Page 55 of The Price of Forever

The door opened, and loud conversation jolted through the apartment. Booming greetings, lots of hugs and back slapping. Girlish laughs. Anxiety slithered through me as I saw these beautiful people file in. The boys were dressed down, similar to Seven, in relaxed but likely designer duds. I spotted Mercedes—my favorite coffeehouse customer who proved to be the unwitting link to my family—what were the odds? Then there was a redhead and a glossy, dark-haired beauty who looked so familiar.

That was Cora, the real estate heiress I’d seen on the news, in tabloids, on the insides of magazines touting luxurious investments I’d never dream of going near.

“Oh my goodness.” The redhead drifted my way, her hand pressed to her chest. She was voluptuous, bright eyed, stunningly beautiful, and genuine. I could tell this after three words and from looking at her upside down. Reading people’s energy was a skill I’d been forced to learn after too many bad actors in my past. “Look at you! You are just…flying.”

I grinned down at her, watching as Cora and Mercedes came over next, both wide-eyed and smiling. The brothers smiled over at me from near the door, where they were slipping off their shoes.

“I’m Jessa,” the redhead said, eyeing me with wonder as I completed a slow drop, upside down, ankles wrapped around the pole. She pressed her hands to her chest. “Your new biggest fan.”

I released my legs and performed a backbend off the pole, landing on my feet on the wood floor. Jessa gasped, clapping wildly.

“Nice to meet you, Jessa,” I said, as the blood redistributed itself through my body. The wooziness only lasted a second.

Cora surged forward next, her soft green eyes looking misty. She stuck out a hand. “Jordan. I’m Cora Margulis. I am so honored to meet you.”

I swallowed hard, gently taking her small, cool hand. Cora, the real estate heiress, was honored to meet me? Her last name was on the side of a skyscraper in Midtown. This had to be a dream. Was I still asleep in my room while the pole installers worked?

“I…It’s nice to meet you,” I forced out.

“I never thought this day would come.” Cora clasped her other hand around mine. The sincerity poured out of her; it almost choked me. Why was this woman almost crying? Emotion swelled inside me too, prompting more questions. “I would love to get to know you better. I just want you to know that.”

If I’d read something in Jessa just from looking at her, I knew a book of things about Cora after that exchange. When she let go of me, I was almost in tears. I nodded, surprised as the words poured out of me. “I would love that.”

“I’d introduce myself too but I know I don’t have to. Even if she forgot my name, she’d know my drink order,” Mercedes piped up, smiling cheekily.

That sweet blondie pushed me to my breaking point. I threw my arms out, looking for a hug. What the fuck is wrong with you? I never hugged people unless drunk or, in Seven’s case, recently assaulted. But something about these three had me swimming in feels. Mercedes and I shared a short, warm hug that left me smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

“I want you to meet Willow,” Mercedes said. “Trace’s niece that we’re in the process of adopting. But she gets spooked by lots of people, so we left her with the nanny tonight.”

“I can’t wait to meet her another time,” I told her.

My brothers and Trace strutted over, smiling in a way that made my chest feel tight. I had to look away.

“Hey, little sis,” Damian said. He smiled so warmly at me, I almost crumpled to the floor.

“That was a strong introduction for welcoming company,” Axel added, glancing toward the pole.

Trace nodded my way, a genuine smile stretching across his lightly stubbled face. His nearly black hair betrayed the fact that he wasn’t biologically related to Axel and Damian. “Jordan. It’s amazing to see you again.”

“Hi, guys.” I took a deep breath. All their eyes on me only solidified this bizarre sensation that I meant something to them all. Which I didn’t believe could be true. Kaylee and I spent our adolescence believing the opposite, but their intense interest and affection had me second-guessing things. “I didn’t mean to be the weird bat dangling in the corner when you showed up. But that’s how I decompress.”

“We all have our ways,” Damian said. “I wouldn’t mind trying that, to be honest. I’ve used some questionable methods in the past.”

“I’ll teach you,” I offered, before I could think better of it.

“If Damian learns, I need to learn,” Jessa said.

“If Jessa learns, I need to learn,” Cora spoke up.

I laughed, looking at everyone. “Well, I could teach all of you. Get some lessons going. Have a little friendly showcase sometime.”

“Deal.” Axel mimicked slamming a gavel.

“I love teaching the pole. And just being on the pole. I might have weirded out the chef,” I admitted.

“He’s used to it by now,” Trace said.

“What’s Seven’s favorite way to decompress?” Axel asked, giving Seven’s shoulder a friendly squeeze.

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