Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“Two things, actually.”
“You really have to stop giving me things, Jordan,” I protest quietly. He wasn’t joking when he said he intended to spoil me. I’ve woken up the last two mornings to a new gift on my pillow. One was a gorgeous diamond necklace. The other was the matching earrings. Yesterday, he had flowers delivered to the hospital where I work. It’s so damn sweet, but I don’t need gifts. I just need him.
“Are you mine, princess?” he asks, quirking a brow at me.
“Of course I am.” That’s not even a question. I love him so much, I’m not sure how I’m going to survive it. One day, my heart will just freaking explode because he’s taken up every inch of space inside it. It’s beautiful and overwhelming and intense and exactly like I always dreamed. Only, it’s better because it’s real this time.
“Then I get to give you whatever I want,” he murmurs, tipping my head back to brush a hard kiss across my lips. “Quit bitching and accept it, baby.”
I huff at him, but I’m not really mad. He is who he is. I love who he is.
He just grins at me and then slips his hand into mine, leading me out of the bathroom. I open my mouth to protest, and then snap it closed again, deciding not to even bother. It won’t do me any good. He’ll just get all hot and bossy…and then he’ll be late getting to the arena because I’ll have my hand on his dick in two seconds flat.
He leads me straight to the chaise in the corner and then gently nudges me until I’m seated. I stare up at him, my brows furrowed, when he grabs his iPad.
“Scoot forward,” he demands.
I scoot, giving him room to slide in behind me.
He places the iPad in my lap, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I talked to Vanessa.”
I crane my head to look back at him, my heart suddenly lodged in my throat. “Y-you did?”
“Mmhmm.” He jerks his chin at the iPad. “She has a few things to say to you.”
I stare at the iPad, suddenly shaking. “W-what?”
“She’s waiting for you to message her,” he says quietly. “She wants to talk.”
“What if…?”
“What if what?”
“She hates me,” I whisper.
“She doesn’t hate you. She doesn’t blame you.” He curves his hand around my jaw, tipping my head back against his shoulder. “Trust me, princess.”
I stare up at him for a long moment, too damn scared to breathe. But I do trust him. I trust him more than I trust anyone. No one else has ever put me first the way he does. No one else cares for me the way he does. I’m the center of his world. I wish like hell that I’d known it when I was eighteen. Things would have been so different.
But we can’t go back now. And maybe…well, maybe I don’t want to go back. Maybe we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be right now, loving each other the way we’re supposed to. What Jamison did will never be okay, but I have to believe things worked out the way they did for a reason. I won’t survive it if I don’t.
My hands shake as I tap the screen to power it on. An instant message screen is front and center, with Vanessa’s name at the top.
“What do I say?” I whisper, stressing out.
“I’d start with hi,” he suggests, a teasing smile in his voice.
Me: Hi.
Vanessa: Sutton? Is that you?
Me: Yes.
Me: I’m so sorry, Vanessa. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.
Jordan’s arms tighten around me as if he intends to hold me together while she types her response.
Vanessa: I know.
Vanessa: I’m sorry I cut you off like I did. It was never about you.
Vanessa: I just couldn’t keep lying to you about what was going on. It seemed easier just to shut down completely than to admit what he did.
Me: Are you okay?
Vanessa: I wasn’t for a while, but I’m good now.
Vanessa: I’m getting married! My brothers are pissed, lol.
I smile, just imagining her grin as she types the words. She always loved driving her brothers nuts. They used to annoy the hell out of her. The fact that they also play professional sports is part of what bonded us when we were put together in my freshman year. We both understood what it was like to have famous older brothers.
Me: Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.
Vanessa: Are you and Jordan FINALLY together?
I peek over my shoulder at him when he chuckles.
“She knew how I felt,” I whisper.
“Clearly,” he says.
Me: Yes.
Vanessa: YES! It’s about time.
I giggle, unable to stop the sound. God, I missed her so much. We talk for several more minutes, just catching up, before Jordan murmurs that we need to go.