CHAPTER 42
MELANIE
I GULPED HARD AS I STARED DIRECTLY INTO JORDAN’S EYES.
“W.What?” I stammered. I don’t stammer. He raised a hand and flicked off a crumb of cupcake at the corner of my lips, causing tingles to erupt where he’d touched “Don’t make that sound again, little bird, or I won’t be responsible for whatever I do next” he said in that deep raspy voice.
His eyes pulled me into their dark depths; I couldn’t look away.
“What if I want to?” I heard myself say and mentally cursed.
Why didn’t my mouth know when to shut the hell up?
Immediately, he pulled back and all the shutters came back into place. I internally mourned the loss even as I casually went back to eating, ignoring the way my hand shook slightly.
I tried to return to normalcy and cleared my throat “You were about to tell me about you and Imelda,” I said, also ignoring the small waver in my voice.
“No I wasn’t,” he replied.
I still really wanted to know, so I pouted. “Come on. You’ve got nothing to lose by telling me, or is there something you’re afraid of?” I was getting good at knowing which buttons to push.
It paid off, as his back went up “I fear nothing,” he said, slowly enunciating each word.
“Then just tell me” I prodded some more, knowing I was close to the finish line. I smiled triumphantly when he blew out a breath.
“There’s not much to tell. Lauren introduced her to me at one of these family parties she always forces me to attend. We were involved for a while, and then we were not. That’s all there is to it,” he said.
I blinked “You’re a bad storyteller. Why did you two break up?” I asked.
“We weren’t really serious, it was bound to happen.” He shrugged.
I slapped his arm “Jordan! You don’t just dump a woman with no explanation. How did she take it?” He rubbed at his arm though I was sure it didn’t hurt.
“Not well. She showed up here crying a few times, and Lauren refused to speak to me for weeks” he answered. I felt bad for her now; no wonder she’d so desperately wanted a reaction from him when she said she had gotten engaged. I hope she fully got over him before her wedding else there’d be issues.
“You’re a horrible person,” I told Jordan.
“And you’re delusional if you think you’re the only one who has told me that” he shot back.
I opened my mouth to reply but was cut short by the sound of the front door opening.
“Yes please, let anybody just walk in like they own the place” Jordan muttered bitterly and I raised an eyebrow at his sulky expression. I heard voices then Blaine walked into the kitchen holding a garment bag.
“Dude, I’m not sure if you know this, but Imelda’s in the foyer. I’ll distract her, you hide,” he whispered.
“I’m aware. I’ve seen her. We talked” Jordan said in a clipped tone.
“Oh. Then you know she’s getting married” Blaine said, shooting me a smile as he walked towards us.
“Like I said, we talked” Jordan repeated.
Blaine, seemingly oblivious to his best friend’s angry tone, snagged a cupcake and leaned on the counter next to me still talking.
“Says it’s some rich dude named Javier. Seriously, what guy in their right mind would want to marry her? She’s a nutcase.” He paused and looked at me. “No offense to women.”
I shook my head to signal I didn’t take any.
“She didn’t look all that bad to me” I put in.
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Setting
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CHAPTER 42
ne looked at me incredulously and laughed. “You don’t know her, that’s why. Did Jordan tell you about the time she-” “Jesus, Blaine, you gossip more than a girl” Jordan cut in, turning to look at him.
Blaine just shrugged “All I’m saying is, I’m glad you gave her the boot. Poor sucker she’s marrying is probably celebrating that he’s bagged himself a hot chick but he’s in for a nasty surprise.”
Clearly there was more to the Jordan and Imelda story than he had shared with me. I made a mental note to pester Blaine about it later since Jordan wouldn’t let him speak.
“So what are you actually doing here, Blaine?” I asked, raising both brows when he shifted his feet and blushed mildly. “Actually, I came for you,” he said.
I blinked and pointed a finger at my chest “Me?”
He smiled “Yes, you. I was wondering if you’d go out with me tonight” he voiced it like a question.
I sensed Jordan go rigid beside me but I was too stunned to look over “Like a.. sorry.. Like a date?” I had to confirm. Blaine laughed softly “Yes Mel. Like a date.”
I shook my head and let out a nervous laugh, “I don’t even have anything to wear.”
“I know, which is why I brought this” he picked up the garment bag he’d draped over the counter and handed it to me with hopeful eyes.
“So…is that a yes?” he asked. I looked at the bag, realizing he’d planned all of it out.
“You should’ve informed me ahead. What if I was otherwise occupied?” I told him.
“That’s the whole point of surprises, Mel. And no offense, but you don’t exactly have the busiest schedule” he replied.
I pretended to be offended “Hey! I’ll have you know that I had an appointment with these cupcakes, the couch and a whole series on Netflix that I’ll have to cancel now.”
Blaine’s smile spread until his dimples dented his cheeks “So that’s a yes then.”
I couldn’t help but smile back “Of course it’s a yes.”
As he pulled me into a hug and I inhaled his scent, I heard the door slam and it was then I realized Jordan had left. The familiar guilt rose up but I fought it back. Nope, not tonight.
I pulled back and clutched the garment bag to my chest, the first tendrils of excitement beginning to course through me. When last had I been on a date? I grinned at Blaine.
“It’s kind of weird to think that you know my size, but I hope it fits. I’ll be back“.
With that, I left him standing there and dashed out of the kitchen.
As I flew up the stairs I registered that there was no sign of Lauren and Imelda in the foyer but I was too pumped to care. I had a date to get ready for. As soon as I’d shut the door behind me I zipped open the bag and pulled out the contents with a small gasp.
It was a short and classy off–shoulder with puffy long sleeves in showstopper red and a pair of sparkling gold heels. There was also a small box that opened to reveal accessories in the same shade of gold as the shoes. I’d just taken a shower before I went downstairs so I put on the dress and nearly wept when it fit like a glove.
I hurriedly put on the shoes and accessories, did what I could with my hair and left the room.
I got to the top of the stairs and spotted Blaine and Jordan at the bottom talking so I cleared my throat and struck a pose when they looked up. “Well boys, how do I look?”
