26. Jordan
JORDAN
Classes start back, and I spend most evenings with Daisy studying—for real studying. If last semester taught me anything, it’s that a little studying makes a big difference. I’ve never seen so many A’s before.
It’s been raining for the better part of three days, keeping us inside instead of the tree house. Our books and laptops are spread out across the kitchen table.
“Daisy,” Violet says as she walks in. Her gaze finds me, and her smile falls. “Oh, you’re here.”
“Vi, be nice,” Daisy chides.
Violet faces me with no remorse on her face. “Hi.”
“Hey, Violet.”
I don’t actually think Violet dislikes me. She’s just worried about her friend. I get it, but Daisy’s the last person I’d ever want to hurt.
“Sorry,” Vi says. “But I thought we were working on the playlist for the ball.”
“Oh, right.” Daisy looks at me.
“I need to get to bowling anyway.” I gather my stuff and come around the table to kiss Daisy before I go. “I’ll text you later.”
“Okay.” She grabs my hand and holds my fingers until I’m out of reach. I wink at her and then head to the bowling alley.
“He’s alive,” Gavin jokes when he sees me. He stands and pulls me into a side hug. “I came by the dorm twice this week, and you were MIA both times.”
“He’s spending all his time with Daisy,” Liam chirps from his chair. He juts his chin in greeting.
“Really?” Gavin asks. “So you two…” He trails off and looks at Liam.
My roommate waves him off. “It was nothing. She’s perfect for him. She has him studying like every night.”
“No shit.” Gavin drops down in his seat and pours me a beer from the pitcher.
“We aren’t just studying,” I say, and the memory of last night going down on her while she tried to finish an assignment makes me smile.
“Congratulations,” Gavin says. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re smiling like a dopey idiot, but good for you. Are you still going to make it to my party this weekend?”
“Is that this weekend?”
Liam grins. “Told you, spends so much time with her he doesn’t even know what week it is.”
Gavin chuckles. “Yes, Saturday night. Two kegs, and so much liquor I’m tripping over it in the kitchen. Be there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it. Welcome to the twenty-one club. Now you can start getting the pitchers.”
“Who says I didn’t buy this one?” he asks as he refills his glass.
“I do.” Liam holds up a hand.
I take a sip of my beer and then get to my feet and rub my hands together. “All right. New season, another chance to win.”
“If we’re serious about winning, we might want to finally open it up to more players. There are at least two weeks where none of us are in town on league night,” Jenkins says.
“I could ask Daisy,” I say.
They all go quiet at once and then start laughing.
“Ah, so eager,” Gavin says through a chuckle. “Invite your girl, man. If nothing else, I want to see you in all your boyfriend glory.”
I flip him off as I get my ball from the rack. “She isn’t my girlfriend. We’re just talking.” I bob my head from side to side. “Exclusively.”
“And how is that different from having a girlfriend?” Liam asks with a smug grin.
I think for a second. “Fuck, I don’t know.”
They laugh at me again.
I lift a shoulder and let it fall, but then I think back to our conversation in the tree house.
She said she knows I don’t do the girlfriend thing, but that isn’t strictly true.
I have had a girlfriend, and I told her that.
Is the real reason she didn’t ask me to be her boyfriend because she still sees me as the fun player only good for hooking up?
I sit with it all night, and after bowling, I FaceTime her.
“What’s the difference between having a girlfriend or boyfriend and what we’re doing?” I ask as I settle onto my bed.
“Uh, is this the start of a joke?”
“No.” My chest shakes with silent laughter that loosens some of my nerves. “I’m serious. My buddies pointed out that not hooking up with other people is basically the same thing.”
“I don’t know. I guess besides not hooking up with other people, it’s all the stuff in between. Spending time together and being there for each other, fully clothed, for all the little moments—good and bad.”
“And you’re sure that has to be done fully clothed?” I joke.
She rolls her eyes and smiles. “I guess I think of a boyfriend as someone who just wants to be with me, regardless of what we’re doing.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her to be my girlfriend. What she just described is what I want. Daisy—all day, every day. Preferably naked, but I think there’s some wiggle room on that fully clothed thing. But before I can ask, she changes the subject.
“The playlist for the ball is done! I even used some of your angry music.”
“Yeah?”
She nods. “Yep. It’s the perfect party mix. I can’t believe how it’s coming together. And you should see all the stuff piled up in Violet’s room. She’s going to be walking through a candle maze until we set up on Friday.”
I crook an arm behind my head. “Oh right, that’s this weekend.”
“Mhmm. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me. Violet finished altering the yellow dress tonight, and you can finally see me in it.”
“It’s Saturday?”
She nods eagerly.
“Gavin’s party is Saturday night. Big twenty-first birthday bash.” The image of Daisy in that yellow dress and then me peeling her out of it is a real welcome sight.
“Right. Of course. It’s fine.” She shakes her head. “No worries. I figured you might not want to come.”
“Slow your roll. Of course, I want to come. I just might be a little late.”
“You will?”
“Definitely. I just need to stop by Gavin’s party first and have a drink with him. Then, I’m all yours.”
She smiles so big you’d think I’d agreed to something really terrible.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I say.
What better night to ask her to be my girlfriend and show her how epic of a boyfriend I can be?