Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Unfortunately, though, the damage was done. Meeting Leanna had officially ruined Aynslee’s day, and probably her night with Jordan too.
Jordan was standing by the kitchen counter when Aynslee got home. A smiled played on his lips as he watched her throw her things down and take off her coat. She looked beautiful, as always, but her usual sunny smile was missing.
That was weird.
“Hey,” she said, sliding her flip-flops off before walking toward him. He thought she was going to come to him, but she went to the fridge instead and took out a bottle of water. He knew then that something was definitely wrong.
Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck before nuzzling his nose in her wild red hair. When she didn’t respond, he asked, “Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
She fell back into him and let out a long breath. “I saw your ex today.” “How?” he said cautiously.
“She was at the nail salon.”
“So what happened?” he asked with concern. It was obvious that Leanna had said something to upset Aynslee, and it worried him.
Aynslee left his arms and leaned against the counter. “She’s pregnant and getting married to some rich guy,” she said slowly.
Okay, he knew that, and if he didn’t care, then why should she? “Yeah, I know.”
She nodded as she looked down at the ground. “Oh.”
“I don’t care. She means nothing to me now, you know that,” he said reassuringly. “No, I know. It isn’t that.”
“What is it, then?”
“She kept saying how happy she was, and it was annoying. But then she said, ‘I hope it
works out for you two,’ and it just stung because . . .” She paused as Jordan’s heart pounded hard against his chest. He knew what was coming, and he wasn’t ready for it. Her eyes glazed over with tears, and it was like a shot to the heart. He couldn’t even look at her as she whispered, “I don’t know if we will work out, and it scares me.”
Jordan felt himself shutting down. This conversation wasn’t supposed to happen yet.
Everything had been great and they were happy. Why put a kink in their happiness? With a shake of his head, he said, “I want us to work out.”
“I do too, but we’ve gone this whole time acting as if you aren’t leaving. I don’t know what’s going to happen when it’s time for you to go.”
“I understand that, but, Aynslee,” he said, looking directly at her, “we said we would reevaluate everything when the time came. Let’s not worry; let’s enjoy what we have together right now. I am so happy, and it’s because of you, baby. Why upset us both with the logistics of what could, what will, or what won’t happen?”
“Because I don’t want to let you go,” she said softly. “And I feel like I’m going to lose
you.”
Jordan let out a long breath as he ran his hand through his hair. He didn’t know what to
say or what was the right thing to do. All he knew was that he loved this girl, and as much as he wanted to tell her that, he knew it would only make things worse. One day soon he would leave her, and they both knew that. The scariest thing was that, with each passing day, he wanted to give it all up, just for her. He knew he could ask her to go with him, but that didn’t feel right.
Shaking his head, he said, “I told you from the start I was leaving. I don’t know what to say; I don’t know how to make this better. I’m sorry.”
Aynslee slowly nodded as her lips started to tremble. When a stray tear rolled down her cheek, she turned away quickly and went to the sink, where she dumped out the water she hadn’t even taken a sip of. Jordan couldn’t move. He felt as if she had kicked him in the stomach with just that one small tear.
“You’re right,” she said with a shaky voice. “Listen, I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll skip the benefit tonight. I’m sorry.”
She started for the hallway, but he stopped her, taking her in his arms and dropping his mouth to hers. He could feel the tears rushing down her face, and it killed him. Holding her close as he pulled his mouth away, he slowly moved his thumb along her cheeks, catching each stray
tear. She looked up at him, holding him hostage with watery green eyes, her red lips still wobbling. He wanted to say so many things, but he didn’t know how. He shifted to whisper in her ear, “We’ll figure something out. I can’t just walk away from you.”
She choked on a sob before closing her eyes tight and wrapping her arms around him. He held her as she cried, feeling his own tears about to fall. Walking away from her was the last fucking thing he wanted to do, but what other choice was there?