When I get to the front to order, hepushespast me to be first and I grunt in annoyance.
“What do you want?” he asks after ordering an entire taco platter—light on the lettuce—and a beer for himself.
“Oh, I got—”
“What do youwant?” His voice takes on that familiar dark tone that makes all the switches flip.
“I’ll have the nacho stack and a chicken quesadilla and, uh… a mango margarita.”
He casts me a smirk as he pays for our food, and I feel my cheeks get hot because that is not a friendly smirk. Not in the slightest.
“Thanks,” I say, trying to remember why we’ve been apart for a whole year when our chemistry is likethis.
“Of course,” he says nonchalantly.
Hope swells as the little things start to come together in my brain. The photos. Him showing up to my game. His hug that felt a little too tight and a little too long even though it was still too quick. His cocky attitude. Buying me dinner.
But it’s not just those things that catch my attention.
It’shim.He seems different. Bolder. Cockier. More confident. It’s hot as hell.
We grab our food and find a table big enough to fit us all amidst the crowd. Jordan takes his seat beside me and my heart skips a beat. I know we’re just cramming in together at the table, but it feels deliberate. Just like everything he’s done so far. His leg brushes against mine and I have to fight the desire to lean into his space.
He’s so fucking close…
We laugh and catch up, and soon enough, I relax. The margaritas definitely help with that. Trey tells me all about his engagement. Andre dishes about his job working for the NFL and shows off pictures of his son while Paul shows off pictures of his daughter and tells us all horror stories of being a middle school gym teacher. Hudson is quiet, but he usually is, so no one pushes him to talk. If he wants to tell us something, he will.
“What about you, Mackenzie, what have you been up to?” Trey asks as he shoves a chunk of fried chicken into his mouth.
“Yeah,Mack, what have you been up to?” I ask, raising a brow as I sip my second margarita.
He clears his throat. “Just working my life away at the rehab. Same shit I’ve been doing since I fixed your crazy ass.” He nudges me with his elbow and the guys all chuckle.
“You still with that Maggie chick?” Trey asks.
Jordan shakes his head. “Not for a while now.”
“Shit, I’m sorry man,” Trey says. “I thought you guys were gonna get married and do the whole shebang.”
Jordan twists his lips as he shrugs. “It wasn’t meant to be. But it’s cool. I met someone else, and things were great but… I kind of fucked it up.” He pauses for a moment, and I swear I can’t breathe. Is he talking about me or someone else? “Kinda hoping I’ll get another chance.”
His words are careful, and I don’t miss the side glance he gives me or the way he shifts in his seat. Before I can say anything in response, Andre nods at me. “What about you, Brewer?”
“What about me?” I ask as I pick at my nachos. They aren’t as good as Bella’s but they aren’t terrible. Jordan’s words still echo in my head.
Kinda hoping I’ll get another chance.
“Alex?” Jordan’s voice pulls me from my thoughts and I realize I’ve spaced out. “Dre asked you a question.”
“Sorry, brain freeze,” I say, holding my drink up. “What was that?”
“When are you going to settle your ass down like the rest of us?”
I look at the three of them, feeling a strange sense of pride and jealousy. Hudson stares at his chicken.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
“You seeing anyone?” Hudson asks curiously.
