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Chapter 15

DANI

I hadn’t expected Jordy to react the way he did, but I sure enjoyed it. Seeing his face light up when he saw me made my heart skip a beat. I’d always felt so comfortable with him, and I still did, but there was another layer to this friendship now. It was new and exciting, which terrified me, because eventually shiny things dulled and were tossed to the curb. I didn’t want that to happen with us.

“After you,” Jordy said, holding the door open to the dining room. It was the same space the reception was going to be held in tomorrow night, and it was stunning. I could understand why Becca and Shy wanted to have their wedding here. It was perfect.

We sat down at our assigned table, being served our salads, appetizers, and eventually dinner. The conversations were easy and flowed back and forth between various couples, and I realized that we were a couple here. It was as if we’d been a couple forever, and I could tell others were thinking the same thing.

“I know I already told you, but you really do look beautiful,” Jordy whispered in my ear with his hand placed on my upper thigh, squeezing the muscle gently.

I smiled, leaning over and kissed him. It felt like the natural thing to do, and he reciprocated. A clink of a glass caught our attention as Conrad stood, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Excuse me, everyone, excuse me. We will have the speeches, starting with me.” He pointed to himself and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “Well, hello, I’m Conrad. I’m Shy’s best friend, and I don’t have a long speech, just a few things I’d like to say. I’m so glad that Shyloh met Becca because I was getting tired of him trying to go after my woman.” Chuckles filled the room and Conrad continued, “Other than that, I’m so happy to be here and celebrate the two of you becoming one. Cheers to the Mendoza’s!”

Shouts of “Cheers!” rang out and an additional “Huzzah” came from Jordy as he sipped his champagne and grinned against the rim. I eyed him, wondering who the hell this man was and why he was the way he was.

Lenna cleared her throat and stood, holding her champagne flute tightly in her hand. The vibes in the room shifted almost immediately as she opened her mouth, along with the slight tapping of Jordy’s finger on my leg. He was anxious about what his sister would say.

“Hello, I’m Lenna, wife of the very handsome best friend.” She smiled as the crowd giggled with her. “It’s no surprise that we're all here, ready to celebrate this beautiful couple’s wedding. But what is surprising is the fact that Becca and I have remained friends for over fifteen years. We’ve been through hell, quite literally, and have blocked each other’s numbers a time or two.”

Becca and Lenna looked at each other with love in their eyes, rimming with tears. A sniffle sounded, and a stream of emotion began to pour down Lenna’s face as she continued. “So much has happened in our lives that we would need an entire college course to teach you about it. But what I can tell you tonight is that Becca is the most loving human, with such a huge heart, even beneath all of that scariness—”

Shy held up his glass. “Here, here!”

Jordy giggled and tightened his grip on my leg as Lenna continued. “Above it all, Becca deserved true, requited love, which she’s found with Shyloh. If you’ve ever had a conversation with him, you’d know that he can’t go more than five minutes without mentioning her. I know love when I see it.” Her eyes glanced over to Jordy before returning to her best friend. “Here’s to long life, love, and happiness! To Shy and Becca!”

We finished our dinner and dessert before making our way through the crowd, saying our hellos to a few people that came just for the wedding. I met the delightful Donna, who had become friends with Shyloh and Becca through their nature retreat a year ago.

I stood by the windows, watching the moon reflecting off the water and how the waves crashed against the shore.

“What a beautiful view,” a familiar voice said from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to find Jordy staring at me.

“I don’t even know how long I’ve been standing here,” I admitted.

“You’ve been here awhile, I’ve been keeping tabs on you.”

“Oh, you have?”

He smiled, stepping closer and pressing his hands around my waist. “I certainly have. I think it’s time we get out of here, don’t you think?” he asked against the back of my neck.

“Mhm, sounds good.”

The walk to our room was silent until I could no longer bear it and decided to speak up.

“You seemed quiet tonight. You okay?” I asked him.

Jordy nodded, putting his hands in his front pockets. “Yeah, I’m fine. It's just hard to deal with big emotions sometimes.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

He shook his head. “Not really, I just forget sometimes that my sister and Becca experienced near death and here they are, living and thriving. They both found their person and started the lives they’ve always wanted. I—sorry, I’m rambling.”

“No, keep going. I love it when you ramble,” I replied, knowing he’s the only man I ever wanted to truly listen to.

“Fine.” Jordy stopped walking, turning abruptly to face me and grab my hand. “Do you want to go on an adventure with me?”

My brow arched with intrigue. “What kind of adventure?”

“Follow me,” he said, intertwining my fingers with his and tugging me behind him down the path to the beach. I giggled as he dragged me through the sand to the edge of the water, but that was when I let go of his hand.

“What on earth are you doing?” I yelled, watching him rip off his button-down shirt and hop on one foot to take off a shoe.

“I’m going swimming! Are you coming with me?” Jordy yelled back over the roar of the waves.

A giggle flew out of my mouth. “No! It’s dark outside, not to mention you can’t see what’s in the water!”

“Don’t be a wimp! Get in here.” Another piece of clothing fell off of Jordy, and another, all the way down to his boxers. He stood by the water with a smirk, his garments discarding in a fluttering pile on the shore.

“Whatever you’re thinking of doing…don’t,” I warned him.

He started to nod his head and his smirk turned into a big ass smile.

“I don't like that. Stop it. What are you—”

He yelled, running towards me and throwing me over his shoulder. He ran us directly into the water with only the moonlight guiding him.

I screamed.

I yelled.

I punched and kicked with all my might until Jordy fell into the water alongside me. The bite of the waves was cold and thrilling at the same time, prickling my skin as I crashed against it.

“My dress is ruined!” I protested.

Jordy stood beside me. “We can fix that.” He reached down, gripping the hem of my dress and pulling it over my head, leaving me in my black bra and silk thong. He threw my ruined gown onto the shoreline and turned his attention back toward me, nibbling his bottom lip.

“You’re gorgeous, Dani,” he murmured.

I gazed up at him through my lashes, unsure of how to take this compliment from him. “Thanks.”

“I don’t understand why no one has snatched you up yet,” he continued, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest.

I offered him a sly smile. “Just haven’t found the right person.”

Jordy’s eyes trailed the features on my face, stopping at my lips. “Well, I for one am so glad no one has taken you because then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” He leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on my lips, and coaxed me to open my mouth to him.

I couldn’t help but giggle. “I told you no tongue.”

He laughed. “I think we’re past that, don’t you?” He kissed me again, but this time, I let him in. His tongue slid against mine and I hummed in response. “I love the noises you make,” he said while his hands slid down to my ass.

“Another rule you’re breaking,” I whispered.

“Rules are meant to be broken, Dani.”

His hands pulled me up to wrap my legs around his waist as he sank us down into the water. He kneeled against the sand as I held onto him, deepening our kiss.

“Touching you has become my second favorite thing,” he muttered against my lips.

I pulled away with scrunched brows. “If that’s the second, what’s the first?”

He smiled, his beautiful bright white smile. “Kissing you. That’s my favorite.”

How could I keep this up and not fall in love with him? He was my best friend, and here we were making out in the ocean, half naked.

“Okay, something just touched my foot. Let’s go.” Jordy pulled away from our kiss, shivering with a screech.

I laughed as he stood, pulling me up along with him and out of the water. We meandered to the beach stand, grabbing a few towels to dry off and wrap up. It didn’t last long before Jordy immediately yanked me up in his arms once more to carry me to our room in a fit of teasing giggles.

Once the door clicked behind us, we stood there, staring at each other.

Biting his lip, Jordy cleared his throat. “We have an early start tomorrow, maybe we should go ahead and get some sleep.”

I nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. I’ll just hop in the shower and—”

“I’ll change and go to bed,” he said at the same time. We chuckled.

“Goodnight,” he whispered, cupping my face in his hands and placing a gentle kiss on my lips. He smiled before turning to walk to the cot.

I had a decision to make.

I could either say fuck it and follow him, or I could do what he suggested and jump in the shower.

What to do.

What to do…