Mike nods and shifts the truck into gear. As he pulls out of the parking lot, my eyes are glued to the apartment in the rearview mirror.
Chapter 35
Jordan
"Here goes nothing,” I mutter to myself, knocking on the front door of the small brick rancher. This has to work. When it opens, Mike slips outside to greet me. “Is she still here?” I ask, cautious but hopeful. It’s been two days since I’ve seen Shelley at the apartment. I have to believe this plan might win her back. I know she’s going back to school soon, and I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t try.
He nods. “Yeah. You sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything.”
Mike places a hand on my shoulder. “Just be good to her, man. She’s not as tough as she wants you to believe.” I guess this means he’s gotten over his desire to punch me.
I tap his arm twice before I head inside. Shelley’s sitting at the dining room table, talking to Danielle. When she notices me, her lips part and her eyes widen. Danielle turns to see what’s causing the reaction.
“Jordan?”
“Shelley, can we talk?” I take a step toward her. She stands and rubs her palms on her jeans, looking as nervous as I feel.
“Um, okay.” She leads me to the sofa and perches herself on the edge of the cushion next to mine.
“I know the other night didn’t go the way either of us expected,” I start. “And I’ve been thinking.”
She eyes me curiously, waiting for me to go on.
So, I tell her, “First, I need to say I’m sorry.”
Her brow creases. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who—”
“Yes, I do. I made you feel like the connection between us was something shameful, like it needed to be hidden. I dimmed your light, right from our first conversation. And you don’t deserve that. You were made to shine.” That must be the cheesiest thing I’ve ever said. But it’s true, so I’m going with it. “I also want you to know I heard you, and all your concerns are valid. The distance is an issue, and school takes up a lot of your time. I know you’re still concerned about your body. But I’m deep in this with you, Shelley. You carved your way in here.” I say, laying a hand over my chest. “I can live without the physical stuff. We’ll figure that part out together. I want to be with you. And I want everyone to know it.”
She sighs. “I want that too. But I still don’t know how it could work. We don’t make sense, Jordan.”
“That’s why I’m here. To ask you a favor. Will you do something for me?”
Her eyes meet mine, questioning.
“Will you give me today? Just one day. Let me show you.”
“Show me what?” There’s a breathy thread of hope laced through her words.
“My closing argument. The way I should have handled this from the beginning. Let me show you how this could be. If we let it.”
I stand and reach out for her. For a long moment Shelley sits, staring at my open palm. But then she slides her hand into mine, and I know. This is how it feels to be home.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“You’ll see.” I squeeze her hand and lead her out to the car.
As we pull up to the park next to the library, I pop the trunk and retrieve the small cooler and patchwork quilt I packed. Then I guide Shelley to the gazebo. After spreading the blanket on the floor, I start unloading the contents of the cooler.
“I thought we could start with a light dinner. I brought turkey wraps.” I take a candle and a lighter out of the cooler and flick on a flame, lighting the wick.
It’s only ten-thirty in the morning, but she goes along with my plan and takes a seat for our picnic, her legs tucked under her. I hand her a sandwich and a small plastic bag filled with pretzels, followed by a bunch of grapes.
“This is nice,” she says, glancing out at the expansive green park beyond our perch in the gazebo. There’s a cool breeze blowing through the wooden slats. In the distance, we can hear the flowing water of the Chesapeake, and the occasional squawk of a bird looking for its breakfast. Otherwise, North Bay is quiet. We sit, taking small bites, both of us unsure of what to do or say. Finally, Shelley is the first to start.
“I’m so sorry.”
