But fortunately, we don’t have to part just yet, because I still have something up my sleeve. “Are you ready for your birthday present?”
“Mmm. I’m pretty sure I have all I want right here.” He smiles down at me.
I let go of him and reach into my jacket pocket. I’ve been wildly excited to give Jordan his present, but suddenly, a bout of nerves rocks my insides. What if Jordan doesn’t like what I got him? What if he doesn’t even make the connection between him and his present?
I push past my nerves and hand Jordan the two rectangular pieces of cardstock. He pulls the papers closer, reading the fine print, and his eyes instantly light up.
“Are you serious?” He chuckles, amazement in his voice.
Relief washes over me, and I laugh. He likes it.
“Paige, how in the world did you get tickets to Penny for Crows?”
Penny for Crows is an indie band that had a one-hit-wonder in the second half of our senior year. Their explosive fame was short-lived, but Jordan and I fell in love with their album. In my mind, this band equals Jordan because this is the band that plays “Winter of You,”hissong. The song that no matter what I am doing, I will drop everything when it comes on, just to turnthe volume up and think of the man who’s held my heart for years.
He smiles. “I can’t believe they’re playing in Colorado.”
“I’ve been tracking them this year, and when I saw that they were finally coming here, it seemed too good to be true.” For a moment, I bite my lip nervously and point to a line on the concert tickets. “The only thing is that the concert is in Aspen.” More than a three-and-a-half-hour drive away.
I pause to read Jordan’s reaction, and for a moment, I see it. The fear, the guilt. It reaches his eyes just enough for me to notice it. “I know that’s a bit farther than you are used to going. I even called them to see if they would perform in other locations in Colorado, but they said no. But I made sure the tickets are completely refundable, and we definitely do not have to go if you feel uncomfortable traveling that far, and…”
“Paige,” Jordan says, cutting off my ramblings. He runs his hands through my hair until he’s cradling the back of my neck. “This is perfect. I can’t wait to go with you.” His lips brush softly against mine.
“Are you sure?” I search his eyes to see if they still hold the look of concern I glimpsed earlier, but they are smiling at me.
“Very sure.”
I let out a relieved breath. “We’ll finally be able to hear your song in person.”
Jordan’s thumb brushes my cheek, and his lighthearted gaze slips away, replaced with something deeper, more intense. We’re barely touching, but when he looks at me this way, our devotion to each other seems to wrap around us, connecting us in ways that feel inseparable. The sounds of the summer night seem to dim as my heart beats loudly in my chest. For a moment, I think he is going to say the three words I’ve been waiting years to hear. Because those words are in his eyes, in his actions, and everywhere but coming from his lips.
But too soon, the moment is gone. I toss aside the wilted hope inside me and wrap my arms around Jordan’s waist instead. He’s not ready for that step. But he’s here despite his internal battles, and that’s huge for him. Jordan wraps his arms around my shoulders, and I lean against the warmth of his chest and listen to his heart beating in a steady rhythm. Then I start to wonder. I wonder if he’s holding back from telling me all he feels because he’s still unsure about making things work between us.
Jordan tightens his hold around my back, easing the unsettling feeling inside me. “Thank you, Paige,” he whispers. When he pulls back, so much warmth fills his eyes that it feels like I’m taking the first sip of hot chocolate on a cold night. “What can I do to deserve you?”
“Mmm.” I make a show of pondering his question for a long moment, then I say, in all seriousness, “There is something.”
“Name it, Devons.” The playful glint is back in his eyes.
“How about you tell me whatmysong is, and we’ll call it even?”
“Oh, you play dirty.” Jordan laughs. “But no. Not a chance. You’ve made it too fun for me.”
I let my arms drop from him and sigh. “Then I guess you don’t deserve me,” I say, turning toward the front door.
One of Jordan’s arms snakes around my waist, stopping my retreat. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn’t say I wasn’t up for negotiation.”
I twist around in his arms, smiling up at him. “Then negotiate.”
“Gladly.” His lips cover mine, and I swear Jordan must be a master negotiator because by the time our lips part, I completely forget what we’re negotiating.
Chapter 30
JORDAN
The pain in my chest dims with every mile we travel closer to Aspen. I woke up this morning feeling like a brick had been placed on my lungs, and I spent the better part of the day ping-ponging about whether or not I should cancel tonight, but ultimately decided that this was a step I needed to take. I remember that Dan will be with Mom for most of today, and that thought alone helps lift my guilt over leaving Mom.
I look over at Paige as we drive into the ski town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and I know I made the right choice. Paige beams at me, giving my hand a light squeeze. Her bright smile and comforting reassurances have gotten me through a lot lately, and today is no exception. In the three weeks since I toldPaige about the ugly parts of my life, she has been my anchor, keeping me grounded and steady when I needed something strong to hold onto.
