Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
JO
Jordan
[pic attached of Dippy wearing a scarf covered in pickleball rackets]
Me
I DIE J.
Your dedication to matching his scarves to our activities is noted and appreciated.
Jordan
Gotta keep my girl happy.
Me
Your girl, huh?
Jordan
My dick has been inside you multiple times. That makes you mine. I thought we were clear on that.
Me
What does me being your girl entail, exactly?
Jordan
Well for one, it means I’m playing pickleball tonight, even though that sport freaks me the fuck out. Is it big ping pong? Little tennis? No one knows. I don’t like that. Also, what is up with those square rackets? It’s weird, Jo.
Me
You know you’re being super dramatic right?
It’s cool. Also, fun fact: pickleball is the official sport of Washington State.
Jordan
I am so happy to have that information.
Me
Stick with me, J. In addition to coordinating the J’s Summer of Fun, I am also a repository for weird, random facts.
jordan
And you have really pretty tits.
Me
If you’re a good boy and play pickleball with me, I’ll let you come on them tonight.
Jordan
Fuck. Now I’m hard, and I’m about to go into surgery.
Me
*dusts off shoulder*
My work here is done.
I slip my phone into the pocket of my jeans, grinning madly as I walk to Monica’s office for the meeting she put on my calendar this morning. I super did not expect Jordan to be all in like this, so fast, but I’m not mad about it. Being with him, bantering with him, just literally everything about him, warms me straight to my core.
“That’s a happy face,” Monica says as I waltz into her office and flop into the chair in front of her desk.
“It’s a really good day.” I take a sip of the Dr. Pepper I brought in with me, trying—and failing—to wipe the smile off my face.
“Anything you want to share?”
“I think I’m kind of, like, having a summer romance?” I don’t mean for it to come out like a question, but I guess despite all the “my girl” stuff, I’m still trying to work out what we are. Or, at least, what we could be.
Monica leans back in her chair and beams at me. “That’s like something right out of a Nora Ephron movie. Girl comes to New York for the summer and falls in love.”
“Right?” I blow out a happy breath and flop back in my chair, digging a Fireball out of my pocket. “He’s my summer friend and we were spending a lot of time together and it just kind of…happened. He has a lot going on in his life, and I was determined to be his friend, but then we just became more all of a sudden.”
Monica studies me. “So…what’s the problem?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What makes you think there’s a problem?”
She shrugs. “Just a feeling.”
I consider that for a second before responding. “I’m not sure if it’s a problem yet because it’s only a few days old, and we haven’t exactly defined what we are. But I guess if there was one, it would be that he lives here and I’m going home in five weeks where I have a job I love a lot waiting for me. We’re geographically incompatible.”
“Well, that’s one of the reasons I wanted you to come talk to me.”
“To discuss my potentially long-distance relationship?”
Monica laughs. “No, to discuss your job.”
“What about it?”
“Okay, so I’ve sent the first part of the planning handbook you’re creating out to some of our sister museums, and the response has been absolutely incredible. Everyone loves it, and they are salivating for more.”
I lean forward with my elbows on my knees, feeling that glow of pride in what I created, excited for all the kids this is going to help. “That’s really great. I’m glad the reception is good.”
“It’s more than good, Jo. I have heard back from at least four different museums that not only want to use your program guide, but they want to hire you to implement it.”
I sit straight up and stare at her. “Wait, what?”
Monica grins at me. “I was kind of expecting this, especially given how successful you’ve been in Pittsburgh and how much you’ve accomplished in your short time here. I mean, you somehow convinced the New York City school district to bus kids here after school, and I never, in a thousand years, thought anyone could do that. You’re so talented, Jo. You care so much about giving kids a safe place to learn and explore and about making the museums accessible to everyone. That dedication shines in your work.”
I blow out another breath, this one incredulous. “How would something like that even work?”
Monica leans back, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I mean, just off the top of my head, I think you would go out on your own and start a business as a museum consultant. Then these museums can hire you on a short-term basis to establish their programs either wholly or partially. You could set up your business model however you want. The sky is really the limit here. It would probably involve some travel, but a lot could be done remotely.”
I stare at her, the wheels in my brain turning. “I can’t even imagine leaving the Carnegie Museum. It’s been home for so long.”
“Listen, I’m not saying you have to do this. You can absolutely go back just like you planned, but you are so good at what you do, and I wouldn’t be a good friend or colleague if I didn’t at least plant the seed.”
I pull out a second Fireball and toss it in my mouth, throwing one to Monica too. “I guess I have some things to think about.”
Monica nods, unwrapping her Fireball. “You sure do. But first, I need all the details about this guy. Leave nothing out.”
I grin at her. “His name is Jordan.”
Monica sighs. “J names are so fucking hot.”
I laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
* * *
“That was out!” Jordan calls as he jogs after the ball.
“No way, dude! That was so completely in.” I put my hands on my hips as Jordan trots back to the net.
“It really wasn’t.”
“Do you think maybe you need glasses? I’m concerned about your eyes.”
Jordan crosses his arms, and it does something really incredible to his biceps that has me a little breathless, lust pooling between my legs. He looks ridiculously good tonight, standing on the court under the darkening sky. The black athletic shorts and white T-shirt he’s wearing are, like, pulled from my wildest fantasies, and when he pulls off his Pittsburgh Renegades hat and runs his hand through his hair, sticking it back on his head backward, my entire body explodes into a lust-filled fever dream.
“My eyes are fine. Is it possible you forgot to learn the rules of pickleball before deciding we had to play it?”
I narrow my eyes, giving him my most menacing stare. “No.”
He stares right back, one side of his mouth quirking up in an amused smile. “You sure about that?”
“Fuck, fine!” I exclaim, letting out a dramatic sigh and dropping my head back. “I liked the shirt, okay?” I wave my hands at the black tank I’m wearing with the cartoon pickle on it, holding a pickleball racket. “Also, I thought it would be cool to play at courts set up on what is usually an ice-skating rink, as it gets dark out. I didn’t think much past that. Old people play pickleball. I figured it couldn’t be that hard.”
Jordan smirks at me. “And what did you learn?”
I heave a dramatic sigh. “It’s harder than I thought.” I study Jordan, a wicked grin pulling at my mouth. “Also, you look unfairly hot in a backward hat.”
His eyes rake down my body and back up again, setting every part of me on fire. “Is that so?”
“That is, in fact, so,” I say, trying to keep some semblance of cool.
“Well, I can’t stop looking at your legs in that tennis skirt, so we’re even.”
I pop a hip, smiling at him. “Play your cards right, and you can peel it right off me later.”
Jordan tosses his racket down and strides around the net, straight toward me. Before I have a chance to say anything, he wraps one arm around my back, tugging me to him and covering my mouth with his. Every single one of my senses hums as he takes his time licking into my mouth, tasting every inch of me, groaning when I nip his lower lip, grinding his already hard cock against me.
“Fuck, I want you. So badly, Hurricane.”
“You’ll have me, J. As much as you want. But not yet.”
I lean in for one more quick kiss before I drop down to the court, laying on my back, face to the sky.
Jordan stands above me, confused expression on his face. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“Stargazing.”
“You want me to stargaze on a pickleball court in the middle of Central Park with this?” He waves a hand at the extremely obvious dick print in his shorts, and I smother a laugh.
“Stargaze with me, and I’ll blow you on the way home.”
Jordan freezes. Dropping his head back, he lets out a muttered “fuck” before tossing his hat down on the court and laying next to me. “Why do I like you again?”
I smile, leaning over to kiss his cheek, loving the feel of his stubble against my lips. “My sparkling personality and my penchant for wearing pink Converse? The fact that I always have Fireballs in my pocket? My choice of activities based on a shirt I found in a sketchy souvenir shop on Canal Street?”
Jordan props himself up on one elbow, leaning down to kiss me again. “All of the above,” he whispers against my lips. “And so many more things.”
“Jesus,” I mumble as he lays back down next to me, taking my hand as butterflies riot in my stomach. “You’re the best more than friend I’ve ever had.”
“More than friend?” he asks, scooting closer to me so our shoulders are pressed together, his head leaning against mine, hands intertwined.
I shrug. “I mean, you’re my best friend, and you’ve also seen me naked a bunch. I wasn’t sure what to call us now.” My tone is flippant, but my stomach twists a little. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make this about defining our relationship or anything. This has only been happening for, like, two minutes.”
Jordan turns his head to look at me. I can feel his gaze on the side of my face before he grasps my chin, tipping my head towards him and pressing a kiss to my lips. “Hurricane, what did you think was happening here, exactly?”
I shrug again, not sure what else to do. “I don’t know. This is new for me, and this is your first time dipping your toe back into the dating pool since Allie. I didn’t want to assume anything.”
Jordan gives me a wry smile. “Okay, well, first of all, this may be new for you, but you caught on pretty quickly. Second of all, I’m not dipping my toe into the dating pool. I’m not interested in any kind of pool at all. Pool means lots, and I don’t want lots. I only want you.”
“You mean that?” I ask, hating that the question lays bare all of my inexperience and an insecurity I didn’t realize I possessed until this very minute.
Jordan’s expression turns serious, and he glides his thumb over my palm. “Jo, I’m fucking crazy about you. You are the most important person in my life and the best thing that’s happened to me in a very, very long time. I know we have a lot to figure out. A lot of me is still a mess, and we live in two different places, and there are probably other things I can’t remember right now. But I know that I want you for as long as you’ll have me. Be with me, Hurricane. We can figure out all the details later.”
I feel my smile spread over my face because fuck, this man. There has never been anyone more perfect than him. “You’ve got me, J.”
“Yeah?” he asks, a dazzling smile on his face.
“Definitely, yes. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think a lot of you is a mess. I think you’re doing just fine.”
Jordan strokes the back of his hand down my cheek in the most romantic gesture of all time. “Better with you.”
I reach up and cover his hand with mine. “So does this mean you’re, like, my boyfriend or whatever?”
He laughs, leaning over and kissing me again. “Yeah, Jo Jo, that’s exactly what it means.”
We both lay back, shoulder-to-shoulder, and Jordan chuckles. “This isn’t the best stargazing location.”
I glance around at the few courts still occupied by people who look like they actually know what they’re doing, massive floodlights lighting the area as the sky gets dark, and the extremely well-lit grounds around Wollman Rink, and I have to laugh. “Yeah, probably not, but we have the court for another half an hour, and it’s weirdly nice to lay like this.”
Jordan squeezes my hand. “It really is.”
Neither of us speaks for a while; we just exist in this happy little bubble as night falls all around us. It’s Jordan who breaks the silence. He shifts and clears his throat. “So, I kind of had something to ask you.”
I turn my head to look at him. “Ask away, J.”
He flushes a little bit, and it’s so adorable I want to kiss every inch of his face. “I kind of did a thing. I was texting with my brothers, and I sort of told them I would ask you if you wanted to come to Boston with me.”
Everything inside of me lights up, but I force my expression and my voice to stay even. “Did you?”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I haven’t been back to Boston since Allie died.”
I squeeze his hand. “You mentioned that before. Do you feel ready to go now?”
He squeezes back. “I’m honestly not sure if I’m ready or not, but it’s my mom’s birthday in two weeks, and I want to go. That has to count for something.”
“That counts for everything, J.”
“So, would you? Go with me? Maybe it’s too much too fast, and I can’t promise my family will be normal or have any kind of chill with you because they’re more of a crazy, smother you with love kind of family, but if you’re up for it, I would really like for you to come.”
I bring our joined hands up and kiss his knuckles. Jordan inhales sharply, and his eyes cloud with emotion. “It’s not too much, and it’s not too fast. I’d love to come. A crazy, smother you with love family sounds perfect.”
He smiles, shifting even closer to me, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “Thanks. It’ll be more fun with you there. Everything is more fun when you’re there.”
I scoff. “Well, obviously.”
“I also texted with Ben. About you. I texted my friends too, but that was more just shooting the shit.”
He’s told me that he’s mostly avoided talking to his friends if he can, so this seems like a big step. “And what did Ben have to say?”
Jordan smiles a little. “He already knew because…”
I laugh. “Because I told Hallie and Hannah.”
“Yeah, you bet.”
“How did it feel to talk to them?”
Jordan turns, staring back up at the sky. “It felt good. I miss them. A lot. I’ve been a shit friend for the last couple of years.”
I shake my head. “You haven’t, J.” Now it’s my turn to angle his head towards me. “You haven’t. You did what you needed to do to survive. They’re your brothers, and they understand that. They love you, and they’ll be there for you, always and no matter what.”
He fidgets a little uncomfortably. “I told Ben I like when they say Allie’s name. How when no one does, it makes me feel like they forgot about her.”
My heart aches for him. “If I know Ben, he apologized for not saying it enough, promised to say it more, and told you they all love Allie, and they think about her every day.”
Jordan smiles a little. “Got it in one.”
“Like I said, they’re your brothers, just as much as your actual brothers are. Your family. Family sticks, J. Always.”
Jordan’s eyes cloud with emotion. “Hurricane, you are my favorite person on earth.”
My chest tightens as our gazes lock, his eyes navy blue and swirling with a feeling that makes my stomach swoop. I raise an eyebrow at him. “Just on earth?”
He grins, rolling over so he’s on top of me, his forearms bracketing my head as he leans down to kiss me.
“On earth.”
Kiss.
“In the galaxy.”
Kiss.
“In this universe, and in all the others.”
Jordan slants his mouth over mine in a slow kiss that scrambles my brain and rearranges my cells until right there, laying on my back on a pickleball court in the middle of Central Park under the night sky with Jordan hovering above me, a slow smile on his face and his eyes sparkling with happiness, I fall deeply, irrevocably, headfirst in love.