Page 65 of For Emery

He nodded. “Me too.”

“But…”

“But it’s not happening right now,” he said.

I nodded.

“Em, do you think I was gonna try to get you naked in a hotel room with your mom across the way in the hospital?”

I shrugged.

“Okay, so maybe if you let me, I would’ve,” he snickered. “But, I know our timing sucks. And I know there couldn’t be a worse time for this to be happening. But I really want to kiss the hell out of you right now.”

I tipped my head back and laughed. It felt so good to laugh when the last couple days had been some of the most trying of my life.

“And then,” he continued. “I want to sleep next to you all night. Because it’s been too damn long since I held my girl.”

Butterflies took flight in my belly as I stifled a smile. “Say ‘my girl’ again.”

He snickered. “My girl.”

Emotions rushed through me, snagging my breath away. “I like that.”

“You love that,” he corrected with a grin.

My fingertips moved back to his cheeks and drifted over them, finally understanding what it felt like to get your biggest wish. “Thanks for being you.”

He inched closer. “Thanks for making me remember who I am.” He captured my lips with his. This kiss was soft and slow and holding so much more than desire and lust. My body relaxed into him as I let him hold me. Let him pull me closer. Let him want me. Eventually, he pulled away and both our breaths mixed, fast and shallow. “Let’s get you to sleep.”

A huff of disappointment escaped me. But I knew, regardless of my raging hormones, I needed to sleep and forget everything else for a little while. I climbed off Jordan’s lap and stood, looking down at him.

He smiled coyly and so much was exchanged in that one smile.

“I really need to shower.”

He nodded. “Just know. This is me holding my tongue.”

My brows dipped. “Why?”

“Because, there are so many things I’d like to say right now pertaining to you and me in that shower.”

I snickered. This newfound status change was going to take some getting used to.

I moved to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. My heart flipped summersaults in my chest as I mentally did a happy dance.

Jordan Grady called me his girl and meant it.

Jordan kissed me and meant it.

Gahhhhhhhh.

I stepped in front of the mirror and gaped at my flushed cheeks and tussled ponytail. How could I feel so happy after what happened to my mother? Did that make me a horrible person?

I moved away from the mirror and switched on the shower, peeling off the clothes I’d been wearing since I left Alabama. I tugged my hair free from my elastic and slipped it around my wrist.

I stepped under the spray of the water and just stood there for a long time, thinking about my mom. And Jordan. And leaving Alabama. I needed to be with my mom. Regardless of her trying to be strong, she needed me. I’d let her down once by not being there. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I’d transfer to school in Arizona. I could still attain my dream there. I just wouldn’t be doing it with Jordan.

Once I eventually lathered my skin and hair with the hotel soap and shampoo, the water became cooler. I’d been in there longer than I’d wanted to. I switched off the water and dried off with a soft white towel. Not wanting to put my dirty clothes back on, I wrapped another towel around my body and tied my hair into a knot on top of my head.

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