Page 21

Sutton

T he next three days are rough. Jordan tries his best to keep me distracted and happy, but I’m miserable, and it shows.

I just can’t get over what Jamison did. And it’s not even just that he took videos of Vanessa and showed them to his teammates.

That’s horrible enough. But the fact that he did it for such a stupid, selfish reason is hard to wrap my mind around.

He wanted to punish her. He wanted to hurt her. How am I supposed to reconcile that with the guy who rushed in after our parents died and took custody of me? The one who raised me to do the right thing and be the best version of myself? I just can’t.

“Hey.” Jordan walks up behind me on the third day while I’m standing in front of the bathroom mirror, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking.” I force a smile, meeting his worried gaze in the bathroom mirror. “I should be ready to go in a few minutes. I just need to finish dressing.”

He has to be at the arena soon. They have a game tonight. I’m going to hang out with Emilia, Peyton, and Wren while they get ready. I think Micah’s wife, Elodie, will be there, too.

“I have something for you,” he says.

I turn around in his arms, lifting my gaze to his. “What?”

“Two things, actually.”

“You really have to stop giving me things, Jordan,” I protest quietly.

He wasn’t joking when he said he intended to spoil me.

I’ve woken up the last two mornings to a new gift on my pillow.

One was a gorgeous diamond necklace. The other was the matching earrings.

Yesterday, he had flowers delivered to the hospital where I work.

It’s so damn sweet, but I don’t need gifts. I just need him.

“Are you mine, princess?” he asks, quirking a brow at me.

“Of course I am.” That’s not even a question.

I love him so much, I’m not sure how I’m going to survive it.

One day, my heart will just freaking explode because he’s taken up every inch of space inside it.

It’s beautiful and overwhelming and intense and exactly like I always dreamed.

Only, it’s better because it’s real this time.

“Then I get to give you whatever I want,” he murmurs, tipping my head back to brush a hard kiss across my lips. “Quit bitching and accept it, baby.”

I huff at him, but I’m not really mad. He is who he is. I love who he is.

He just grins at me and then slips his hand into mine, leading me out of the bathroom.

I open my mouth to protest, and then snap it closed again, deciding not to even bother.

It won’t do me any good. He’ll just get all hot and bossy…

and then he’ll be late getting to the arena because I’ll have my hand on his dick in two seconds flat.

He leads me straight to the chaise in the corner and then gently nudges me until I’m seated. I stare up at him, my brows furrowed, when he grabs his iPad.

“Scoot forward,” he demands.

I scoot, giving him room to slide in behind me.

He places the iPad in my lap, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I talked to Vanessa.”

I crane my head to look back at him, my heart suddenly lodged in my throat. “Y-you did?”

“Mmhmm.” He jerks his chin at the iPad. “She has a few things to say to you.”

I stare at the iPad, suddenly shaking. “W-what?”

“She’s waiting for you to message her,” he says quietly. “She wants to talk.”

“What if…?”

“What if what?”

“She hates me,” I whisper.

“She doesn’t hate you. She doesn’t blame you.” He curves his hand around my jaw, tipping my head back against his shoulder. “Trust me, princess.”

I stare up at him for a long moment, too damn scared to breathe.

But I do trust him. I trust him more than I trust anyone.

No one else has ever put me first the way he does.

No one else cares for me the way he does.

I’m the center of his world. I wish like hell that I’d known it when I was eighteen. Things would have been so different.

But we can’t go back now. And maybe…well, maybe I don’t want to go back.

Maybe we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be right now, loving each other the way we’re supposed to.

What Jamison did will never be okay, but I have to believe things worked out the way they did for a reason. I won’t survive it if I don’t.

My hands shake as I tap the screen to power it on. An instant message screen is front and center, with Vanessa’s name at the top.

“What do I say?” I whisper, stressing out.

“I’d start with hi,” he suggests, a teasing smile in his voice.

Me: Hi.

Vanessa: Sutton? Is that you?

Me: Yes.

Me: I’m so sorry, Vanessa. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.

Jordan’s arms tighten around me as if he intends to hold me together while she types her response.

Vanessa: I know.

Vanessa: I’m sorry I cut you off like I did. It was never about you.

Vanessa: I just couldn’t keep lying to you about what was going on. It seemed easier just to shut down completely than to admit what he did.

Me: Are you okay?

Vanessa: I wasn’t for a while, but I’m good now.

Vanessa: I’m getting married! My brothers are pissed, lol.

I smile, just imagining her grin as she types the words.

She always loved driving her brothers nuts.

They used to annoy the hell out of her. The fact that they also play professional sports is part of what bonded us when we were put together in my freshman year.

We both understood what it was like to have famous older brothers.

Me: Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.

Vanessa: Are you and Jordan FINALLY together?

I peek over my shoulder at him when he chuckles.

“She knew how I felt,” I whisper.

“Clearly,” he says.

Me: Yes.

Vanessa: YES! It’s about time.

I giggle, unable to stop the sound. God, I missed her so much. We talk for several more minutes, just catching up, before Jordan murmurs that we need to go.

Me: I need to go. Jordan has a game tonight.

Me: Can we talk again soon?

Vanessa: Uh, duh!

I smile, relief rushing through me.

Vanessa: I’ve really missed you, Sutton.

Me: I’ve missed you, too. So damn much!

Vanessa: I’m glad you know now.

Me: Me too. And for what it’s worth, I’m so damn sorry, Vanessa. You didn’t deserve it. He’s an asshole.

Vanessa: I know. But I forgave him for my own peace a long time ago.

Vanessa: Maybe you should, too, S. You deserve that. Peace, I mean. Don’t let his shit become yours.

Vanessa: Talk soon.

I power off the screen, leaning back against Jordan. Maybe she’s right and I do need to forgive him, not for his sake, but for mine. Because Jordan and I have carried this crap for too long already.

“How do you feel?” Jordan asks.

“Good,” I whisper. “Better.” I set the iPad aside, turning to straddle his lap. My arms curl around his shoulders as I stare into his eyes, tears welling in mine. “Thank you.”

He plunges his hand into my hair, pulling my mouth down to his. He wrecks me with his kiss, and somehow puts me back together again, too. “You don’t owe me thanks, princess. You needed this.”

“I really did.”

His hands sink into my hips, grinding me down against him. I moan softly, my head falling back.

“If that’s your second gift, we don’t have time,” I groan.

“That’s not your gift. That’s my gift. I plan to unwrap it tonight,” he growls, lifting his hips. His hand plunges down, and I think he’s going to slip it into my panties, but he doesn’t. It goes into his pocket instead. “Close your eyes.”

I hesitate for only a second before slamming them closed, curious what he’s hidden in his pocket.

I find out a second later when he presses a key into my hand. My eyes flutter open as my hand curls around it, my heart beating a million miles a minute.

“I want you to move in here with me,” he says.

“I…” Part of me wants to ask if it’s too soon because it’s expected. But God, it isn’t too soon. We should have had this years ago. And Jordan doesn’t do anything he isn’t certain about. If he’s asking, he’s sure. “I basically live here already,” I say instead.

“You noticed that, huh?” He smirks at me, completely unrepentant.

“You mean, noticed that you give me orgasms every time I suggest going home? Uh, yeah, I noticed.” I bite my lip, fighting a giggle. “Why do you think I keep suggesting it?”

He gapes at me for a split second before his hands go around my waist, yanking me into him. I squeal as he tips me over backward, following me down.

“You little minx,” he rasps, yanking my leg up over his hip. His mouth comes down on mine again, his kiss joyful.

I’m not the least bit surprised when we’re late. Really late.

“You ready to get the fuck out of here?” Jordan asks me hours later, pinning me up against the wall outside the locker room to kiss me breathless. His team lost, but he doesn’t seem to mind. I think he has other things on his mind…like getting inside me again as soon as humanly possible.

“Yes,” I whisper, so freaking ready. I’ve been ready since he got into a fight during the second period. Someone checked him from behind, sending him into the boards. He was not happy about it. Neither was the rest of his team. They almost started a riot in the middle of the game.

“Mm. Maybe I should fuck you in the truck again,” he growls against my lips. “Hold you over until we get home.”

“Maybe you should,” I agree, more than willing to get down and dirty with him anytime, anyplace.

He chuckles, pulling me away from the wall. “Come on before I decide to fuck you right here, baby.”

“I’d be down for that.” I peek up at him, grinning.

He chuckles again, smacking my ass. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“You’re the one who said you had arena fantasies, Mr. Silvestri.”

The next thing I know, I’m being shoved into a supply closet.

“What are you doing?” I laugh breathlessly as he pushes me back against the door.

“You reminded me about those arena fantasies. I’m making a few of them come true.” He smirks, reaching for the button on my pants. “You telling me no, princess?”