Chapter 28 – Jordan
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
JORDAN
Idon’t know what’s darker, the black sky currently pouring rain outside my apartment windows, or the storm that’s brewing inside me.
I look at my phone to see if she’s responded and once again find nothing.
Mack
I’m here and he’s late.
Of course. You’re strong and I know you can have this hard conversation. I’m here regardless.
Thank you, J.
Let me know when you’re done and headed home. It looks like it’s going to rain here.
I will.
Hey, it’s been a couple hours and I wanted to check on you.
Let me know you’re okay.
Mack, I’m getting worried…
I call again and it goes straight to voicemail. I only leave one—not trying to be a complete stalker.
Maybe she turned it off to focus.
Maybe she wanted it off for privacy?
Is she still with him?
That last question sends my stomach into a churning mess. Despite all her words, I have learned that I can never count Trey out. He’s been able to sweet-talk her back into his arms so many times.
I can’t sit here anymore and listen to the thoughts screaming in my head. I quickly go into my room, change into a black pair of basketball shorts and grab an old CTU cut-off t-shirt. I lace my shoes, ready to head a few floors down and sweat all this stress out.
I open my front door and stop dead in my tracks.
Blue eyes, clear and bright, stare back at me. Water is dripping off her long blonde hair onto her beautiful face. She’s never looked more beautiful.
“Jordan”
My name on her lips sends a shiver racing down my spine. I stare into the face of the woman I’ve always wanted and praying I can finally have. The words leave my lips so quietly, I’m not sure if she can hear them.
“Baby… are you mine?”
Nodding quickly, she jumps into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist as I hold her underneath her legs.
“I’m yours, Jordan.”
“Thank heaven for that, because I’ve only ever been yours, Mackenzie Banks.”
We kiss and it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Any doubt or fear I was holding onto falls away as her lips connect with mine. It’s the kiss that says everything we don’t need to.
Pulling back to take a breath, Mack looks in my eyes. I set her down carefully and she wraps her arms around my neck.
“I love you, Jordan Mills.”
“I’ve waited eight years to hear those words from you out of your mouth. I love you, Mackenzie. I’ve loved you since we were fourteen. And I’m going to love you forever.”
Mack starts to shiver and I realize she’s frozen and needs to get out of her wet clothes and into a warm tub. “I’m going to go start the bath, you need to warm up. I’ll get you some of my clothes to wear tonight. It’s horrible outside and I’m not letting you drive one more mile in this storm.”
A smirk hits her lips. “Is that right? You want me to stay over?”
I think I blush at her words and she laughs.
“Well, I do have two extra rooms. One’s still in the works, but you can stay in the other one if you don’t feel comfortable sharing a bed. I’d really love to lay beside you though, hold you tonight, if you’ll let me.”
“I’d love that.” She says it quietly, a blush of her own creeping onto her cheeks.
Without thinking, I reach out and run my thumb across the beautiful pink that blooms there. “This is my new favorite color.”
“What is?”
“Your blush. I plan on seeing it a lot more, baby.”
Before she can respond, I kiss her forehead and run to my master bathroom.
Kneeling down, I turn the faucet and adjust the temperature in my soaker tub.
I get under the counter and grab some bath salts I know are Mack’s favorite and add them to the water.
Confession: I don’t use a bathtub, but I kept it just in case.
I told myself it was for my mom or sister if they wanted to use it.
That's a lie. It’s for her. Everything is for her.
A gasp behind me has me quickly turning to see the shock on her face.
“I forgot you had this tub. It’s perfect. Wait… are those my favorite lavender salts? How did you even know about those?”
I reach over and pull her closer to me.
“I make it a point to remember everything about you.”
“Jordan…”
“Take a bath. I’ll go out and get something warm for you to eat. Then we can watch something before I tuck you in.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“No need to thank me. It’s my favorite thing to do.”
A few hours later, I’m carrying a sleeping Mackenzie to my room and laying my queen on the king-size bed. I pull her blankets up and smile as she quietly starts to snore.
I get ready for bed, brushing my teeth and then grab an extra blanket and lay down, staying on top of the blankets. I don’t need any more temptation than what’s already in my bed.
As I lay there, pulling my beautiful girl into my arms, my mind goes over all she shared with me tonight.
I hate what Trey has put her through, but I’m grateful that he’s letting her go finally.
I promise myself that I’m going to love this woman the right way, loud and big.
I’ll be a dad to her baby like they’re my own.
Because starting right now, they both are.