I couldn’t respond to his words because I was too busy holding back tears. I was grateful when Lucy made some comment that had everyone laughing. I couldn’t hear her over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
The emotionally charged moment disappeared and I was finally able to look away from Jordan. When I did, my eyes met Grier’s. She smiled at me, but that smile said it all.
Dinner continued without a hitch. Even when Chelsea was at her most blunt or Lucy and Yancy bickered good-naturedly. He smiled easily and laughed readily.
By the end of the meal, my friends were as fascinated by him as I was. We insisted on clearing the table since he cooked and Chelsea sidled up to me in the kitchen as I rinsed plates and put them in the dishwasher.
“If I didn’t love you so much, I’d kidnap him and keep him for myself,” she stated. “He’s amazing.” She ran her finger through the gravy left on her plate. “And he’s an awesome cook. Just for that alone, I’m tempted to break the girl code and go after your man.”
I laughed, knowing she was teasing me. “You’ll find your own amazing man someday. Probably when you least expect it.”
Chelsea scoffed. “I scare all the decent ones away. I’m too blunt and I’m beginning to think my mother was right when she said men don’t like that.”
“The right man will,” I replied.
“Oh my God, will you stop with this optimistic stuff? It’s going to make me sick and ruin this happy food glow I have going on.”
“Okay, okay,” I relented. “But I’m right, you know.”
“Right about what?” Lucy asked.
“That you should let us choose our own bridesmaid’s dresses for the wedding,” Chelsea replied before I could speak.
As Chelsea and Lucy argued about bridesmaid dresses, I finished loading the dishwasher. As I dried my hands, Jordan came into the kitchen and over to me.
“I have some work to do. Do you mind if I use your office?”
I shook my head, knowing that he wanted to give me time alone with my friends. “Go ahead.”
Everyone thanked him for a lovely meal and watched as he disappeared down the hall and into the second bedroom I used as my home office.
As soon as the door shut behind him, they turned to me.
“He’s a keeper,” Yancy announced.
“I agree,” stated Lucy. “I’m half in love with him myself.”
Grier, who’d been quieter than usual all night, spoke up. “He’s completely and irrevocably in love with you, Tanya.”
At her words, my throat tightened with emotion. “He tells me that all the time.”
All my friends looked at me as though they were about to swoon and my eyes grew teary.
“Do not make me cry,” I demanded. “Let’s change the subject.”
“I broughtCards Against Humanity,” Chelsea announced. When everyone turned to look at her, she shrugged. “What? Tanya said to change the subject.”
I blinked the last of the tears from my eyes. “That sounds perfect.”
As everyone left the kitchen and headed toward the living room, Chelsea winked at me. “There’s nothing like a completely obnoxious, politically incorrect game to lighten the mood.”
By the end of the night, I was crying again, but this time from laughter.
