Page 19 of Step By Step

On the way to Jenna’s place, she turns on some classical music. With her kissing at my ear, her hands running through my hair, and one hand on my cock as if she could make the car go faster, I get to her place fast. Stumbling from the car, I pull her with me, letting her wind herself around me the way I love.

We make it inside, pulling at clothes until the flickering light of the television hits us. MTV plays while Donna sits waiting in just a satin robe. I immediately regret coming here instead of going to my place. It might be weird to bring my girlfriend home before my sister has met her, but this is worse.

“H-hey guys. I was hoping you would come home together.”

“Were you? That is a surprise after what I saw earlier,” Jenna stuns me by putting me behind her, as if she can keep me if she hides me away. She can keep me no matter what, but it is still adorable.

I wonder if I am about to see my girl go off on her best friend—and if I am, why is that so hot?

Chapter Ten

Jenna

For once in my life, I am taking what is mine.

Growing up, I always accepted my place. Quiet at the table while my parents talked about their cluttered lives. In the background of school photos, barely remembered. Behind the curtains at shows where my best friend played the rock star to my music.

None of it mattered to me enough to raise a fuss—but this, Jordan, does matter enough.

“Jenna, listen,” Donna starts, standing in her silky robe.

“Oh, wedoneed to talk.Afteryou put some clothes on.”

Donna blinks at me in shock before her head ducks and she nods. Turning, she rushes down the hall to her room. Sighing, I draw in a lungful of air before I turn back to Jordan. He is beaming down at me, a crooked smile, a dimple showing on his handsome face.

“What? What is that grin for?” I wonder, pulling him close so I can kiss him. He sighs against my lips, and I swear I couldswoon.

“Because you are amazing, and I adore you. Do you want me to wait in your bedroom?” His voice gets deep, sexy on the word bedroom and my knees tremble a little.

“No,” I answer, kissing him again just because I can. “I want you to hear what I have to say to her. If we can get past this, I want you two to get along.”

“And if you can’t?” he wonders, his hands brushing my hair back gently.

“I will need a new roommate,” I answer without hesitation.

Jordan blinks at me, clearly stunned by my answer. Yes, I have known Donna most of my life. And I love her. But this is not the first time she has done something like this. Not the first time she has made me feel this way. It will be the last time, however, because I am no longer taking a back seat for anyone.

“Baby, I do not want to come between you two.”

“This is about the two of us,” I tell him, cradling his face as I hold his gaze. “Something I should have spoken up about long before I met you.”

“Well, good. But just so you know, I would choose you over a best friend anytime.”

Grinning at him, I nod. “And I would choose you, Jordan.”

His dazzling smile makes my heart flip inside my chest. God, I am so crazy about him. Ithinkit is love, but I don’t need a name for it. I am good with pretty words, I write about love all the time. And this might be it, but I don’t need to call it anything that what I know it is.

This is special, it is us, and I am not letting it go.

“Jenna, babes, I am sorry about earlier,” Donna’s voice draws my attention back and I narrow my gaze at her. While she changed, the tiny tank top and biker shorts she put on are about as demure as the robe.

Nodding at the small table in our tiny dining room, I follow her over. Sitting down, I am emboldened by Jordan being at my side. Whatever I say won’t change that. My parents love me, and I believe Donna does too, but I have let them push me aside for too long—and I want to stop now.

“Today was not cool,” I start, taking a deep breath as my thoughts come together. “Not just because it was done to hurt me, to make me feel less than. But because it is not the first time you have done something like this. In the fifth grade, I got the lead in the school play. You threw an absolute fit and made me feel so bad, I refused to do it.”

“We were kids, I was selfish,” Donna replies without looking at me.

“Youwereselfish,” I affirm, watching her head whip round. She wanted me to tell her no, she wasn’t, that it was no big deal. Itwasa big deal. “You were selfish on my birthday trip to Disney World after I got sick, and you went on without me. In high school, the very first guy who ever flirted with me, you batted your lashes and boom, I sat watching you make out for two hours. You always pushed me aside to get what you wanted, and I let you. I always let you because you had trained me to believe I belonged in the background.”

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