CHAPTER 14
Nirah
“YOU’RE REALLY GOOD-looking, Jordan,” I mumbled as my fingers trailed up and down the nape of his neck.
“Hm,” he hummed in response, and I adjusted my arms around his neck as he carried me out of the car.
Thankfully, Jordan and I are back on good terms again. So when Silvia invited us out tonight, we happily accepted the invitation.
Tonight was unbelievable. When he and I arrived at the club, the girls were already on the fifth shot of tequila. The night consisted of music, dancing, various alcoholic drinks, and my favorite people. It couldn’t have been a more perfect night.
“Seriously,” I nodded as he unlocked his front door. “ So good looking,” I lazily grinned as I stared straight into his chest, and he carried me upstairs. “When did you change your room?” I asked, looking around.
“We’re not in my room,” he said, carefully laying me down on the bed, and I nodded. He took my shoes off and pulled the covers out from under me.
“Jordan,” I murmured, looking down at him, and he looked up. “Can you take my clothes off please?” I asked as my eyes started feeling heavy. “I don’t sleep with clothes on,” I added.
“You’re not wearing anything underneath, Nirah,” he reminded me, and I smiled.
“Right,” I whispered to myself. “Okay, close your eyes then,” I said, trying to grip onto the hem of my dress.
“Keep your dress on until I come back,” he instructed, and I dropped my hands, staring at the white wall across from me as I rolled onto my side.
He came back with a shirt of his and pulled me up. He threw the shirt over me but didn’t put my arms through. He pulled my dress down to my stomach and finally put my arms through the shirt. He pulled my dress down my legs, and I smiled, thanking him.
Whilst still sitting next to me, he stared at me in his shirt for a second before his eyes landed on my lips.
My smile wavered, and I cleared my throat.
I turned to look away, but he reached forward, gently cupping the side of my face.
Anxiously—but mostly in confusion of what was happening—I hiccuped.
He leaned in, and my eyes shot open as my body jolted up and off the bed. I landed on my feet, slowly walking backward.
Taking both of us by surprise, I covered my mouth with both hands. “I’m engaged, Jordan. You can’t kiss me,” I shook my head.
A flicker of hurt cracked through his eyes, and I dropped my shoulders, looking back at him apologetically.
“I know, I’m sorry,” he got up.
I walked over, plopping down again, but this time I slipped underneath the covers, and he glanced over at me. “Nirah, I’m sorry.”
I offered a comforting smile, reaching over to place my hand on top of his. “It’s okay.” I’m so sorry, Jordan.
He seemed conflicted, so I sighed, slightly tilting my head to the right.
“Why don’t you get comfortable and we can talk. Like we used to,” I suggested—genuinely missing my best friend. Missing how we used to be. What we used to have.
* * *
The bedroom door slammed open, and I jolted in my sleep before groaning. I felt a weight being lifted off of me and turned on my side. “Jesus Christ!” I heard Jordan say before slowly opening my eyes.
I turned to find Silvia standing with the biggest, widest eyes I’ve ever seen. “How did you get into my house?” Jordan bellowed in annoyance, and Silvia dropped her shoulders.
“The key,” she answered in her obviously tone.
“Where did you get a key!”
“Nirah’s key,” she pointed to me, and I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes. Right. Jordan gave me a key to his place . “She left it in my bag last night. When she wasn’t at home this morning, I made a lucky guess,” she proudly smiled, and I shook my head.
Silvia looked at Jordan—who was shirtless—then at me—who wore nothing but his shirt and smirked. “Ohhh,” she grinned mischievously, crossing her arms over her chest. “I see what’s happening—well, don’t let me interrupt,” she winked at me.
“Silvia,” I sighed heavily. “What could you possibly want at seven in the morning?” I asked, moving to the edge of the bed. “And can whatever it is, please wait?” I asked, and Jordan nodded in agreement.
I had a pounding headache, and it felt as though my head would explode.
“Well…” she trailed off. “I was going to tell you that your hubby sent his assistant to find you at the club last night after you and Jordan left. She found me instead and gave me a little message from him—but, if you’re too busy…” she murmured and spun on her heels, walking out.
I looked at Jordan in confusion before following Silvia into the kitchen, where she started making herself some coffee.
“What was the message?” I asked, and Jordan leaned against the counter next to me, crossing his arms over his chest in interest. She doesn’t answer.
“Fine. I’m sorry, okay? It’s just really early, and I’m extremely tired,” I apologized, and she stood with her back to me as she looked over her shoulder.
“Tired of fucking your other best friend?” she bitterly asked and turned around with the coffee mug in both hands. She looked Jordan up and down before sipping some coffee.
“Silvia.”
“Fine,” she gave in with a little smile.
“He said… and I quote, ‘I do not care where she is. Tell her to get her ass back home before Thursday because we have something planned for Friday,’ ” she repeated the message and I frowned.
“He also said that if you didn’t show he’d find you, drag you back home and give you something you’ve ‘surely earned’ .
Whatever that means,” she mumbled the last part in confusion.
I couldn’t help but smile at the little reference and both of them looked at me.
“It’s nothing,” I cleared my throat. “And I wasn’t fucking Jordan,” I defended myself, narrowing my eyes at her and she nodded, not believing me.
Silvia kept Jordan company while I hopped in the shower. Every five minutes Jordan would call out to me, asking when I’d be done. Silvia could talk but Jordan couldn’t listen.
I changed into some of Jordan’s sweatpants, a t-shirt and my fuzzy slippers that I had left here the previous time I spent the night.
I sighed, turning around as I faced Jordan in his doorway. “Another eventful night with Nirah Joy,” he smiled down at me and I softly scoffed.
“Isn’t it always?” I teased and he nodded. “What happened last night…” I hesitantly said. “It can’t happen again,” I looked up at him. “You can’t try to kiss me again.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“Jordan—I don’t want to hurt you,” I shook my head, unable to give him an answer. He seemed to accept response with reluctance.
I gave him a long goodbye hug before Silvia grabbed my hand, dragging me to her car. “Let’s go!” she sang and I stumbled behind her.
“You need to learn to read the room,” I mumbled as we got into her car.
“And you need to learn not to make your scary fiancé mad,” she shot back, speeding away. We filled the silence by debriefing last night’s events at the club and what happened when Jordan tried to kiss me. I also learned that she had a rather eventful night at a stranger’s house.
“Thank you for the ride,” I smiled, kissing her cheek.
“If he kills me because of you…” She narrowed her eyes at me and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’d never let that happen,” I blew her a kiss before getting out. I skipped up to the front door to find Cesar waiting. “Good morning!” I beamed, waving at him and he gave me a little nod.
“Good morning, Miss Nirah.”
“Come inside,” I nodded towards the door. “It’s chilly out here.”
* * *
I spent the entire day locked in my bedroom, sleeping this hangover away.
Rosalia understood and was kind enough to bring me anything I needed or wanted. Though, I haven’t seen Antonio all day today. When I finally woke up to Silvia’s FaceTime call, it had already gotten dark.
“ You’re still alive, ” she sighed in relief and I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked and she moved closer to the camera. “ Since you’re going to marry The Devil and everything ,” she dramatically whispered. “ Plus, he’s so scary when mad. ”
“Will you stop with this devil crap? It’s kind of scaring me now.”
“ It should! ” she whisper‐yelled.
“If you’ve called to ask about sleeping with Jordan, you’re wasting your time,” I rolled my eyes. “Because I didn’t. I already said that. I’m engaged.”
“ Yeah, but it’s not real. You don’t even have feelings for him .”
I simply pinned her with a look.
“ Are you on some new abstinence journey, or are you saving yourself for your little fiancé? ” she teased with a little grin and I broke out in a smile.
“Shut up.”
After hours we finally hung up and I skipped downstairs, making my way into the kitchen. It’s oddly quiet. Maybe because it’s almost nine in the evening, genius. Right .
I stood on my toes as I looked into the cabinet. Top shelf. Far back. Seriously? I sighed, holding onto the countertop as I hopped up. The surface felt slippery underneath my knees but I steadied myself fast. I reached over and stuck my hand inside, searching for a mug. Got it.
I grabbed it but my forearm accidentally brushed against two plates, causing them both to shatter on the floor. The loud crash caused me to jolt and I dropped the mug as well. I slipped, falling backward, and landed hard on my ass. My forearm pressed into some glass as I landed. “Oh, fuck.”
I softly groaned, lifting my arm from the glass to see little pieces stuck into my skin with blood running down my arm. Oh no. Don’t look. I tried standing but felt two arms lift me onto my feet.
“What the hell happened?” Antonio asked, picking me up bridal style.
He carried me away from the glass and out of the kitchen, making me wrap my arms around his neck.
“I may or may not have broken two plates and a mug… sorry,” I apologized and he looked down at me with his brows knitted.
“I don’t care about the broken plates, what happened?”
“Well, I was on a call with Silvia, and she brought up the fact that she hadn’t had a good cappuccino in a while, and the thought—”