Jordan laughs. He laughs!
Stupid Jordan.
He leans to the side, finally breaking his honeyed gaze away from me, and I feel like I can finally breathe again.
Jordan gives Ian a nod. “Hi, Ian.”
“Hey, Jordan.” Ian nods back.
“Lovely day.” He sighs breezily like they’re two buddies chatting it up on a putting green.
“Yep,” Ian says.
“Listen, I know you and I never really got off to a good start,” Jordan tells Ian, “but I’m afraid I’m about to make things worse between us.”
Ian quirks his eyebrows. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jordan says without remorse. “You see, a few weeks ago, I let the best part of my life walk away for the second time.”
“That was pretty stupid of you,” Ian says.
“Yeah, I know.” Jordan continues to look past me.
“So you’re here to get her back?”
“Yeah. Sorry, man, but I’m going to try. And then it’s up to Paige.” Jordan keeps speaking to Ian like I’m just part of the beach ambiance. I brought this upon myself.
“What if I say you don’t deserve her?” Ian asks.
Thank you, Ian.He may not be my closest friend in the world, but today he’s doing me a solid while I simmer in my oh-so-mature, oh-so-effectivetactic of giving Jordan the silent treatment.
“Then I’d tell you you’re right,” Jordan says. “I don’t deserve Paige. She’s too good for me. Or for anyone.”
This is not fair. He’s rigging the system, and my heart’s embracing every word like a long-lost teddy bear.
“And I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you,” Jordan adds, gesturing between Ian and me, his tone going from sincere to intense, “but IneedPaige to know something. If she never wants to see me again, I’ll go, but not before I tell her something I should have told her a long time ago.”
I stare directly at the waves ahead of me, not able to look Jordan in the eye.
“That’s pretty gutsy of you,” Ian says. “What if Paige is already taken?”
“If Paige is taken, then I’d want her to be happy. I’d want her to be with the person she wants to be with. But I also know I’m not going to leave without fighting for her. Without telling her that I’m sorry, that I was wrong to push her away.” He swallows hard. “I’d tell her that I know I’ll never be perfect. I know I’m going to keep messing up, but I’ll do whatever it takes to be the person she deserves.”
His voice cracks with emotion. “I’d tell Paige that even though things have changed between us through the years, one thing has always stayed the same. She willalwaysbe the one I want.”
My eyes fill with tears. He’s fighting for me, yes, but I still can’t bring myself to look at him.
“And if she’s not ready for you?” Ian asks, continuing to play my mouthpiece.
“Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait for her as long as it takes because I love her.”
My heart trips over the words, stopping my breath. I glance up at Jordan, and his eyes meet mine with burning intensity.He loves me.The words he could never say before have just flowed effortlessly from his mouth.
“Well, I better head to the airport,” Ian says cheerily, abandoning his spot in the sand. “Good to see you both.”
A sound comes out of my throat that I think was meant as a goodbye, but Jordan and I don’t look away from each other to witness Ian walk away.
Instead, Jordan drops onto his knees in the sand next to me. He places a gentle hand on my face, wiping away a tear tumbling down my cheek. “I love you, Paige Devons. I’m just sorry it took me so long to say it.” His voice is low and soothing, and his hand is warm against my skin. I close my eyes, soaking in his touch.
