Chapter 31 – Mackenzie
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
MACKENZIE
Jordan Mills is lucky he’s sitting across from me right now because if he wasn’t, I don’t think I could restrain myself from kissing those lips all night.
He showed up to my house looking hot as sin in a black shirt with tight grey pants that show off his muscular legs.
He had the sleeves rolled up. I repeat: the sleeves rolled up.
I never understood the obsession with forearms—until tonight.
Jordan’s piercing brown eyes darken as they take mine in. His desire shows as it sends shivers racing through my body and goosebumps breaking out across my skin. “Dance with me, Mack.” He stretches his arm across the table, palm open, an invitation to join him.
I slip mine in his, we both stand and walk over to the intimate dance floor in the corner of the room.
Without a word, we reach for each other at the same time.
My arms around his neck, his around my waist, we begin to sway.
The opening chords of a song begin to play, and I jerk my head up to see Jordan already looking down on me with a sexy grin on his face.
“Still Falling for You” by Ellie Goulding plays through the speakers and a lost memory assaults me.
Junior Homecoming has been a bust so far. I thought I’d be okay going without my boyfriend, but it turns out I was very wrong. I’m alone and have been sitting at a table watching everyone else dancing with their dates.
A throat clears behind me and I turn to find…Jordan?
“Jordan? What are you doing here?”
“I hope it’s okay I came. My sister told me Trey was sick and I don’t know why I’m here, but I couldn’t let you go to Homecoming alone. If you want me to leave, I will.”
“Wait. You got dressed up and came here for me?”
He nods and this sliver of spark between us tries to spark to life, but I quickly douse it.
“You’re a really good friend, Jordan Mills.” I swear I see his body flinch as I say the word friend, but before I can ask him about it, he grabs my hand and pulls me up and onto the dance floor.
We’re completely isolated from the rest of the students which is probably for the best. I don’t need any rumors getting back to Trey.
He’s gotten jealous of Jordan a few times lately and even though it’s completely unfounded, I’d like to avoid the fight.
I’ll tell him about it when he’s feeling better.
Hesitantly, Jordan puts his arms around my waist and I wrap mine around his neck. I didn’t realize how much taller he is than Trey until right now. I have to look up to meet his eyes and they’re an incredible deep brown, so much so they almost appear black right now.
The song switches to one of my favorites, “Still Falling for You” by Ellie Goulding and I smile at the boy who played hero tonight.
“You look gorgeous tonight, Mack.”
“Thank you. You clean up nice too, J.”
Words aren’t needed as we inch closer as the song continues. By the time it ends, my chest is flush with his and I can feel the heat radiating off his body. He’s really starting to fill out these days; all the time he spends in the gym is paying off.
I don’t realize the song has changed to a fast-paced one until Jordan stills, his eyes sad. Leaning down, he gives me a kiss on the cheek that lingers a second too long to be just friendly.
“Thanks for the dance, Mack.” And then he walks out of the gym…
“Mack, are you okay? You were in a daze.” Jordan looks slightly terrified as I finally snap out of the past.
“Remember when you came to Homecoming and danced with me junior year?”
“How could I ever forget? That’s the only time we’ve ever danced, until tonight.”
“The song. The song—it’s the same one.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Why did you leave right after that dance?” He looks down at me, a frown marring his face as he gathers his thoughts.
“I thought I could be the good guy and show up for you as a friend. But as soon as I had you in my arms, I wanted to hold on forever. I had to leave before I did something stupid—like kiss you or steal you away until I made you mine.”
My answering kiss brings the handsome smirk back to his face and we continue dancing until the song ends. As we walk back to the table, I freeze in place with a pain so intense it nearly takes me to my knees.
“Baby?” Jordan wraps his steadying arms around me.
“Jordan, something’s wrong.”
JORDAN
I rush Mackenzie to the ER right after she almost collapsed in my arms. On the drive to the hospital, she had a few more pains that brought tears to her eyes. Seeing her like this kills me. I’d do anything to never see her in pain again.
Once we’re checked in and settled, we call her parents to let them know what’s going on. The doctor comes in and tells us that Mack has gone into preterm labor at thirty-two weeks. She’s gripping my hand so hard I think she’s going to break bones, as the doctor goes through the care plan.
Tears prick her eyes as the next few hours are crucial to keeping the baby from premature delivery. I’ve never felt so helpless in all my life. She’s given medication to help stop the contractions, as well as steroids to accelerate the baby’s lung development.
As we sit and wait, I see her worry grow.
I stroke her hair, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. “Mack, it’s going to be okay. The doctors will get things under control and you’ll make it to full-term.”
“You don’t know that. I thought I was resting and controlling my blood pressure and now this. I’m afraid, Jordan. I’m so scared that the baby is going to come too early and they won’t… they won’t…” She doesn’t have to finish the sentence for me to understand what she’s thinking.
“We will do whatever it takes to make sure you and the baby stay healthy. I’m here. I won’t leave your side.” The tears she’s been holding fall into two rivers down her cheeks. I take my thumbs and gently wipe them away.
“Thank you, Jordan. For not just being the man that I want, but for always being the man I need.”