Page 70 of For Emery

His lips found mine and, for the first time since he’d returned to Alabama, I could breathe easier. His tongue licked its way into my mouth and tangled with mine. I didn’t even care people passed by us—or that my mom was right there. I was caught up in the moment. Caught up in Jordan’s kiss. His arms around me. His scent. His affection.

With my mom healing and back in Alabama and Jordan in my life, I was home.

* * *

After settling my mom into Jordan’s parents’ house, all I wanted to do was spend my first night back on campus with Jordan at his house. But, because bad-timing seemed to be our thing, he was hopping on a bus for Mississippi. He didn’t want to leave me on my first weekend back, but I assured him I’d stay in my dorm room and order takeout until he returned. Plus, I had lots of school work to catch up on.

That night, Raquel and I threw our pillows on the floor and created a soft place to lay and catch up. We talked for a long time about what happened to my mom, and growing up in a home with an abusive stepdad. I hoped I wouldn’t be such an enigma to her anymore because that had never been my intention. Now I realized, I had a good friend in her if only I let her in. She also filled me in on her family. It felt good to finally learn more about her, though I knew she was still full of surprises.

Someone knocked on our door and we both stilled, listening for whomever it was to announce themselves.

“Em.” Jordan’s voice carried through the door.

Raquel and I relaxed, laughing when we realized we’d both been holding our breaths.

I jumped to my feet and unlocked the deadbolt before pulling open the door.

Jordan stood there in low-hanging sweats and a blue T-shirt, which accentuated his eyes.

“I thought you left?”

“I couldn’t leave without seeing you one more time,” he said as he pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

Raquel sighed behind us, making sure to exaggerate it so we could hear.

Jordan chuckled before dropping a peck on my lips. “I’ll call and text. You need to do the same.”

“I will.”

“There’s one more thing.”

My brows shot up. “What?”

“Go on a date with me.”

My head flinched back. “What?”

“We’ve never actually gone on a date and I think it’d be a good thing for us to do. You know, do what normal people do when they start dating.”

My heart thumped in my chest, never so anxious for a weekend to end so I could see him again. “Okay.”

“Good,” he smiled. “When I get back, I’m picking you up and we’re doing something fun.”

I laughed, continually surprised by him.

“I’m gonna miss you,” he said, before kissing me one last time, this time slow and soft and weakening my knees.

“Jealous roommate right here. Could you stop rubbing your happiness in my face?”

We both laughed as we looked to Raquel sitting amongst the mound of pillows on the floor.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Jordan said as his hand drifted over my cheek. He stepped back and motioned to the door as he stepped through it into the hallway. “Close this. And lock it.”

I nodded, pulling the door closed slowly so I could see him right up until it clicked shut.

“I want a Grady for myself,” Raquel said as I locked the deadbolt.

I turned away from the closed door and looked to her. “You sure you could handle him?”

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