Page 6

Chapter 5

DANI

Two drinks in and I was still on pins and needles about being Jordy’s date. Everyone was looking at us, and I didn’t know how to feel about it. Lenna and Conrad had accepted us being here together, but everyone else was still suspicious. We needed to step it up—add a little pizzazz.

“Shit.”

“What?” I gasped, looking around frantically. “What’s wrong?”

Jordy leaned his elbows on the tall table, covered his mouth, and darted his eyes to me. “Elena is walking over here with her new boyfriend, John.”

“How do you know his name?” I asked, my brows pinched.

He shook his head. “Long story. Show time—tits up.”

This man was insufferable.

“Oh, hey Jordy! Fancy seeing you here,” Elena said in a sultry low tone. I never really liked her, even before she dated Jordy. She always seemed… fake.

He smiled. “Can’t say the same. Who’s this handsome lad you got here?”

Elena nodded, gesturing to the tall burly man, who looked like he could snap Jordy in half with his pinky. “This is John. He owns the Avalanche Bar in downtown New Orleans.”

I watched as John reached out his hand to Jordy. “Pleasure to meet you Jordy. You’re a helluva football player.”

Well that did it, Jordy perked up a bit and reached over to shake John’s hand. “Thanks man. We can’t all be amazing, but someone has to be.” He glanced at me. “Oh, how rude of me. This is my beautiful date, Dani.”

It’s been months since they broke up, but I knew it stung him a bit.

The man smiled at me, reached out and shook my hand. “Nice to meet you. What a stunning couple you make.”

We both chuckled nervously.

“Thanks,” I replied.

“Well, we will see you two around,” Elena quipped, patting John on the arm before they turned and walked away from us.

Immediately Jordy sighed, gripping the drink he just got and chugged it. “Are you okay?” I asked.

He took a deep breath and said, “I’m fine. Just… it pisses me off that she cheated on me with him .”

“Wait, I didn’t know she cheated on you,” I replied.

“Yeah, that’s how this always plays out. I’m never the ‘husband’ type. Not the one you settle down with, just a good time. That’s how every relationship I’ve had has ended.”

That made me sad. Jordy was such a catch. He was funny, kind, handsome, and hell—he was a pro football player, which should have given him some extra credit.

“Well, they’re wrong Jordy. You’d be a great husband to someone.”

“You think so?” he asked, reaching for my glass. I gave it to him, letting him throw it back. He sucked in a breath. “I think I’m drunk.”

I giggled. “Well, why don’t we get you some food and water? How’s that sound?”

“Sounds great…mama.”

I froze. He did not just call me that again. “You know that I hate it when you call me that.”

He smirked. “Of course I know. That’s why I say it.”

***

“Oh my God. I’m gonna bust.” Jordy pat his belly after eating another plate of jerk chicken and potatoes. The man was an endless pit.

“Yeah, you said that after the second plate you ate. I’m pretty sure you just finished off your fourth one.”

“At least I’m not drunk anymore,” he replied, sipping on his cold water. The music from the DJ was starting to amp up, and suddenly Mr. Brightside started blaring through the speakers. Simultaneously, all of the football players for the Kings jumped up and ran to the dance floor, including Jordy.

They somehow remembered every word to the song, belting it out with no remorse for the people that had to hear their singing. Others started to join them, and I stayed right where I was, sipping on my margarita and enjoying the show.

All of a sudden I heard my name. “Dani!”

Nope. I refused to look.

If I pretended not to hear him, then I didn’t have to go.

“Dani! Dani! Daniii!” Jordy screamed, and I couldn’t help but look up. When our eyes met, he started performing a seductive dance, pointing his finger at me and gesturing for me to join him.

I shook my head no, fixing a serious scowl on my face.

He wound up the imaginary fishing pole— no, don’t do it Jordy . He cast the line to hook me and started to reel me in aggressively.

I hated him.

I hooked the inside of my lip with my pointer finger and stood before hopping towards him. When I finally made it in front of him, the song changed to another one of the King's favorites. Jordy gripped my hands, pulling them up and forcing our bodies closer together as we continued to sing.

Lost in the moment, we danced and sang and had fun together, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was the woman standing a few feet from us, grinding on her new boyfriend in front of Jordy. I could tell he was trying not to look, but a little angry monster inside of me refused to let her get away with it. We were best friends for a reason.

I gave Jordy a shit-eating grin. He narrowed his eyes as we continued to move and sway to the music. What Jordy didn’t know was I was a professional dancer before I became a social media manager in Arizona, and now, for the Kings.

I turned my body, pressing my back against his torso and grabbed his hands to wrap them around my hips. My hands gripped the side of his head as I twisted my body. He whispered, “What are you doing, Dani?”

I spun in his arms. “I’m giving her something to watch”

His eyes quickly darted in her direction and when his eyes returned to mine, they’re full of mischief. “Ah, I see. I never knew what a great dancer you are.”

The large hands which sat on my hips crept onto my lower back, above my ass. “Watch it— ass is off limits,” I playfully reminded him.

Jordy smirked. “But your ass is so big—I don’t know where it starts and where it ends.” He patted my ass cheek quickly and I opened my mouth in shock as he made the same face, mocking me. “C’mon, I need to touch you enough that no one asks questions.”

The music changed into a slow ballad. His hands gripped my wrists and placed them around his neck, before his hands moved to my waist again. “I don’t think anyone is wondering if we’re an item,” I whispered.

A low “Fuck” came out of Jordy’s mouth, and I turned my head to see where his gaze trailed—over to John and Elena, who were aggressively making out. “Damn they should get a room,” he whined.

I turned my attention back to Jordy but his eyes were still locked on them. I reached up, pressing my fingers under his chin, and made him turn to face me. “Don’t worry about them. Focus on me instead, okay?”

He nodded, his blue eyes piercing into me. I’d always loved this shade of blue; they were like the sea we were currently next to. I tried everything I could to keep his gaze on mine and not on the couple next to us. “Jordy, I want you to know that you really are an amazing guy. Any girl would be lucky to be with you.”

He rolled his eyes with a small smirk. “You’re just saying that because you're my friend.”

“No, I’m not. I mean it. Don’t get yourself down, Jordy.”

I don’t know what possessed me, but my hand reached around to the back of his neck and pulled him into me. My mouth found his as I pressed against his lips softly, before I pulled back with only a small amount of space between us. “What was that for?” he whispered.

I bit my bottom lip. “She needed to see me claim you. She’s staring now isn’t she?”

A quick glance from Jordy plus a smile confirmed it. “Thank you,” he said breathlessly.

But now we had a problem.

I liked it. What the hell was happening? This couldn’t happen.

S.O.S.