Chapter 11

 

The next morning, I had an early shift at the bakery.

I expected another uneventful workday with the usual people yelling at me for their Monday morning coffee with Brooke coming in to write.

But what I didn’t expect was for Jordan’s aunts to walk into the Forever Sweet Bakery.

“Bev, Lynn, Hi,” I said, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

Just like when I usually saw Jordan, I always looked like a hot mess when I was around them. Today was no exception since I’d spilled coffee all over my white shirt and apron and got powdered sugar all in my hair from a tiny kitchen explosion while making the frosting.

“So this is the place with the fancy coffee Jordan’s always at. I can see the attraction,” Lynn said, wiggling her eyebrows.

Bev stood behind her, staring at the chalkboard menu above the counter. “Do you know how much coffee we can make for the price of one latte?”

Lynn rolled her eyes. “Stop being a cheap ass, Bev.” Lynn then smiled, looking up at me. “Don’t mind my sister. We’re on our way to the airport, and I said I had needed coffee before we got there. Coffee and maybe a little gossip.”

“Oh. Um. Y’all are leaving already?” I choked out, no sure what else to say.

Lynn laughed. “Bev is. She’s a Yankee now, but I’ll be driving back later this week. Someone just had to take her to the airport. Jordan offered, and I had a feeling it was to stop here first. But since he’s the only man worth his salt who can fix things around the house, he stayed home to get stuff done. I’m guessing so he can see his little cupcake tonight.”

I felt my face flush, and I couldn’t think of a damn thing to say.

Bev smacked her little sister on the arm. “Leave the poor girl alone and order your mocha choke a latte or whatever fancy thing you’re gonna get.”

“Hold your granny panties, Bev. Lemme just sit a spell and talk to my future niece-in-law,” Lynn said, looking at me with a wide grin.

“Oh, uh, I don’t think we’re that far. We just started talking again,” I managed to sputter out and grabbed a towel, aimlessly wiping the pastry case so I’d have something else to occupy my attention.

Lynn cackled, tossing her thick brassy blond blowout over her shoulder. “Sugar, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way he looks when you’re not around too. You’re the one who got away for him, and now that he’s got you back, there ain’t no way in hell he’s gonna lose you again.”

I wanted to tell her that I felt the same. That looking through the photos I took of him on my computer last night flooded my heart and mind of memories of what we were. Of what we could be now. So many things had kept me in Friendship, Texas, for so long, but now, all the signs were pointing for me to leave. To finally give it all up and follow Jordan to New York.

I could fail miserably, and that was a definite possibility. I didn’t have a plan for school or a job or anything. If I wanted to stay with him and not let him get away again, I’d have to come up with a new one.

But instead of saying all that, I just smiled at his two aunts. “So does this mean y’all get the family discount for your donuts?”

 

***

 

“Did we text this much when we started dating?” Dave asked between munching bites of quinoa salad.

“I think we did. Maybe we just didn’t notice it because our kids were texting just as much,” Mom quipped.

“Okay. I get the hint,” I muttered, putting my phone down next to my plate.

“You know, you can invite Jordan over for dessert. Actually, there’s still time and a lot of leftovers. I can even reheat some of this brisket if we need to,” Mom offered, pointing her fork at the large tray of barbecue brisket that Dave had smoked all day.

“He probably isn’t interested,” I muttered, not sure if I was ready to have dinner with Jordan, Dave, and my mom again. It would probably have to happen again someday, but not tonight. Not when I was still thinking about what his aunt said. About how he felt about me. That we may have more than a future, and he really had always loved me.

Since Jordan, I’d just had flings, but now that he was back, I was thinking I couldn’t let him go this time, even if it meant going to New York. I just had to decide if that was what I really wanted.

Before I could say another word, my mom’s hand shot across the table and grabbed my phone.

“Mom? What are you doing?” I asked, reaching for my phone.

The woman didn’t need to read my texts between Jordan and me, especially since they all weren’t G-rated.

But before I could stop her, Mom pressed a few buttons and stood with the phone to her ear.

“Mom! What are you doing now?” I sprang up from the table, the distressed wooden chair clanging to the floor behind me.

“Well, hey, Jordan, long time, no talk. It’s Stephanie, Abbey’s mom,” Mom said, adding some extra twang as she looked at me with a wink.

“Abort! Mom! Abort!” I hiss-whispered, running around the table, but she darted in the other direction behind Dave.

“So, Jordan, have you had dinner? You know we have a bunch of brisket and some homemade ice cream in the freezer if you want to come by,” Mom practically sang.

“What the hell, Mom?” I yelled, trying to stop her, but she moved again, and instead, I ended up running into the arm of Dave’s chair.

“Wonderful! See you soon, Jordan!” Mom smiled and hung up the phone, sliding it across the table. “See? That wasn’t such a big deal, was it?”

I pointed at Mom. “Don’t embarrass me too much, okay? Same with you, Dave,” I grumbled, going back to the table and picking up my chair.

Dave laughed, shaking his head. “It may be good to have some extra testosterone here.”

“We could call Johnny and Sofie, too! Big family dinner!” Mom offered, throwing her hands in the air as she took her seat at the dining room table across from me.

Dave smiled, putting his hand on my mom’s. “Maybe we should save Abbey a little bit of mortification.”

Mom leaned in, her eyes still on me. “Then do you think we should tell her to change the stained shirt and wash the flour out of her hair?”

I sprang up from the chair, wide-eyed, completely forgetting the fact I still looked like shit. Not that Jordan hadn’t seen me a million times before like this, but if he was going to come to dinner, I needed to at least look halfway decent.

“I’ll, uh, be right back. Okay?” I said, but before Mom or Dave could answer, I rushed up the stairs. Washing my hair in the bathroom sink, I quickly changed into a light blue sundress. I had barely finished putting my hair in a bun and reapplying some mascara and lip-gloss when the doorbell rang.

“I got it!” I yelled from the top of the stairs and quickly sprayed some perfume on my neck and one spray below the belt, for good measure.

I tossed the little glass bottle back in the bin next to the sink then bolted down the stairs.

I let out a breath, thinking I needed to start actually working out or laying off the donuts because I was kind of winded. Then I opened the door, and all the air was sucked from my lungs as I looked at the blue-eyed hottie in front of me with his five o’clock shadow.

I’d seen Jordan a lot and a lot of him, but he never failed to make me smile and appreciate what Parkour and a few years had done to his body.

“Abbey. Wow. You look amazing,” Jordan said, stepping inside and kissing my cheek.

“And holy fuck, you smell amazing too,” he said low, whispering into my ear.

“Just showering and a little perfume,” I said, trying not to let my voice shake. But just having his lips that close to me lit my entire body on fire.

“I’m suddenly hungry for something other than dinner,” Jordan whispered, and my bottom lip trembled at his words.

“Jordan! I hope you’re hungry!” Mom’s voice rang from the dining room, and I gasped softly, jumping back, so I didn’t attack the guy with my mom and Dave in the next room.

We walked into the dining room where Mom had already piled the place setting next to mine with brisket, quinoa, salad, and veggies along with a big glass of sweet tea.

“Wow, Mrs. Dillinger. This looks awesome,” Jordan said, taking his seat next to mine.

“It’s Stephanie, Jordan, please. And I don’t think you’ve officially met my boyfriend, Dave,” Stephanie said, putting her hand on Dave’s.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jordan said, shaking Dave’s free hand.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Not just because it was weird to have Jordan, sitting here with Mom and her new boyfriend, but I also had a sudden twinge in my vagina. Maybe it was because of the way Jordan talked to me, and it was panging, begging for him. Hell, he was the best sex I’d ever had, and if my vagina wanted more of it, maybe it was just eager too.

“So, Jordan, how long are you in town for?” Mom asked.

Jordan smiled, putting his napkin on his lap. “A few more weeks at least. I’m helping my dad—well, doing most of the work—finish a few things at my grandparents’ house to sell it. Then I hope your daughter, here, will at least drive back to New York with me,” Jordan said, smiling and nudging my side.

My face felt like it heated up to a million degrees, and so did my panties. Dammit, why was I attracted to his smile and touch and still embarrassed by him?

“Abbey? You didn’t mention New York?” Mom asked, raising her eyebrows.

Jordan stuffed his face with brisket and smiled, looking down at his plate.

So this was his game? He knew I planned to go with him, but he also knew I could easily back out if I didn’t tell my mom.

“It’s not a definite, but something I’m thinking about,” I muttered, stuffing my mouth full of brisket, hoping maybe that would end the conversation.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea, you know?” Mom said, raising her eyebrows.

“Vut?” I asked, almost spitting out my mouthful of food.

Mom shrugged. “Well, you’re an adult now, and you’ve shown that you’re still into photography. Maybe a trip to New York would be a nice change. Maybe you could even visit some schools there or find a photographer you want to intern with.”

I took a big gulp of my sweet tea before letting out a deep breath. “Who are you and what have you done with my mother?”

Mom smiled. “Well, you’re older now. And I think you can make your own decisions about what you want and don’t want in life.”

“So what you’re saying is you want Abbey to stay in New York?” Jordan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t get too far ahead of yourself, Jordan. I may have always liked you, but you still hurt my little girl. I’m just giving her the options. Ultimately, it’s her choice.”

“It is,” Jordan agreed, looking at me with a smile.

I looked at my glass of sweet tea and gulped it down, not wanting to continue this conversation.

Almost four years ago, a similar conversation took place, but it went more along the lines of my dad grumbling the entire time and not even considering New York.

But that was four years ago, and a lot had changed since then. Now, I had to decide if I was really ready to change as well.

 

***

 

After stuffing our faces and some small talk—that, thankfully, wasn’t about New York—Mom stood and grabbed her plate, but Dave put his hand on hers.

“Steph, since you cooked, why don’t we have Abbey and Jordan clean up? It’s a nice night out. Maybe we can take a walk out to the pond, and you can show me those boards you said needed to be fixed.”

Dave gave me a knowing look, which I don’t know if it said he knew Jordan and I broke those boards or if this was the moment he planned to take my mom for a romantic walk to propose.

“Oh. Yeah. We can totally do that, Mom.” I sprang up and grabbed her plate.

“What? I’m too full to move. Can I just watch you?” Jordan grumbled.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on. You ate most of the brisket, so you can help.”

He let out a fake sigh and grabbed his plate and mine. “Fineeeee.”

A large doorway connected our dining room to the kitchen, which used to be a huge eyesore with dingy yellow metal cabinets and peeling linoleum. But as soon as Dad left, Mom took out her aggression by remodeling and redecorating with the help of some contractors. Now we had nice new wooden cupboards, granite countertops, and a farmer’s sink that she thought was way better than a dishwasher.

“Where’s the dishwasher?” Jordan asked, holding a stack of plates.

“I’m looking at him.”

 “We have to wash all these by hand?” Jordan stared at me wide-eyed

 “What, are you afraid of a little water?” I turned on the long faucet and grabbed the hose, squirting his hand.

He gasped slightly and stepped back, setting the plates on the buffet behind him.

“You don’t like that? Or was that a good gasp?” I raised my eyebrows playfully “Maybe you need more.” I pointed the nozzle right at his chest, soaking through his shirt, so it clung to his hard muscles underneath.

“Hey, stop it!” He wrung out his shirt.

“Stop what, this?” I asked and held out the hose. Jordan was definitely stronger than I was and grabbed my hand, forcing the hose to face me. He sprayed a large stream of water that soaked through my dress down to my bra, and I screeched as he laughed.

“Jordan!” He pulled the hose back, so it was just out of my reach, and I lunged for it. He caught me, wrapping his free arm around my waist and pressing my wet chest against him.

I licked my lips. His eyes flitted from my eyes to my lips. He leaned in, pressing his mouth to mine. I gasped when he nipped at my bottom lip before licking it and then his tongue met mine. I wanted him. I couldn’t deny that, but before I could melt into him, I pulled back, staring into his icy blue eyes.

He didn’t say anything, just ran his thumb along my bottom lip. The way my lip trembled from his touch, and more than just my dress was wet, was proof enough I couldn’t stop what was going to happen. And if Mom and Dave were going to be gone a while …

I fisted his hair, pulling his mouth back to mine. He dropped the hose and brought his other arm around my waist as I molded my body to his.

“How long do you think your mom will be gone?” Jordan whispered into my ear. He trailed kisses down my jaw, and his hands roamed over the wet fabric of my dress.

“Long enough,” I murmured, leaning back and peeling my wet dress off to give him better access to my body.

“Damn, I’ve missed this curves…and they’ve gotten better since high school,” Jordan growled, kissing a trail down my neck to my breast then he knelt in front of me, yanking down my panties. He kept his eyes on me as he flattened his tongue against my core. He moved his hands to my thighs, spreading them as he swirled his tongue inside me.

I held the counter, ready for an orgasm to take hold. But instead of feeling the shivers, a sharp, almost burning sensation hit me.

“Ow! Did you just bite me?” I shrieked.

Jordan barely stopped moving his tongue to pull out and look up at me, raising an eyebrow. “What? No. Do you want me to?”

I stared wide-eyed at his face that usually I’d love nothing more than to sit on, but now his mouth and chin were bright red. “Oh, my God! Jordan! Are you okay?”

He stood. “What? I’m fine. Actually … well … a little itchy …”

He rubbed his jaw, and his eyes trailed down to my exposed self. “Holy shit, Abbey, did you know your stuff is red? Like seriously red. I thought it was a little pinkish, but I hadn’t seen a fully shaved one, especially not on you, and thought maybe it was just irritation. But you’re red!”

“Like your face is?” I asked, staring down at what looked like a blotchy red tomato between my legs.

“Holy shit! What is this? An STD? An infection?” I asked, pulling up my underwear and searching the ground for my discarded dress.

“I don’t know. It might be some kind of an allergic reaction. Or something,” Jordan mumbled, scratching his face.

I put my dress over my head just as the front door slammed.

“Abbey? Jordan? Are you still washing dishes?” Mom practically sang.

Mom and Dave came into the kitchen hand in hand and all smiles. Their faces fell when they saw us.

“Jordan? Are you okay? That looks like one hell of an allergic reaction. Do you have an EpiPen? Oh, my God! You aren’t gluten intolerant, are you? Is this my fault?” Mom asked, putting her hands on her face. A sparkly diamond ring glittered back at me.

So Dave had popped the question. I wanted to congratulate her, but I needed a huge dose of Benadryl, and so did Jordan. Stat.

“I’m fine. Really,” Jordan muttered, still scratching.

Mom shook her head. “Sweetie, you need to get to a hospital. Dave and I can drive you!”

“I’ll drive him, Mom. Don’t worry. We’ll be okay,” I said, wanting to get the hell out of the kitchen and by myself or at least around the corner so I could scratch as much as Jordan was.

“Are you sure? Let me get you some Benadryl too,” Mom said, rushing upstairs to the bathroom.

“Should I say congrats?” I asked Dave, trying to think of a way to rub my really itchy and sore lady bits on the counter without him noticing.

Dave laughed. “Maybe when y’all get back from the hospital.”

 

***

 

After hours in the emergency room and walking away with a lot of shots of some sort of antibiotic, Jordan and I finally got into my car just as the sun was rising.

“I hope you don’t have to work in an hour,” Jordan said with a yawn.

I smiled. “No, I can sleep in, but that still doesn’t make me feel any better. I gave us both an allergic reaction to perfume that I thought would be a good idea to spray on my hoo-ha.”

Jordan laughed. “Well, at least it’s a good story.”

“Or a really embarrassing one.”

Jordan took my hand on the console between us and brought it to his lips before kissing each one of my knuckles. “You know this means you’re stuck with me, right? After we’ve been bonded by an allergic reaction. That’s forever right there.”

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. “You still sure you want to be with me? After I almost killed you with my downstairs?”

He laughed. “I didn’t die. Just an allergic reaction. A burning rash is all. I’ve had worse things happen when I’m soldering iron.”

“Well, maybe you’ll let me make it up to you. I can buy you a slice of pizza or something when we get to New York.”

“What?” Jordan yelled so loud I almost veered my car off FM 6.

“Geez, Jordan!”

“Are you saying you’re going to do it? You’re going to go to New York? No excuses.”

I glanced at him and smiled. “Like you said, we’re stuck together now, and I kind of owe it to you.”

“I’d kiss you so hard right now, but my lips are still really swollen, and I’m afraid of what they put on me,” he said, squeezing my hand.

“This is all that I need. Knowing it’s you and me. Together. For however long that’ll be.”