Chapter 17 – Mackenzie
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
MACKENZIE
I’m kissing Jordan Mills.
I’m kissing Jordan Mills.
The first touch of his lips on mine sends fire racing through my veins, and I’ve never felt anything like it. When it ends, I know I want more, so I pull his face back to mine and kiss him with an intensity that leaves me breathless, our lips swollen.
It’s like the noise and crowd disappear, leaving us in a bubble of our own making. But we aren’t alone, and when we realize it, we pull apart.
He stares at me, dark eyes full of adoration. It’s overwhelming—and I love it. A girl could get addicted to the look Jordan is giving me.
Silence follows, and it’s perfect—because words would ruin it.
Is it a moment?
If so, can I request another?
Jordan slips an arm around me, and I lean in, resting my head against his chest.
“I’ve wanted to do that since we were fourteen.” It pulls me out of the fog like a bucket of water to the face. I rear back, probably looking unhinged.
“No—you told Trey when we were fourteen that you didn’t see me like that.” I still remember when that tiny crush I had on Jordan ended.
“I lied.”
“Just now?”
“No. When we were fourteen, I worried about what my sister would think, and you were just becoming friends. Anyway, I lied to Trey. If I’d known what would happen, I would’ve told him the truth.” The admission leaves me stunned. I should leave this alone. Change the subject.
I don’t.
Instead, I prod him to continue. “What was the truth?” I ask quietly, unsure I’m ready for the answer.
Jordan tucks a curl behind my ear, his hand lingering against my cheek. “The truth was, I was falling in love with you.”
An audible gasp escapes me. Jordan was in love with me.
Before I can respond, he drops one more truth— one that shatters everything he’s been keeping for years. “And I never stopped.”
My hand flies to my mouth. I shake my head, not believing him. There’s no way he felt this way—feels this way—now.
He’s Jordan freaking Mills.
College heartthrob turned NBA superstar.
Girls have always flocked to him, and he’s always…
Flirted? Yes.
Kissed? I’ve seen many, so also yes.
Had a girlfriend? Never.
My eyes widen and he starts to laugh as he watches me process through all he told me.
“All this time?”
“All this time. You’re impossible to get over, Mackenzie Banks. I’ve tried, and it just doesn’t work.” I lean in, kissing his lips in a chaste kiss. He holds on tightly to my waist as he returns the kiss. Our foreheads touch, it feels intimate. Too intimate for a pub in London.
Reality crashes in, sharp and unforgiving, and I need to come clean before I let myself hope “Jordan, I need to talk to you. I should have before we kissed, but I got caught up and now, I feel so selfish, but there are other factors at play.”
JORDAN
Her words leave me confused and off-balance. If she tells me she’s back with Trey, I’m going to lose my mind. But my sister told me they were done, for good. Maybe she has someone she met here? Please, no. My head starts spinning with so many possibilities.
I take a long swig of my sparkling water, readying myself for what comes next.
The room feels too quiet all of a sudden, like the air is holding its breath.
“I’m pregnant.”
My mind goes completely blank. Did she just say she’s… pregnant?
“You’re pregnant?” I whisper it back to her, like if I say it softly enough, it won’t be real.
Her eyes are shining with tears as she nods at me.
“I don’t know what to say.” It’s the honest truth. So many questions, so many emotions are flying through me I’m left speechless.
“Trey and I broke up and I realized a few days later that my body wasn’t feeling normal. I put a couple of clues together and I ended up taking a test. It was positive, obviously.
“I was already planning on coming to London before the pregnancy, but it solidified my decision. My parents were hesitant at first, but now they understand. I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, physically and mentally. It’s been perfect for the baby and me.”
My head is spinning at her words. She’s glowing, and yeah—London might be part of it—but she’s pregnant. With Trey’s kid. I have to ask about him, even though bringing him into the conversation is the last thing I want to do. “What about Trey?”
“He doesn’t know.” My eyebrows go to my hairline at her admission and she quickly clarifies. “I’ve tried to reach out to him many times, but he won’t respond. I can’t send him a text and tell him. So, I’ll keep trying and if he doesn’t answer, I’ll find him somehow when I get home.”
He’s such an idiot. He could have the perfect girl and a child on the way and he’s being selfish and immature. A part of me hopes he won’t want this.
Wait. Do I want this? A baby with her? That’s my dream right there. The fact that it’s another man’s baby should bother me—but it doesn’t.
My next question will set my future path and I’m afraid to ask it.
“Do you want to be with him?” Mack stills at the words.
Slowly, her hands come up to my face, forcing our eyes to meet.
Seeing those blue pools full of unshed tears does something to me.
I never want to be the one who makes this woman cry.
“Jordan, I don’t want to be with Trey. Even if he wants to be a part of this baby’s life, he and I are never getting back together.
I don’t love him anymore. I haven’t in a long time; it took time and distance to realize our relationship was over long before we broke it off.
” My chest lets go of the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and I can feel my own eyes burning with the need to cry.
I have wanted to hear her say that in one way or another for a long time.
For the first time in eight years, I have hope for us.
“Why don’t you look pregnant?” I ask, steering the conversation away from Trey and praying I don’t offend her.
She laughs a little before putting her hand over her tiny abdomen.
Seeing her do that affirms what I already know: this woman is mine, and I won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in the way again.
“I have a retroverted uterus. Which basically means the uterus points backward and I don’t show like most pregnant women. I’m due on April 7th.”
My eyes widen.
The tears clinging to her lashes finally fall, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I’m over to her instantly, pulling her into my arms and holding her while she lets it out. I think I’m still in shock, mostly, but I can’t stand to see her upset. I’ve never been able to.
“I’m so sorry, Jordan. I shouldn’t have kissed you without telling you first. I’m such a terrible…”
I put my finger on her lips, stopping her before she could continue.
“Mackenzie—never apologize for kissing me. Ever. That was the greatest moment of my life, and you being pregnant changes nothing.”
She sniffles, shock written across her face.
“What?”
I smile, putting my hands on her cheeks, forcing our eyes to connect—like she did to me just moments ago.
“Eyes on me, okay?” She nods, and I keep going.
“I have loved you since we were fourteen. There is nothing that will change that. Not the years you were with Trey. Not the ocean that separates our homes right now. Not a baby. I’m so gone for you.”
Her tears are now flowing over her cheeks and onto my hands. I let go, grabbing a napkin to gently wipe them off from her beautiful face.
“How? How can you say that?”
“Because my dad taught me a long time ago—when you find the one, you fight, you wait, you do whatever it takes.”
She puts her palm on my cheek, head shaking with a watery smile on her face. “You’re too good, Jordan Mills.”
“Only for you.”