Somehow I never grew out of that stage the way most people did. I was stuck in an endless cycle of love em and leave em that was fun but had become less satisfying as my three best friends had all found love and settled down. Lately I’d been wondering if I’d been missing out all along. If maybe that early heartbreak did more damage to my psyche than I’d considered.
Which is why I found myself driving in the remote Connecticut hills on a frigidly cold morning to face ghosts I’d thought I’d laid to bed. The rental car wasn’t familiar, but thewindy country roads that led to my hometown were. I cursed softly as I passed the sign marking entry to Westridge.
Despite being a two hour drive away, I hadn’t been home in at least a year. My parents enjoyed traveling to New York City to visit me so more often came to me than I travelled to them.
Main Street was predictably quiet at this hour, which was just past ten o’clock on a Friday morning. By now, commuters had caught the train to the city and the locals were well into their work day.
I pulled into a space in front of the local coffee place that had been a staple in town since before I was born. The familiar scent of my favorite pastries washed over me as I entered.
The bell above the door chimed as I entered which drew everyone’s eyes to me. There was no such thing as flying under the radar in a small town. Within minutes, the phone tree will have spread news of my arrival to all in Westridge. I wouldn’t need to text my mother that I was in town as she’d hear long before my arrival on the doorstep.
At the counter, I ordered my usual latte with oat milk and a selection of pastries for my parents. While I waited for the order, I glanced around and spotted a few familiar faces of my parents’ generation and offered a wave. There were an assortment of younger people who looked to be mid to late twenties. They were likely out of town guests for the wedding as they were snapping instagram worthy pictures and marveling at the quaint country town.
One in particularly, a guy wearing a hoodie advertising a popular video game, stood out with wild curly hair and glasses. He stood to greet one of the new arrivals to their group, and I nearly gasped aloud at the fit of his snug athletic pants.
This guy was nerdy hot. At first glance, he looked like he spent hours glued to his gaming console but upon closer inspection, he was built like a Greek god. He turned my way andour eyes locked. The intensity of his perusal had me blushing—actually blushing!
I shifted my attention back to the barista, who managed to both competently make drinks and also keep tabs on all that was happening around him. The barista winked. “He’s a hottie but I think you have more of a chance with him than me. I already took my shot and crashed and burned.”
He didn’t seem too upset about the rejection, smiling broadly as he slid my drink across the counter. I accepted it along with the box of pastries and offered him a smile before turning to leave.
I chanced another glance at the hot guy and was surprised to find him watching me. He had to be at least twelve years younger than me, so I had no intention of doing anything more than appreciating his appreciation.
I was dressed casually today in jeans and a sweater under my puffer coat. Yet his appreciative stare was hotter than any I’d received while dressed for a night out. There was something about this guy that got under my skin in a way I couldn’t explain.
When I reached the door, I breathed a sigh of relief at my imminent escape. The wedding had me tied up in enough knots—I didn’t need to add inconvenient attraction to the mix. Except I realized that with my hands full, I couldn’t escape without assistance. I attempted to juggle my bounty when I heard a deep voice behind me. “Let me.”
A shiver ran down my spine at the throaty command. I reluctantly stepped aside while the handsome stranger opened the door to allow me to pass.
“Thank you.”
His green eyes sparkled. “Trust me, it’s my pleasure.”
The words slid down to my belly as I imagined other, more intimate scenarios in which he might say them. To my surprise, he didn’t immediately return to his friends but remained focusedon me. A wind gust caused me to shiver—it was totally not his hot stare—and he tracked his gaze from my boots to my face. We seemed to be locked in a trance that neither of us wanted to break. I should say something, anything, to break this spell and put us back onto comfortable ground.
“Thanks again.” My addled brain couldn’t come up with anything more sophisticated than reiterating another thank you. Truly embarrassing for a public relations specialist.
“I’m Jordy.” He held out his hand then laughed, quickly retracting it. “Sorry, you don’t have a free hand.”
Jordy relieved me of the box, balancing it in one hand while he held out his right hand to shake.
“Courtney,” I replied as I allowed his warm hand to engulf mine. The sparks I felt were surely static electricity from the cold, not actual chemistry.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Courtney. I’m visiting for the weekend. If you’re free, I’d love to take you out.”
His offer was equal parts bold and tempting, but chances were high he was here for my ex boyfriend’s wedding. Even the most casual date with someone in my ex’s friend group had bad idea written all over it.
“That’s not a good idea. It’s best we just go our own ways.”
I reached for the bakery box and he handed it over. “That’s too bad. I would have liked to get to know you better.”
The thing was, I felt the same way. But it was too risky to go there with someone who likely was close with my ex.
It was too cold to linger so I turned in the direction of my car, reluctant to walk away regardless of it being the right decision.
I couldn’t resist a look back at him once I made it to my car. He was still standing outside and to my dismay, he was watching me and offered a wink before returning to his friends.
What had come over me? I was the Queen of playing it cool with men yet I’d somehow reverted two decades to myhigh school self. The anticipation bubbling up at the prospect of seeing Jordy again at the wedding felt like the best kind of first crush vibes.
