A chuckle breaks out of her. “Love you, Jordan.”
“Love you, Mom.” I stand and kiss her on the forehead just before Dan returns with water and resumes his spot at the table. “I just spotted Colton. I’ll give you two some alone time. Dan, good to meet you.” I smile at him, and he responds with one of his own.
“Good to meet you too. And I’m looking forward to seeing your other half when she gets here.”
I narrow my eyes at Mom, wondering what she’s told Dan about Paige, but she looks at me with innocent brown eyes and snaps a carrot between her teeth. “Yes, make sure to bring Paige by. I want to see what dress she chose.”
I leave Mom and Dan and make my way to Colton, weaving through tables lit by decorative lanterns and people dressed in tuxedos and sparkling dresses. The gala started nearly thirty minutes ago, and I find myself looking at the main staircase far too often, wondering if Paige will be there or if I missed her coming in.
Since the almost-kiss in the pantry, Paige and I haven’t seen each other. On Tuesday, she canceled our weekly grocery shopping. She’s been so swamped with freelancing for Z3 and meeting a big deadline for Wonderman & Fleck, I wouldn’t be surprised if the only time she’s left the office this week is to sleep. Though that isn’t true—I know of at least one instance where she did. On Tuesday night, I found out from Ji that Paige went toIan’s, ending things with him. Since then, Paige and I have tried to get together. I told her I wanted to talk about Monday, and she said she wanted the same. But with her grueling work schedule, we haven’t found a good time to meet up in person.
All the waiting to see Paige has practically eaten away my insides as I prepare myself to open up to her in a way I never imagined I would. I reach up and tug on the collar of my white dress shirt, trying to suppress the uncomfortable fear that starts to invade my mind whenever I think about telling Paige how I feel. I push it down. I can’t let it win this time. Ineedto tell her.
I’m nearly to Colton when I get stopped by Mrs. Delgado in front of the ballroom’s grand staircase.
“Jordan, good to see you.” Mrs. Delgado reaches out to pat my shoulder. She’s in a gold dress that matches the room’s color scheme.
“Hi, Mrs. Delgado. You’ve done an amazing job with the Gala.” I motion to the thriving scene around me.
“I hope you’re including yourself in that praise. Ji told me you helped with the centerpieces.”
“It was fun. If you’re looking for a hot-glue-gun specialist on your staff, I know a guy.”
She laughs. “I have a feeling you’re too busy for that. If not with work, then with a special young lady.”
I puff out a single laugh. I’m about to respond when she pats my shoulder again.
“Don’t mess this up, Jordan.”
My eyebrows furrow.Why does she always say that?I wait for Mrs. Delgado to elaborate, but she just winks at me and tilts her chin toward the staircase before walking away with a smile. I glance in the direction she motioned.
My pulse quickens as I look up to find Paige descending the staircase. I don’t know if Michael Bublé’s “The Way You Look Tonight” starts playing in the ballroom or if I’m just thinking itas I watch Paige enter the room, commanding my every brain cell. She’s wearing a knockout floor-length forest-green dress that glides down her figure and shimmers with every step. Her hair cascades down her back in long, loose waves, and when her eyes meet mine, I’m certain I’ve never seen something so perfect.
Paige smiles at me, still oblivious to the way one tilt of her lips can take control of my heart. I feel my mouth gape open like a dumb fish and quickly pull it into a smile, all the while my heart pounds wildly inside my chest. I could live the rest of my life searching the globe and never find someone who makes me feel the way she does.
Colton sneaks up and claps me on the shoulder. “Just friends? Not the way you’re looking at her, man. Do us all a favor and tell her how you feel.”
“Working on it,” I say, a little breathless, my eyes still fixed on Paige. Unable to wait any longer, I leave Colton’s side and close the distance between us.
I reach her just as she gets to the bottom of the stairs. “Paige. You look… stunning.”
Her cheeks flush soft pink. “Thank you.” She steps closer to me and straightens my tie, tilting her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear a bow tie. I like it.”
I force myself to take long, slow breaths because, looking at her, I feel like someone’s trying to steal the air from my lungs.
She looks up at me with her big green eyes, which are only intensified by the color of her dress. “How’ve you been?”
My anxieties begin to melt away under her gaze. “Missing you.” The words are simple, but when they come out, they are laced with all my longing. I swallow, suddenly nervous for her reaction to my unfiltered response.
But she gives me a dimpled smile, and my body feels weightless.
The lightness in my chest allows words I would have suppressed before this week to come easily to my lips. “Let’s just say that Paige withdrawals are a real thing. I might have to break into your office next week and camp out in your cubicle if they insist on making you stay so late.”
Paige sighs. “Trust me, if I have to stay that late again, I’m going to break myself out.” Paige opens her mouth to say more when her eyes snag on something behind me. “Is that Dan sitting next to your mom?”
“Yeah, he’s great. And he definitely wants to meet you.”
“I’d love to meet him.”
