too far. But before Jordan showed up in Florida, I couldn’t stop thinking about how his thighs felt under my grasp.
“Yes, why wouldn’t they be?” I ask quickly, ignoring the way the cinnamon in my chai tea latte has me licking my lips, wondering if it’s how his would taste.
“I don’t know, maybe the way he looks at you, treats you, worships the ground you walk on.”
What is up with everyone pointing this out lately?
I narrow my eyes at her. “That’s a bit dramatic.”
“Bet.” She juts her chin out toward me.